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Georgia Tech’s 2015 recruiting class came in bearing the weight of incredibly high expectations following Tech’s magical 2014 season that was capped off with an Orange Bowl victory. There was a sense of hope that the Jackets’ success would attract high quality talent and establish Georgia Tech as a perennial contender in the ACC. While in hindsight those expectations were far too ambitious, the 2015 recruiting class has turned out to be a solid group of players who have given us plenty of memorable moments over the past several years. Let’s take a look back at the 27 players who came to The Flats in 2015 and the paths their careers have taken since then.
As I mentioned last year when I did a similar review of the 2014 recruiting class, the grades given below are solely based on each player’s contributions to the Georgia Tech Football program.
Georgia Tech 2015 Recruiting Class
| Name | Position | Height | Weight | Hometown | Rivals | 247 Sports Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | Height | Weight | Hometown | Rivals | 247 Sports Composite |
| Christian Philpott | WR | 6-2 | 200 | Tallahassee, FL | 3-star (5.7) | 0.8696 |
| Anree Saint-Amour | DE | 6-3 | 240 | Suwanee, GA | 3-star (5.6) | 0.8671 |
| Victor Alexander | LB | 5-10 | 221 | Jacksonville, FL | 3-star (5.6) | 0.8650 |
| Christian Campbell | QB/DB | 6-1 | 195 | Ponchatoula, LA | 3-star (5.7) | 0.8649 |
| A.J. Gray | DB | 6-2 | 195 | Sandersville, GA | 3-star (5.7) | 0.8640 |
| Mikell Lands-Davis | AB/BB/WR | 5-11 | 208 | Douglasville, GA | 3-star (5.6) | 0.8619 |
| Tyler Cooksey | LB | 6-3 | 220 | Norcross, GA | 3-star (5.7) | 0.8615 |
| Will Bryan | OL | 6-3 | 280 | Carnesville, GA | 3-star (5.7) | 0.8605 |
| Jaylend Ratliffe | QB | 6-2 | 200 | Laurinburg, NC | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8590 |
| Brant Mitchell | LB | 6-3 | 248 | Knoxville, TN | 3-star (5.6) | 0.8534 |
| Dorian Walker | DB | 6-0 | 175 | Kennesaw, GA | 3-star (5.6) | 0.8493 |
| Dante Wigley | DB | 6-1 | 180 | Carrollton, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8482 |
| TaQuon Marshall | AB/QB | 5-10 | 167 | Hamilton, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8478 |
| Harland Howell | WR | 6-2 | 198 | Marietta, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8476 |
| Brad Stewart | WR | 6-1 | 190 | Savnnah, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8455 |
| Marcus Marshall | BB | 5-9 | 200 | Raleigh, NC | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8441 |
| Brentavious Glanton | DT | 6-2 | 273 | Albany, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8431 |
| Kyle Cerge-Henderson | DT | 6-2 | 580 | Tampa, FL | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8412 |
| David Curry | LB | 6-1 | 190 | Buford, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8350 |
| Scott Morgan | DT/OL | 6-4 | 275 | Woodstock, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8340 |
| Omahri Jarrett | AB | 5-10 | 180 | Douglasville, GA | 3-star (5.6) | 0.8301 |
| Nathan Cottrell | AB | 5-10 | 183 | Knoxville, TN | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8259 |
| Trent Sellers | DE | 6-4 | 230 | Tyrone, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8240 |
| Meiko Dotson | DB | 5-9 | 173 | Daytona Beach, FL | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8234 |
| Quaide Weimerskirch | BB | 6-0 | 200 | Pace, FL | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8147 |
| Kirvonte Benson | BB | 5-8 | 191 | Marietta, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8123 |
| Brad Morgan | OL | 6-4 | 265 | Woodstock, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 0.8108 |
Christian Philpott
Position: WR
247 Sports Composite: 0.8696
Philpott redshirted the 2015 season and caught just one pass in 2016 before transferring to UT-Martin in the offseason. He’s had a bit more success with the Skyhawks, recording 95 receiving yards and one touchdown during the 2018 season.
Grade: D
Anree Saint-Amour
Position: DE
247 Sports Composite: 0.8671
Saint-Amour was a solid contributor throughout his career, but he turned into a dominant force on the defensive line during his senior campaign in 2018. His stellar season included four sacks, two interceptions (one of which was a pick-six), and three forced fumbles. His performance caught the eye of NFL scouts and in April he signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent.
Grade: A-
Victor Alexander
Position: LB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8650
Alexander was a contributor in all four of his years on The Flats, amassing 76 tackles, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Grade: B
Christian Campbell
Position: QB/DB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8649
Originally recruited as a quarterback, Campbell has transitioned to the defensive side of the ball as a safety. While he didn’t see the field much in his first two seasons, he had a respectable 2018 that included 19 tackles and two sacks. Campbell will likely compete for a starting safety spot as a senior in 2019.
Grade: C+
A.J. Gray
Position: DB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8640
AJ Gray was one of Tech’s best defensive players the moment he joined the team. While his career was cut short due to a medical condition, he’ll be remembered as being a presence all over the field, amassing 147 tackles and 3 interceptions in his career.
Grade: A
Mikell Lands-Davis
Position: AB/BB/WR
247 Sports Composite: 0.8619
Lands-Davis bounced around between A-back, B-back, and wide receiver before quitting the team prior to the 2017 season. He finished with 51 career rushing yards, along with 83 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Grade: C-
Tyler Cooksey
Position: LB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8615
Cooksey hasn’t made much of an impact on the field, recording just one career tackle as he enters his final year of eligibility. However, in 2016 his efforts on the practice field were noticed by the coaching staff and he was awarded the honor of Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year.
Grade: C-
Will Bryan
Position: OL
247 Sports Composite: 0.8605
Bryan started 25 games for the Jackets and appeared in nearly every game of his career. His greatest strength was his versatility, earning him starts at right guard, left tackle, and right tackle throughout his career.
Grade: B-
Jaylend Ratliffe
Position: QB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8590
Ratliffe was medically disqualified from playing football after suffering a serious non-football related injury in high school. Georgia Tech honored his scholarship, but he never played a snap for the Jackets.
Grade: N/A
Brant Mitchell
Position: LB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8534
Mitchell was a solid contributor on defense throughout his four years with the Jackets, playing in 45 games and racking up 222 tackles, four sacks, and four interceptions. One of his most memorable plays occurred last season when he sacked Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins for a safety.
Grade: B+
Dorian Walker
Position: DB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8493
Walker recorded three tackles and one interception in his time at Tech before transferring to Kennesaw State following the 2016 season. He’s currently putting together a respectable career for the Owls, and in 2018 he earned All-Big South First Team honors.
Grade: D+
Dante Wigley
Position: DB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8482
Wigley redshirted in his first season with the Jackets before transferring to Colorado, where he’s earned a starting role as a cornerback.
Grade: D-
TaQuon Marshall
Position: AB/QB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8478
After entering Georgia Tech as an A-back recruit and earning playing time during his freshman season, Marshall moved to quarterback where he was given the unenviable task of taking over for the renowned Justin Thomas. Seemingly living up to the task, Marshall made quite an entrance in his first career start when he rushed for 249 yards and five touchdowns in a double overtime loss to Tennessee. Despite his flashy start, his career would ultimately be defined by inconsistent play and questionable decision-making that prevented the offense from reaching its full potential. While he wasn’t the best quarterback of the Paul Johnson era, he still put together a solid career that included over 2,000 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns in his two seasons as Tech’s starting quarterback.
Grade: B+
Harland Howell
Position: WR
247 Sports Composite: 0.8476
Howell appeared in six games as a redshirt freshman, but did not record any stats. After the 2016 season he transferred to Northeast Mississippi Community College.
