Hey Tech fans, just wanted to get a thread up with all the latest happenings going on with the Yellow Jackets. GT signed a PG in basketball, Travis Jorgenson, in mid-April. GT had their Spring game on a cold, blustery Friday night on the Flats. While they did not get any additional commits, we'll discuss a few close to pulling the trigger and others high-profile recruits giving Tech a look. Lastly, this past weekend's NFL Draft came and went without any Jackets getting selected since 2005. However, several guys are going to NFL camps, we'll look at who and where.
Basketball
Georgia Tech signed the 2nd guard for their 2014 class (Solomon Poole the other, though technically in the 2013 class) to replace seniors Mfon Udofia and Pierre Jordan. Travis Jorgenson, who plays PG at New Hampton Prep in New Hampshire (originally from Missouri), is 6'0" 162 and is described as competitive, quick, and smart. Rivals ranked Jorgenson as the 33rd best PG prospect in the nation, and 147th overall.
Jorgenson's signing underscores the youth at the PG position for CBG, who will have two sophmores in Solomon Poole and the recovering Corey Heyward...to go along with the freshman Jorgenson. However, the depth and overall quality at the position has improved.
Video:
Travis Jorgenson Highlights Class Of 2014 (via Prep1Force)
Football Recruiting
As mentioned above, no commits from the Spring game. However, if last year is a predictor (5 commits, including Shamire Devine and Darius Commissiong), May should be a busy month on the recruiting trail. Below are some of the names I wouldn't be surprised to hear as committing to the Jackets soon...
Malkom Parrish (ATH) - GT is the favorite for this lightning quick athlete from Brooks County HS in south Georgia who will likely play QB at Tech, though he turned heads playing CB at a recent Rivals camp in Atlanta, coming away with top defensive player honors. Parrish is rated 4-star by both ESPN and Scout, and Rivals will be soon to follow. Although his lead recruiter is CAM, Tech is getting an assist in recruiting Parrish from current Tech commit Tre Jackson from nearby Lowndes County HS.
Step Durham (CB) - GT is also the favorite for this 4-star (Rivals, Scout) CB from the Jacksonville area. He has visited Atlanta half a dozen times, and is close to committing.
Jamauri Bogan (RB) - Tech has been New Jersey native's favorite thus far, and he could excite Jackets fans for years with his blazing speed at the A-Back position and on special teams. Though small, he could really thrive in speed-option sets.
Marcus Allen (S) - Allen has GT among his favorites, and should visit Atlanta in the next few weeks. This high 4-star (Scout) Safety prospect has reportedly maintained a strong relationship with his recruiter CJS.
NFL Draft
Despite having 2 players with draftable grades (CB Rod Sweeting 5th round grade, DT T.J. Barnes 7th round grade), Georgia Tech had no players drafted for the first time since 2005. OL Omorogie Uzzi and RB Orwin Smith hurt their chances with injury concerns despite prolific careers in the ACC. However, their NFL dreams are not over, as they have all signed (or nearing signed) undrafted FA contracts with NFL teams, meaning they'll have a chance to work and make a roster, though without the security of a higher round draft pick contract. Their destinations are here...
DT T.J. Barnes - Jacksonville Jaguars
DL Izaan Cross - Buffalo Bills
LS Tyler Morgan - Carolina Panthers
RB Orwin Smith - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
CB Rod Sweeting - New Orleans Saints
OL Omoregie Uzzi - currently negotiating with teams
I know that getting shutout on Draft weekend sucks, and inevitably there will be doubts cast on CPJ's ability to recruit NFL talent. I will only counter with some facts to consider...
1) CPJ has only had 2 draft-eligible classes (2008, 2009). Can't assume 2010 because 3-year exits are the exception not the norm. From those 2 initial classes two players were eventually drafted...WR Stephen Hill (2012 2nd round) and former Tech S Cooper Taylor (2013 5th round from Richmond). 2-time All-ACC OG Omoregie Uzzi likely would have been drafted if not for chronic knee injuries, though his story isn't finished. The rest could produce at least one NFL player who sticks on a roster or practice squad. The 2008 recruiting class was also affected by the CPJ hire (with a significant change in offensive philosophy).
2) There were only 10 scholarship Seniors who graduated in 2012, therefore the odds were smaller to begin with in getting someone drafted. Next year will have approximately 19 scholarship Seniors.
There will be beesball updates coming soon. Let us know what you think about these events of the past few weeks for Georgia Tech...