Outside linebacker Jaquan Henderson flipped his commitment from Tennessee to Georgia Tech on Sunday after his official visit with the Yellow Jackets over the weekend.
Henderson is the 19th commit in the Yellow Jackets’ 2017 singing class and third commit to be flipped by the Jackets along with running back Jerry Howard who withdrew his commitment from East Carolina and offensive guard Charlie Clark who withdrew his commitment from Tulane.
“There’s nothing like playing for your home state team and it really means a lot to me,” Henderson said. “It’s always been my goal is a little kid. It’s my state.”
The 3-star senior from Newton High School in Covington, Ga. is ranked No. 40 on 247 Sports’ list of top 2017 recruits in Georgia.
Henderson’s family helped form Henderson’s dream of playing for his home team because his father and his godfather are Georgia Tech fans. Henderson’s decision to go to college closer to home allows his family to come to home games next season.
Henderson, 6-foot-2, 208 pounds, committed to Tennessee on June and was originally drawn to the Volunteers because of Neyland Stadium, the orange and white and the Pride of the Southland band, but his official visit to Tech the weekend of Jan. 21, proved what he knew all along.
"To be honest from day one, I knew I wanted to go to Georgia Tech — I knew that I would wait for my official to flip," Henderson said. "My official visit, it was great. Hands down was the best official visit I had. Hands down. It meant a lot to me."
“On my official visit, (Askew) came and talked to me,” Henderson said. “I told him that I was going to make it happen and we were gonna play for a town and play for our city.”
Askew, a 3-star cornerback from Douglasville, Ga., committed to Tech in June and enrolled early in January.
Henderson also spoke with 2017 linebackers TD Roof and Bruce Jordan-Swilling after his commitment on Sunday and the three linebackers planned how they’ll attack their first season at Georgia Tech.
“We just feel like we’re gonna come in and play our butts off and I feel like I can play beside those guys and I know what they’re capable of doing,” Henderson said. “It means a lot to step on the field with them.”
Henderson, who was recruited by cornerbacks coach Joe Speed and defensive coordinator Ted Roof, had 24 total offers from colleges including Tennessee, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Indiana and UCLA, according to 247 Sports.
Henderson said he received his offer from Tech coach Paul Johnson his junior year of high school, but conversations he had with Speed and Roof reassured Henderson that Tech was the family he wanted to join.