Grade: D
Brad Stewart
Position: WR
247 Sports Composite: 0.8455
Brad Stewart was never the flashiest player, but he was consistently good during his 41 career games for the Jackets. He will be remembered most for two clutch 4th quarter receptions: his 36-yard reception on 4th down against Florida State in 2015, and his 37-yard diving catch on 3rd down against Virginia in 2018.
Grade: B+
Marcus Marshall
Position: BB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8441
Marshall made an immediate impact when he came to The Flats, rushing for 649 yards and four touchdowns in his freshman season while splitting carries at B-back. He seemed poised to become Tech’s next great B-back until the following season when incoming freshman Dedrick Mills won the starting job, forcing Marshall to split carries once again. Unhappy with his second-string role, Marshall left Tech and transferred to James Madison, where he rushed for nearly 1300 yards and 17 touchdowns in his final two seasons.
Grade: B
Brentavious Glanton
Position: DT
247 Sports Composite: 0.8431
While Glanton played in 10 games as a redshirt sophomore, he appeared in only two games as a junior after the switch to a 3-4 scheme under Nate Woody. He’s recorded 30 tackles in his career and is competing for a starting job on the defensive line heading into his senior season.
Grade: C
Kyle Cerge-Henderson
Position: DT
247 Sports Composite: 0.8412
Cerge-Henderson made 10 starts for the Jackets as a senior in 2018 and appeared in 20 games over his four years on The Flats. He finished his career with a respectable 70 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries.
Grade: B-
David Curry
Position: LB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8350
Curry didn’t make much of an impact in his first two seasons, but as a redshirt junior he earned a starting role as an inside linebacker. He finished the 2018 season with 47 tackles, one interception, and one fumble recovery. He’ll look to build upon that as he enters his final season with the Jackets.
Grade: B-
Scott Morgan
Position: DT/OL
247 Sports Composite: 0.8340
While originally recruited as a defensive lineman, Morgan made the switch to offensive line after his first season at Tech. Last season as a redshirt junior he appeared in 10 games as a backup offensive lineman and on the field goal unit.
Grade: C
Omahri Jarrett
Position: AB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8301
Jarrett hasn’t seen the field much in his career at Georgia Tech, recording just four carries for 47 yards to go along with eight kickoff returns in 2017. As mentioned in the running back position battle article, Jarrett will again have a tough time seeing the field this season but has the potential to be dangerous as a pass-catching back.
Grade: C-
Nathan Cottrell
Position: AB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8259
Cottrell has been a solid contributor at A-back the past two seasons, picking up 639 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the process. For his final season he is transitioning to slot receiver where he’ll have the chance to fully utilize his elite speed.
Grade: B
Trent Sellers
Position: DE
247 Sports Composite: 0.8240
Grade: After hardly seeing the field in his first two years with the Jackets, Sellers transferred to Coffeyville Community College and eventually to the University of New Mexico. He did not play for the Lobos in 2018 due to injury.
Grade: D-
Meiko Dotson
Position: DB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8234
Dotson recorded two tackles as a redshirt freshman before transferring in the offseason. He played in eight games for Garden City Community College before transferring to Florida Atlantic University.
Grade: D-
Quaide Weimerskirch
Position: BB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8147
Weimerskirch was a promising B-back recruit, but an injury before his freshman season set him back quite a bit. During his redshirt sophomore season he rushed 16 times for 70 yards and one touchdown. After the 2017 season he left Tech for the University of West Florida as a graduate transfer.
Grade: C-
Kirvonte Benson
Position: BB
247 Sports Composite: 0.8123
Benson emerged as the starting B-back in 2017 following the departure of Marcus Marshall and Dedrick Mills. He put together a great 2017 campaign as a redshirt sophomore, racking up an impressive 1053 yards and six touchdowns. Unfortunately, his 2018 season was cut short due to a knee injury, and in May he announced his plans to transfer elsewhere.
Grade: B
Brad Morgan
Position: OL
247 Sports Composite: 0.8108
Morgan started three games at right guard for the Jackets in 2018, and he will look to compete for the starting job again entering his final season at Tech. He also saw action last year on the field goal unit.