Tuesday morning, Georgia Tech football freshmen will report to campus, one having traveled from as far as Hawaii. However, one of the signees within the closest proximity to school will not be among them.
Running back Myles Autry from Norcross High School will not be with his new first-year teammates as they arrive for a voluntary summer orientation seminar and the second summer term, as he has not yet met Tech’s admissions requirements. Autry’s situation was first reported Monday by Jackets Online.
He and defensive end Kenderius Whitehead are the only two members of Tech’s 2014 signing class not expected to report Tuesday. Whitehead remains at Georgia Military College, where he is finishing summer coursework to earn an associates degree and will enroll at Tech likely in August.
It is the second consecutive summer that a highly touted running back’s admission to Tech has been delayed. Travis Custis, a member of the 2013 class, faced NCAA clearinghouse issues and did not enroll until January 2014. He was declared academically ineligible after the spring semester and has transferred to Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College.
Coaches and school officials were confident that Autry, who picked Tech over Florida State, among many suitors, will do the necessary schoolwork to earn admission before the fall term.
The other 20, though, were busy packing and/or traveling to Atlanta Monday, ready for their Tech careers to begin.
“I’m just ready for the college life, just ready to be in college and just take in the whole experience,” said cornerback Lance Austin, the Lamar County High product who will become a Yellow Jacket along with his twin brother, Lawrence, and their Lamar teammate, Qua Searcy, a wide receiver.
The Austins have spent part of their summer watching Tech games from last fall to get a handle on pass coverages that the Jackets use, hoping to get a head start. Both are strong candidates to play as freshmen.
Said Lawrence Austin: “I just want to be able to show coaches that I’m able to compete and ready to get on the field.”
The freshmen will have orientation Wednesday through Friday, then begin classes on Monday. They will be permitted to take part in summer workouts once they pass medical examinations.
Earlier this month, coach Paul Johnson said that opportunity exists for true freshmen to play this fall, particularly along the offensive line, secondary and at running back. The class has six offensive linemen.
“I know there’s a lot of competition, but I’m just going to go up there and do my best every single day and play for a position,” said Jake Stickler, a 6-foot-5, 263-pound offensive tackle from Bradenton, Fla., who can play the viola, violin, ukulele and guitar. “I’ll do all I can do to play.”
Tech will also enroll its first freshman signee from Hawaii since at least 1992. Safety Shaun Kagawa had a two-layover trip to Atlanta from Hawaii, fitting given his similarly segmented recruitment. He was at Army’s prep school for a semester last year before withdrawing, then signed a letter of intent to play at SMU but then was given a release after what he termed unforeseen circumstances with admissions. He committed to Tech in May, the last member of the class.
“I’m just excited about the whole journey,” he said.
