AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USOn Johnson’s first Tech signing class
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday is the day Paul Johnson locks up his first signing class at Georgia Tech, and it’s an interesting day to consider what this class would look like if football, as some suggest, had an early signing day in the fall, the way basketball does.
Partly because of the coaching staff transition, the Yellow Jackets are likely to wind up with at least four players who previously committed to other schools. Of course, the Jackets lost a few players who had committed to Tech, too.
Examples of who Tech gained: Lee Butler originally committed to Duke. Marcus Wright originally committed to Tulsa. Daniel McKayhan committed to Furman, then Memphis. Jaybo Shaw originally committed to Middle Tennessee State.
Tech lost Sean Renfree to Duke, T.J. Pridemore to Florida and Chris Jackson to Alabama.
Renfree looks like a great example of a quarterback whose talents wouldn’t have been a good mesh for the offensive system the Jackets plan to run. Shaw, on the other hand, is an example of a guy finding a good fit where it didn’t exist previously. Clearly, Tech could have used Pridemore and Jackson. Wright, whose lack of size would have been an issue in Chan Gailey’s/John Bond’s offense, could wind up doing big things in Johnson’s.
In the end, the players got a chance to make a more informed decision, and the schools got players who are likely to be a better fit. Maybe an early signing day isn’t such a good idea, after all.
Permalink | Comments (22) | Post your comment | Categories: Football
Comments
By WaCo
February 5, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
An early signing period during the late summer before the season would be great for the sport.
By JustMe
February 5, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
Paul J., IMHO, got as good of a signing class as possible, considering the circumstances.
I look forward to this upcoming season…… hope that Paul J’s winning ways continue on the flats!
By GT Fan
February 5, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
Way too much emphasis is being paid to recruiting classes. I don’t intend to bash any high school kid and I don’t mean to pick on anyone in particular, but why should we expect anything from someone who’s never played a college game yet? Take Shaw as an example. He is rated as a 3 star recruit by scout.com which gives him the same rating as Reggie Ball had when he enrolled.
I’m not saying that the ratings aren’t an indication of anything (although note that Calvin Johnson was rated as high as Willie Williams (who?)). But the college game is about much more than recruiting. The players coming out of high school 99% of the time are not ready to compete at the college level. I tend to think that its more important to develop players. The player than can immediately step on the field and contribute is too rare. Don’t believe me? There’s an article on foxsports.com that reranks all the 5-star recruits from the 2004 class (yes Calvin still gets 5 stars).
I’m not saying the players we’re recruting can’t be good. Obviously some of them will be. I’m saying it’s not fair to the players, coaches or fans to expect great things from them out of the gate. We won’t know the real result of this class until 2010.
By PROUD TECH FAN
February 5, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this
i agree, given the circumstances, i think Paul Johnson has done an exceptional job. its not easy losing players already on the team, and losing kids who had verbally committed to the program before Chan got the axe. Would i want the four and five star recruits, of course. But with a limited time to get a staff in order to hit the ground running to get players who fit the scheme, i geive him a lot of credit. i think the Uzzi sigining is a prime example of getting kids to stay home and not leave the state for another big name program. Thats excellent recruiting, thats the advantage of hiring a coach with Georgia ties. i figured this wouldnt be a great recruiting season after Gailey was let go. But i honestly feel that CPJ will make his mark on the program after next season once people get a glipse of his offense and how its run.
Go Jackets!!!
By LongBeachJacket
February 5, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
Having never been “inside the loop” on this business of recruiting, I can only speculate…
My guess is that adding any further “wrinkles” to the football recruiting process would just create more anxiety=problems for all involved. Let the young men get finished with their HS careers before they have to “ink” a decision for college. Keep things in perspective. The whole system already seems in overdrive as it is. Introducing anything more seems a bit much.
Regarding Coach Johnson’s first class at Tech, I’m sure it will be analyzed “nine ways to Sunday” by everyone under the sun.
We can only look at Coach Johnson’s track record where he has been. He has been successful. Whoever he convinces to join the program at Tech…he will probably make them successful. One must assume he knows the type of player he wants and will go out and get them.
There are never any guarantees in any of this.
As a 30+ year front row observer of Tech football, I have a sense that the Coach Johnson era will be a happy one for the Tech faithful.
Be patient and try not to overanalyze a lot of the recruiting hocus-pocus predictions. Young men at 17 are not what they are at 21. Big difference.
One of the anxieties about the previous regime was the seemingly questionable player development at key positions (notably QB).
One hopes for better outcomes under Coach Johnson as the skill positions—including QB—are critical to the system he is bringing to The Flats.
It should be fun to watch this thing unfold.
GO JACKETS!!!!!
