Alabama guard Eli Richey commits to Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech picked up its 14th commitment for the 2021 signing class Friday as guard Eli Richey of Greensboro, Ala., announced via Twitter his decision to accept coach Geoff Collins’ scholarship offer.
Richey, a three-star prospect rated the No. 45 guard in the country (247Sports Composite), is the second offensive lineman in the group of committed players (following offensive tackle Jakiah Leftwich from Westlake High) and the first guard. Richey, listed at 6-foot-5 and 291 pounds, also announced offers from West Virginia, Central Florida and Tulane, among other schools. He reported his offer from Tech on Jan. 14, among the first he received.
Richey helped Southern Academy win last season’s AISA Class A state championship and was named the AISA lineman of the year. The AISA is a state association of private schools.
“I’ve been coaching for about 35 years, and this is not banquet talk, there is not a harder worker than Eli,” Southern Academy coach Mike Smith told the Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News in January after Richey earned the honor. “He’s always calling me wanting to know what he can do to get better, he works hard - a dream to coach.”
After Richey’s commitment, Tech’s class was rated No. 25 in the country and fifth in the ACC.
About the Author
Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Formerly the Georgia Tech beat reporter, Sugiura started at the AJC in 1998 and has covered a variety of beats, mostly within sports.
