Football: WR Christian Philpott Transferring from Tech

The football team's offseason transfer tally is up to four. In a message posted on Twitter, redshirt freshman wide receiver Christian Philpott announced on Thursday afternoon that he will be transferring from Tech.

Philpott joins B-back Marcus Marshall, cornerback Dorian Walker, and linebacker Emanuel Bridges in transferring this offseason. All were members of the 2015 recruiting class except for Bridges, who was an early enrollee in 2016.

A 6-foot-3 receiver with good speed, Philpott was the top-rated recruit (according to 247) in Tech's 2015 recruiting class and one of three receivers who signed that year, along with Brad Stewart and Harland Howell. He redshirted in his first season and had a chance to make an impact in 2016, but he ended up missing most of the spring with an injury (after also suffering an injury during the summer of his redshirt year), which slowed his development.

Howell and true freshman Jalen Camp moved past him on the depth chart, and with Stewart and Ricky Jeune entrenched as the starting receivers, there simply was little room for Philpott to make an impact. He saw limited playing time this season and will finish his Tech career with one catch, a nine-yard reception from TaQuon Marshall toward the end of the Vanderbilt game.

If Philpott transfers to an FCS school, he'll have three years of eligibility and will be able to play right away. If he chooses to transfer to another FBS school, he will have to sit out the 2017 season and will have two years of eligibility after that.

Philpott's departure leaves Tech with eight scholarship receivers for next season (listed below). There are currently no wide receiver commits in the 2017 class.