Georgia Tech has secured a transfer who has the potential to significantly upgrade the kicking game in Tennessee kicker Brent Cimaglia, who announced he will join the Yellow Jackets as a grad transfer. Cimaglia made the announcement Sunday.

In four seasons with the Volunteers, Cimaglia made 46 of 62 field-goal tries (74.2%) and was 88-for-89 on point-after tries. In 2019-20, he was 16-for-22 on field-goal tries from 40 yards and out. In the 2019 season, he was 23-for-27 and was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation’s top kicker. He took 10 kickoffs as a freshman, recording four touchbacks.

In 2020, Cimaglia played in eight games while dealing with injuries. He was 5-for-9 before deciding to opt out with two games remaining, citing a need to focus on his mental and physical health. Then-coach Jeremy Pruitt said at the time that Cimaglia intended to return to the team for the 2021 season, using the extra season of eligibility granted to all fall-sports athletes. He announced his decision to play his last season elsewhere Jan. 29.

Tech was in the market for a kicker after having difficulties in the kicking game last season, when the Jackets were 3-for-8 on field-goal attempts, with multiple tries blocked at the line of scrimmage. Kicker Gavin Stewart did make his two final field-goal tries of the season, from 26 and 22 yards against N.C. State, and was 22-for-24 on point-after tries.

Cimaglia’s arrival will create even more competition at the position, with Jude Kelley, Austin Kent, Steven Verdisco and Stewart all returning.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Bobby Gaston celebrates his 100th birthday with a Georgia Tech birthday cake at Savoy Automobile Museum in Cartersville.  (Chad Bishop/AJC 2023)

Credit: Photo by Chad Bishop/AJC staff

Featured

“Our members cannot be bought off,” General President Sean O’Brien said in a social media statement, calling UPS' offers “illegal and haphazard.” (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2023)

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC