THE BOTTOM LINE
With scholarship space available because of a sizable senior class and a rash of transfers and dismissals last offseason, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson locked down the largest signing class of his tenure, 27 players in all. The class fills needs, balances out positions and has potential stars in the group.
A word that Johnson used repeatedly Wednesday in his news conference was “fit.” Said Johnson of cornerback/wide receiver Dorian Walker from Class A-private state champion Mount Paran Christian, “I thought he fit.” Of wide receiver Brad Stewart from Class AA state champion Benedictine Military School in Savannah: “I just felt like, Man, this kid would be a great fit for Georgia Tech.”
Johnson seemed particularly pleased to have secured a number of such types, interested in the package of high-level football and academic challenge offered by Tech and who were unmoved by last-minute pitches from rival coaches and OK with not playing in front of 90,000 fans every Saturday. Johnson and his staff had a drama-free Wednesday; the last letter of intent arrived to Tech’s offices before 10 a.m.
“It was kind of a dream way to do it, where (there was) no drama, not much going on, and felt like we got a really good class,” Johnson said.
The class is marked by speed, versatility and accomplishment. Three members of the class — safety A.J. Gray of Washington County, linebacker Brant Mitchell of Knoxville, Tenn., and wide receiver Christian Philpott of Tallahassee, Fla., were named state players of the year in their respective classifications. Gray, in fact, was named a Parade All-American.
In giving reports on the signees, Tech coaches said that two players — running backs Marcus Marshall from Raleigh, N.C. (he’s the brother of Georgia running back Keith Marshall) and Nate Cottrell from Knoxville, Tenn. — have recorded 40-yard dash times under 4.4 seconds.
A number of players could play multiple positions, giving coaches flexibility with redshirting and position balance. Johnson suggested even that a player such as quarterback Christian Campbell could play wide receiver for a season and then return to quarterback.
Per usual, the class did not impress recruiting experts. 247 Sports, Rivals and Scout all ranked the class eighth in the ACC. Johnson is well past worrying about rankings. By Rivals’ accounting, none of Tech’s five classes that fueled its 11-win season ranked better than eighth in the conference.
“We’re recruiting a guy for next year, and he was like a two-star recruit a week ago, and one of the schools that are in the top five offered him and now he’s a four-star recruit three days later,” Johnson said. “That’s kind of how it works.”
THE HITS
Defensive end Anree Saint-Amour from North Gwinnett High has explosive strength and quickness and turned down Stanford, Michigan State and a slew of Big Ten and SEC schools to sign with Tech. “He plays a little bit like KeShun (Freeman) did,” Johnson said, “but KeShun’s an amazing guy, coming in as a true freshman to start and play like he did.”
Gray received 17 different player-of-the-year awards, including the AJC’s state player-of-the-year honors. He’s described as a physical player, a good athlete and instinctual. Linebacker Tyler Cooksey, from Greater Atlanta Christian, is one of a trio of promising linebacker prospects. Competitors from the SEC, Big Ten and ACC all pursued Cooksey, the son of former Tech nose guard Tom Cooksey.
Running back Mikell Lands-Davis from Alexander High, pursued by the likes of Wisconsin, North Carolina and Michigan, will compete for the starting B-back spot left vacant with the graduation of Synjyn Days and Zach Laskey.
THE MISSES
Tech coaches have felt their share of late-game heartbreak in recent years, as prospects have left Tech at the altar after holding months-long commitments. However, after having no players pull back on their commitments last year, the Jackets had only one player break his commitment, wide receiver Brandon Singleton from Boutte, La. It appears to have been a mutual-decision type separation.
While it might not rate as a “miss,” Tech had only two offensive linemen in the class, early enrollee Will Bryan from Franklin County High and Brad Morgan from Etowah High. Tech shopped for other positions after signing six offensive linemen last year.
IN-STATE SUCCESS
Of the 27 signees, 17 are from within state borders. It was the highest percentage of in-state signees since the 2010 class.
“I think there’s going to be years like that,” Johnson said. “It just works like that. We got a lot of in-state kids committed early, and it was a good year, I think, in-state for players.”
One of the last in was Stewart, whom Johnson offered after a strong senior season in which he caught 68 passes for 1,394 yards. At first, Johnson wasn’t sure there would be room for Stewart, initially proposing that he might walk on with the promise of a scholarship when one became available.
Another player Johnson offered after visiting was Walker.
“I think Dorian Walker has a chance to be a big-time corner,” Johnson said.
OUT-OF-STATE SUCCESS
Tech went to one of its strongholds, north Florida, for linebacker Victor Alexander, from Jacksonville, defensive back Meiko Dotson from Daytona Beach and Philpott, from Tallahassee.
Campbell is Tech’s first signee from Louisiana since defensive lineman Jason Peters in 2007, when Chan Gailey was coach. Quarterbacks and B-backs coach Bryan Cook said that he was alerted to Campbell, an option quarterback who ran for 4,030 yards in his career, by his high school coach.
Tech also took two out of the shadow of the University of Tennessee, signing Cottrell and Mitchell out of two Knoxville schools.
“I think that both those guys really never wavered,” Johnson said. “Once they committed, they were committed.”
FILLING HOLES
After losing starting wide receivers DeAndre Smelter and Darren Waller, starting A-backs Deon Hill and Charles Perkins (as well as A-backs Tony Zenon and B.J. Bostic) and B-backs Laskey and Days (and Matt Connors), replenishing the offensive skill-position spots was a high priority.
Tech did it with no fewer than seven players who could line up either at A-back or B-back or both, including Marietta running back KirVonte Benson, who won the state 100-meter dash championship as a sophomore. Harland Howell, an early enrollee from Wheeler High, will be joined by Philpott and Stewart at wide receiver.
After playing dangerously light on the defensive line, Tech added five defensive linemen, including early enrollee Kyle Cerge-Henderson, whose father Kevin Henderson played for Tech in the mid-’80s for coach Bill Curry.
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