By Mike Knobler
February 5, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
GT Fan You bring a lot of sanity to the discussion. So much of the recruiting talk every year reminds me of what we hear from all the political hacks, er, pundits, on the cable talk shows before and between primaries: Lots of speculation, but very little certainty.
By VaJacket
February 5, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this
One word sums up this class…SPEED!!!
By mowreck
February 5, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this
The fullback in coach Johnson’s backfield was the leading rusher at Navy last year. He is hard-nosed with speed. They have another name for him (H-back or something). Anyway I picture Johathan Dyer at that position for GT and with those little 4.37 and 4.4 scatbacks on both side is gonna make our backfield look like “speedy gonzales on drugs”. GO JACKETS!
By nebraskka option faithful
February 5, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this
I live in nebraska and the highschool ill be going to next year runs the option. we have the best talent in the state and have made it to 6 out of the last 7 state title games. But since its the option and the QB doesnt throw that much none of the players get ranked high on the internet but are really great players that no one knows about. There have been so many great QBs there that have flown under the radar its not even funny. Just over the past 7 years the 4 QBs in that time all play D-1 and are starters. and 6 years ago a guy by the name of eric crouch stepped in memorial stadium for NU. 2 title appearances and a heisman later i guess you could say the option is underrated. trust me GT will get GREAT quarterbacks that no one knows about. I’ll see you guys in the stands when im on the feild by the way.
By You got to be kidding
February 6, 2008 12:18 AM | Link to this
You have guys leaving for UF and Alabama and are bring in guys from Tulsa Furman and Middle Tenn. State? Yeah if I was a Tech fan I wouldnt care about the number of stars they are getting because they dont have any!
By surfrider
February 6, 2008 12:49 AM | Link to this
Personally I don’t like the early recruiting due to several reasons. First who really knows where they want to go to college after thier junior year. Second, academics can play into as the senior year progresses. Third, physical development can play a role. Fourth, the season on the field can play a big role both ways. It’s almost a sign of panic like right now in the SEC where some schools are already filling their class for next year and the kids have’nt even had spring practice for their final season yet. As for Johnson I like what he has done in his first shortened recruiting season. It reminds me a little of Bobby Ross’s style at first….get big lineman, speed at the skill positons and an option QB or two that can run and pass. A lot of his players were’nt highly ranked in that first class but did pretty good. The ability to hit the corner and run or pass should make a big difference Tech’s offense.
By TN-Jacket
February 6, 2008 1:00 AM | Link to this
Coaching up is what its all about. Getting the best out of the latent talent. Paul Johnson has proven to be a master at this. Chill about who recruited who or where others went. Let the coach do his job and prove the fools wrong. BTW… That kid that came from Tulsa is a Parade All American
By Atlanta Jacket
February 6, 2008 4:58 AM | Link to this
I think CPJ has done a heck of a job in his first year recruiting class. I am excited about the guys he has retained from Chan’s original class and what he has added.
As for as the person who comes into this blog with the smart aleck comments - CPJ will do more at GT than Saban at Bama. With history being the ultimate arbiter of the future, Saban probably won’t even be at Bama in 4 years and CPJ will have several big winning seasons at GT.
By GTsince62
February 6, 2008 7:32 AM | Link to this
“You got to be (showing how stupid you are) kidding” do you think the only stars at the next level just come from the SEC. NOT!
By White and Gold
February 6, 2008 7:35 AM | Link to this
With this class we are assured of getting some more quality loses and a guranteed trip to the Humiliation Bowl.
By The Truth
February 6, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
I have another one word for this class and it is not speed. Boys and girls the word for the day is…………….LOSERS. Tech fans will remember the glory days of 8 win seasons after the next few years.
By Dawgie Dick
February 6, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
Our UGA recrootin’ class stinks so i am over hear on the tech bored seeing how you’uns are doin’ with yours cruitin’
signed dawggie dick
By Leslie Brent Bowie
February 6, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this
You guys actually wasted scholarships on these guys??? Don’t EVER wonder why Georgia just keeps beating you NERDS!!!
By KneeJerk
February 6, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
…and you Dawg fans wonder why we like to make fun of you when you lose to teams like Vandy. You’re arrogance is laughable.
By CarolinaJacket
February 6, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
Well, I see where Lee Butler is back to Duke. Easy come, easy go.
By Chan Gailey's Designated Driver
February 6, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this
Leslie Brent Billy Bob Bowie:
We don’t wonder why UGA always beats us. The answer is “jock majors”, REDNECKS!
By UGAH is GAY
February 7, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
Lets see, Gaily’s tech pounded Army silly….PJ’s gonna run the same offense at Tech….How dumb can the alumni be….I pledge my allegence to the Tiger of Clem….