The story of Georgia Tech’s offseason – the seemingly unending departure of players from the program, voluntary or otherwise – comes to an official close this weekend, as the Yellow Jackets who have stayed will play their first game Saturday against Wofford. It will close, too, for those who left. They have gone as far west as Oregon, as far north as ... Oregon (and also Ohio) and as far east as South Carolina. (For those interested in completely nerding out, read further: I was trying to determine which school is farther east, James Madison or Coastal Carolina. It turns out it's Coastal Carolina - Morgan Bailey's new school - but only by about nine miles, as best as I understand how longitude works.) The 12 are playing at three different levels of football - FBS, FCS and junior college. Two different twosomes ended up at the same junior college in the same conference.
DL Justin Akins – transferred to Middle Tennessee State. After sitting out this season, he'll have three years of eligibility.
WR Anthony Autry – transferred to Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College, a junior college powerhouse, joining Travis Custis (below). Assuming he transfers after this season to an NCAA school, he will have two years of eligibility left. He played in his first game Thursday night and was targeted three times without a catch.
OT Morgan Bailey – transferred to Coastal Carolina, which is starting the season ranked in the top 10 in two FCS polls. Alas, Bailey, who had uncommonly bad luck with injuries, is out for the Chanticleers' season opener.
DL Darius Commissiong – transferred to Iowa Western Community College, another strong junior college team that actually is in the same conference as Hutchinson. Iowa Western is ranked No. 2 in the national junior college rankings. If he left Iowa Western after this season, he would have three more years of eligibility at an NCAA school.
RB Travis Custis – transferred to Hutchinson Community College. In a backfield with former Alabama running back Alvin Kamara from Norcross High, Custis ran 11 times for 98 yards in Hutchinson's 45-7 win over the Bethany College junior varsity.
QB Ty Griffin – transferred to Oregon. His younger brother Taj, a highly-regarded prospect at McEachern High, is an Oregon commit. He will sit out this year and have three years of eligibility remaining.
DE Travin Henry – remained at Tech to earn his degree. He conceivably could transfer after graduating and have two more years of eligibility as a graduate student. It would not be surprising, though, if he left football behind.
DL Jimmie Kitchen – transferred to Youngstown State. He'll have two more years of eligibility at the former Division II powerhouse now at the FCS level, beginning this season. Youngstown State plays Illinois Saturday, but Kitchen, who arrived to camp late and was injured during the preseason, is not expected to play.
QB Vad Lee – transferred to James Madison. He has immediate eligibility and two years remaining. He is the starting quarterback and was recently named a team captain. James Madison opens against Maryland at 3:30 p.m. in the Terrapins' first-ever game as a Big Ten member. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
DL Kevin Robbins – also transferred to Iowa Western. Both he and Commissiong are starting. Like Commissiong, if he were to leave after this season or academic year, he would have three years of eligibility at an NCAA institution.
DE Anthony Williams – transferred to Troy after graduating. He has one year remaining and is eligible immediately. He's listed on the depth chart as the No. 2 defensive end. Troy plays Duke next Saturday and at Georgia Sept. 20. (Not to mention at Georgia Southern Oct. 30 and against Georgia State Nov. 8)
RB Donovan Wilson – transferred to Bowling Green State. After sitting out this season, he will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Not included: OT Chase Roberts, who was medically disqualified after sustained post-concussion symptoms. Roberts is on medical scholarship and is working in the Alexander-Tharpe Fund office.
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