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Georgia Tech Football Recruiting: The Road to Signing Day

With National Signing Day now under a month away, it's time to get you ready for the insanity coming our way.

Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

Already Enrolled

Pos First Last Hometown High School Ht Wt Rivals Rating Committed Film
RB Quaide Weimerskirch Pace, FL Pace 6'0" 200 3 stars 5.5 10/18/2014 Link
OL Will Bryan Carnesville, GA Franklin County 6'3" 280 3 stars 5.7 8/3/2013 Link
WR Harland Howell II Marietta, GA Wheeler 6'2" 198 3 stars 5.5 6/23/2014 Link
DT Kyle Henderson Tampa, FL Plant 6'2" 280 3 stars 5.5 6/19/2014 Link

As Ben wrote about last week, these four have already enrolled in classes at Georgia Tech and have completed their recruitment. The biggest name to know going forward is Will Bryan -- the first commitment in this class. If you haven't seen his film, take a look. He's awfully nasty on the offensive line and should be a big-time player for the Jackets up front. As for the other three on this list, any of them could end up playing early -- B-Back, Wide Receiver, and Defensive Tackle are looking to be three areas with minimal depth in 2015 (not to mention that these guys will have extra time in the on-campus weight room and in spring practice). At the very least I would expect Henderson to get some time as a true freshman, but Weimerskirch and Howell very well could as well.

Currently Committed

Pos First Last Hometown High School Ht Wt Rivals Rating Committed Film
RB KirVonte Benson Marietta, GA Marietta 5'8" 191 3 stars 5.5 11/24/2014 Link
ATH Christian Campbell Ponchatoula, LA Ponchatoula 6'1" 195 3 stars 5.7 6/7/2014 Link
LB Tyler Cooksey Norcross, GA Greater Atlanta Christian 6'3" 220 3 stars 5.7 6/15/2014 Link
RB Nathan Cottrell Knoxville, TN West 5'10" 183 3 stars 5.5 6/9/2014 Link
DB Meiko Dotson Daytona Beach, FL Mainland 5'9" 173 3 stars 5.5 10/8/2014 Link
DT Brentavious Glanton Albany, GA Monroe 6'2" 273 3 stars 5.5 8/12/2014 Link
ATH A.J. Gray Sandersville, GA Washington County 6'2" 195 3 stars 5.7 3/11/2014 Link
RB Omahri Jarrett Douglasville, GA New Manchester 5'10" 180 3 stars 5.6 6/5/2014 Link
RB Mikell Lands-Davis Douglasville, GA Alexander 5'11" 208 3 stars 5.6 6/27/2014 Link
ATH TaQuon Marshall Hamilton, GA Harris County 5'10" 167 3 stars 5.5 7/29/2014 Link
LB Brant Mitchell Knoxville, TN Webb School Of Knoxville 6'3" 248 3 stars 5.6 7/19/2014 Link
OL Brad Morgan Woodstock, GA Etowah 6'4" 265 3 stars 5.5 7/25/2014 Link
DT Scott Morgan Woodstock, GA Etowah 6'4" 275 3 stars 5.5 7/25/2014 Link
WR Christian Philpott Tallahassee, FL North Florida Christian 6'2" 200 3 stars 5.7 6/8/2014 Link
QB Jaylend Ratliffe Laurinburg, NC Scotland County 6'2" 200 3 stars 5.5 3/29/2014 Link
DE Trent Sellers Tyrone, GA Sandy Creek 6'4" 230 3 stars 5.5 6/7/2014 Link
WR Brandon Singleton Boutte, LA Hahnville 6'0" 170 3 stars 5.7 7/25/2014 Link
DB Dante Wigley Carrollton, GA Carrollton 6'1" 180 3 stars 5.5 7/14/2014 Link

There hasn't really been a ton of recent movement for Georgia Tech as far as new commitments, which is a little abnormal for this time of the year. However, a lot of the reason for that is what you see above -- notice that all but two of them committed before the season started, and notice just how many of them there are. Coach Johnson and his staff did a really nice job with this class of identifying the players they wanted and locking them up early, and then keeping them locked up. To that point, I would also say that none of these guys stands out as a major threat to flip to another school in the next month. They've done a nice job of bonding and the coaches have kept in contact with each of them, and nobody specifically stands out as one to worry about. (I would be wary of flips just given that they happen regularly in the last month of recruiting, but there's no one prospect that's concerning at this point.)

Names to keep an eye on for early playing time here are Christian Campbell and Brandon Singleton at Wide Receiver, Defensive Tackle Brentavious Glanton, B-Back Mikell Lands-Davis, and AJ Gray at Safety.

Top Remaining Targets

Pos First Last Hometown High School Ht Wt Rivals Rating Visit Date Film
DE Anree Saint-Amour Suwanee, GA North Gwinnett 6'2" 245 3 stars 5.7 12/12/2014 Link
LB Victor Alexander Jacksonville, FL Trinity Christian 5'10" 220 3 stars 5.6 None Link
RB Marcus Marshall Raleigh, NC Millbrook 5'9" 205 3 stars 5.5 1/23/2015 Link
ATH Dorian Walker Kennesaw, GA Mt Paran 6'0" 175 3 stars 5.5 1/16/2015 Link

This is not an exhaustive list of remaining potential recruits, but a look at the top players remaining on the board.

If you follow Georgia Tech's recruiting at all, you already know about Anree Saint-Amour, the highly-talented pass-rushing defensive end out of North Gwinnett HS. The Jackets have been hot in pursuit of Saint-Amour for a few months now, but it sounds like he's favoring Stanford over the hometown team. He's visiting the Cardinal next weekend and may make a decision soon afterwards.

Victor Alexander is a top prospect at linebacker who's short but very stocky (think about Julian Burnett). He's currently committed to UCLA but being courted heavily by Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. (Of those, Georgia Tech is by far the closest to home, although it's unclear whether that's a factor -- especially for a UCLA commit.) After a September visit to Blacksburg (where he watched the Yellow Jackets beat the Hokies, strangely enough), he's set to visit UCLA next weekend and Georgia Tech the weekend after.

You'll see Marcus Marshall on there as well -- brother of georgia's Keith Marshall, and a guy whose size and skills would allow him to play B-Back or A-Back. He's already visited Vanderbilt back in November and will visit Georgia Tech on the penultimate recruiting weekend of the season. He's also got interest from Wake Forest and James Madison.

Dorian Walker came on late in the season as Mt. Paran went on a state championship run. He can play offense or defense, and particularly would be a fit at A-Back or Cornerback, although adding a few pounds could put him into the mix at B-Back too. He's set to visit the Flats next weekend.

Again, this list is not exhaustive and there are almost certainly another dozen or more players that the coaches are considering and in contact with. What you should know, though, is that Georgia Tech has room for at least 2-3 more players in this class, and as many as 5. The current roster and commitments leave the Jackets with 80 scholarships out of the maximum of 85. It's unlikely that they'll use each scholarship, and will leave at least a couple open for potential transfers or walk-on guys who earn a scholarship (such as an Isaiah Willis or Brandon Oliver type). Also, expect a few (2-3) players to leave the team early in the offseason, in order to start professional careers or seek more playing time or to go elsewhere for a master's degree. (That's not to suggest that anyone in particular is planning on leaving -- just that history would tell us this will happen at some point.)

This is where we're at, Tech fans. Following Monday night's College Football Playoff Championship Game, the home stretch of recruiting the high school class of 2015 will begin, and recent history tells us it's going to be a crazy ride. So buckle your chinstraps -- it's go time.