No one will know the quality of Georgia Tech’s 2016 signing class for at least a year or two. Tech fans can point to two-star prospects such as All-American guard Shaquille Mason and All-ACC B-back Zach Laskey as evidence. In the meantime, here are 10 things to know about the class.
Two quarterbacks
Tech signed two quarterbacks, Jay Jones from McCalla, Ala., and Lucas Johnson from San Diego. Tech typically doesn’t recruit much outside the Southeast, but, not seeing quarterbacks Tech liked and thought it could sign (other than Jones) in the region, coach Paul Johnson had quarterbacks and B-backs coach Bryan Cook broaden the scope of his search.
Lucas Johnson, whom Paul Johnson described as “a pretty polished guy,” is Tech’s first signee from California since 2008, Johnson’s first class. Said Johnson of Jones, “He reminds me a little bit of Justin (Thomas) in some ways with his quickness and acceleration.”
Five quarterbacks aboard
Tech now has five quarterbacks on scholarship, which is Johnson’s target number — Thomas, Matthew Jordan, Christian Campbell, Lucas Johnson and Jones. That doesn’t include Jaylend Ratliffe, who enrolled in January after his rehabilitation from a brain injury in an ATV accident in July 2014. No decision has been made on Ratliffe’s fitness to return to play.
“There’s a lot of evaluation going on,” Johnson said. “As soon as they get all the records from everybody, we’ll make a decision that’s best for Jaylend.”
Still waiting
With an 18-member class, Tech is just under its 85-scholarship limit. Johnson said they’re holding one of the spots for a player still being recruited. The Jackets are waiting on Savannah Christian wide receiver Demetris Robertson, a five-star prospect who made his official visit to Tech last weekend. He also is considering Stanford, Alabama, Notre Dame, Georgia and California, and is taking extra time to make his decision.
Not least
The last player offered was cornerback Ajani Kerr from McEachern High. Kerr was offered Tuesday. Kerr was an under-the-radar prospect, Johnson said, having transferred from Whitefield Academy over the summer and playing on a team with seven FBS signees. Linebackers coach Andy McCollum said that a coach and coordinator at a rival school told McCollum that Kerr was the best player on McEachern’s defense.
Beefing up the line
Tech added four defensive linemen, a position group that the Jackets needed more depth. It appears to be a promising group, particularly defensive end Jordan Woods from Citra, Fla., a Rivals four-star prospect who picked Tech over Tennessee and Miami. Johnson was hopeful that Woods, a late addition to the class, could be a speed rusher who could ramp up the Jackets’ lagging pass rush.
Could plug in
Wide receiver Jalen Camp from South Forsyth High was flipped from FCS-school Liberty in December, but was gaining FBS attention after a strong senior season. (Camp began playing football only as a sophomore.) From a strength standpoint, Camp (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) may be ready to compete for playing time immediately.
“He’s an explosive kid who doesn’t need to fill out,” Cook said. “He should be able to step into cleats in August and hopefully maybe help us.”
Loyal to the cause
Johnson and defensive coordinator Ted Roof praised Buford High running back Xavier Gantt for staying true to Tech after being the first player to commit to the Jackets last February. Schools such as Mississippi State, Florida, Stanford, Michigan and Florida State didn’t give up with him, trying to persuade him to take visits, but Gantt turned them all down.
Gantt (5-9, 165) is pegged to play A-back. Roof, who recruited Gantt, has particularly strong ties to Buford. His twin sons Terrence and Michael are juniors at Buford and teammates of Gantt’s.
Leading the way
Cook and Roof were the lead recruiter for four signees each, most on the staff. Cook led the recruitment of wide receivers Jalen Camp and Jair Hawkins-Anderson, quarterback Lucas Johnson and offensive lineman Jahaziel Lee.
Roof was the recruiter for four Gwinnett County signees, linebacker Jakob Breshear, defensive back Jarett Cole, running back Xavier Gantt and defensive tackle Chris Martin.
Average grades
Tech’s recruiting class did not win over the recruiting analysts. It was ranked 54th by 247 Sports (10th in the ACC) and 62nd by Rivals (12th). It is about on par with the averages for the preceding five years. Tech’s average rankings for 247 Sports were 54th (national) and 10th for the ACC. For Rivals, it was also 54th and 10th.
The relatively small size of Tech’s class is a factor in the ranking, as larger classes can accumulate more ranking points.
Said Johnson, “I think the number that matters is, at the end of the year, what your record is.”
Three already on campus
Tech has three member of the class who are already enrolled — defensive end Desmond Branch, linebacker Emanuel Bridges and B-back Dedrick Mills — along with quarterback Jaylend Ratliffe, who signed last year but delayed his enrollment because of his health issues.
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