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In college football recruiting, National Signing Day is the first day on which high school seniors are permitted to sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI), binding them to a particular school of their choice. (Yes, technically National Signing Day is only the first day for seniors to do this. Realistically, it’s the only day when about 98% of players headed to Power-5 schools will sign.) It occurs each year on the first Wednesday of February — this year, that’s February 1st. As of today, we’re under three weeks away from National Signing Day, and officially in the heart of recruiting season.
That being said, let’s take a look at where things stand for Georgia Tech as the finish line is approached.
Georgia Tech finds itself in good shape so far...
Georgia Tech’s 2017 Recruiting Class
| Position | Name | Ht | Wt | Hometown | Rivals | 247Sports Composite | Commit Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Name | Ht | Wt | Hometown | Rivals | 247Sports Composite | Commit Date | Status |
| DB | Jaytlin Askew | 5-9 | 170 | Powder Springs, GA | 3-star (5.7) | 3-star (0.8646) | 6/16/2016 | Enrolled (1/9/2017) |
| DB | Gentry Bonds | 6-1 | 190 | Murfreesboro, TN | 4-star (5.8) | 3-star (0.8545) | 8/18/2016 | Enrolled (1/9/2017) |
| P | Pressley Harvin III | 6-0 | 230 | Sumter, SC | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8145) | 3/7/2016 | Committed (3/7/2016) |
| OL | Connor Hansen | 6-2 | 320 | Tallahassee, FL | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8154) | 6/5/2016 | Committed (6/5/2016) |
| LB | TD Roof | 5-11 | 202 | Buford, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8347) | 6/6/2016 | Committed (6/6/2016) |
| K | Joseph Bulovas | 6-0 | 205 | Mandeville, LA | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8099) | 6/10/2016 | Committed (6/10/2016) |
| DB | Dameon Williams | 5-10 | 170 | Norcross, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8472) | 6/11/2016 | Committed (6/11/2016) |
| OL | Zach Quinney | 6-6 | 260 | Savannah, GA | 3-star (5.6) | 3-star (0.8396) | 7/19/2016 | Committed (7/19/2016) |
| OL | Michael Minihan | 6-3 | 285 | Honolulu, HI | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8403) | 7/24/2016 | Committed (7/24/2016) |
| DB | Tre' Swilling | 6-0 | 180 | New Orleans, LA | 4-star (5.8) | 3-star (0.8752) | 8/22/2016 | Committed (8/22/2016) |
| LB | Bruce Jordan-Swilling | 6-0 | 215 | New Orleans, LA | 4-star (5.8) | 4-star (0.9230) | 8/23/2016 | Committed (8/23/2016) |
| RB | Jerry Howard, Jr. | 6-0 | 210 | Rock Hill, SC | 2-star (5.4) | 3-star (0.8092) | 11/21/2016 | Committed (11/21/2016) |
| QB | Tobias Oliver | 6-2 | 180 | Warner Robins, GA | 2-star (5.4) | 3-star (0.8374) | 11/27/2016 | Committed (11/27/2016) |
| DL | Cortez Alston | 6-3 | 250 | Atlanta, GA | 3-star (5.6) | 3-star (0.8534) | 12/21/2016 | Committed (12/21/2016) |
| OL | Charlie Clark | 6-4 | 270 | Atlanta, GA | 2-star (5.3) | 2-star (0.7951) | 1/9/2017 | Committed (1/9/2017) |
As it stands, the Yellow Jackets are in really good shape with their recruiting class at the moment. You’ll notice on the Scholarship Breakdown that Georgia Tech has room for as many as 23 in this recruiting class, although history tells us that they’ll leave a spot or two open so that scholarships can be awarded to walk-on players as appropriate.
...but with some work still left to do.
Expecting a class size of 21 to 22, Coach Johnson’s staff has about 6 to 7 spots left to fill in the coming three weeks. That number is fairly average for this time of year, and is entirely attainable. Position-wise, my guess for the wish list for those spots is as follows:
- A-Back/Wide Receiver
- Offensive Lineman
- Defensive Lineman
- Defensive Lineman
- Linebacker
- Best Available
- Best Available
The A-Back/Wide Receiver spot will be determined by any personnel moves that could be in the works (and personnel moves could also be made in response to who decides to commit), but that’s pure speculation.
The recruiting big board has several interesting names set to visit the Flats over the next three weekends that are candidates to fill those slots. Here’s a list of visitors coming over the next few weekends, according to the Rivals database:
Upcoming Visits (as of 1/12/17)
| Position | Name | Ht | Wt | Hometown | Rivals | 247Sports Composite | Visit Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Name | Ht | Wt | Hometown | Rivals | 247Sports Composite | Visit Date | Status |
| DL | Aliki Vimahi | 6-4 | 255 | Kahuku, HI | 3-star (5.6) | 3-star (0.8484) | 1/13/2017 | Uncommitted |
| DL | Antwan Owens | 6-4 | 286 | Tallahassee, FL | 3-star (5.6) | 3-star (0.8192) | 1/13/2017 | Committed to UCF |
| LB | Bruce Jordan-Swilling | 6-0 | 215 | New Orleans, LA | 4-star (5.8) | 4-star (0.9230) | 1/13/2017 | Committed to Georgia Tech |
| DB | Dameon Williams | 5-10 | 170 | Norcross, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8472) | 1/13/2017 | Committed to Georgia Tech |
| RB | Jerry Howard, Jr. | 6-0 | 210 | Rock Hill, SC | 2-star (5.4) | 3-star (0.8092) | 1/13/2017 | Committed to Georgia Tech |
| RB | Jordan Ponchez-Mason | 6-1 | 205 | Gallatin, TN | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8166) | 1/13/2017 | Uncommitted |
| WR | Michael Smith | 6-2 | 205 | Vero Beach, FL | NR | NR | 1/13/2017 | Uncommitted |
| LB | TD Roof | 5-11 | 202 | Buford, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8347) | 1/13/2017 | Committed to Georgia Tech |
| QB | Tobias Oliver | 6-2 | 180 | Warner Robins, GA | 2-star (5.4) | 3-star (0.8374) | 1/13/2017 | Committed to Georgia Tech |
| DB | Tre' Swilling | 6-0 | 180 | New Orleans, LA | 4-star (5.8) | 3-star (0.8752) | 1/13/2017 | Committed to Georgia Tech |
| OL | Zach Quinney | 6-6 | 260 | Savannah, GA | 3-star (5.6) | 3-star (0.8396) | 1/13/2017 | Committed to Georgia Tech |
| DB | Avery Showell | 6-2 | 200 | Cartersville, GA | 3-star (5.6) | 3-star (0.8320) | 1/20/2017 | Uncommitted |
| OL | Charlie Clark | 6-4 | 270 | Atlanta, GA | 2-star (5.3) | 2-star (0.7951) | 1/20/2017 | Committed to Georgia Tech |
| LB | Jaquan Henderson | 6-1 | 210 | Covington, GA | 3-star (5.7) | 3-star (0.8813) | 1/20/2017 | Committed to Tennessee |
| K | Joseph Bulovas | 6-0 | 205 | Mandeville, LA | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8099) | 1/20/2017 | Committed to Georgia Tech |
| DL | Josh Johnson | 6-5 | 240 | Suwanee, GA | NR | NR | 1/20/2017 | Uncommitted |
| DL | Kelton Dawson | 6-3 | 235 | Atlanta, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8355) | 1/20/2017 | Uncommitted |
| LB | Kendric Haynes | 6-0 | 224 | Mobile, AL | 3-star (5.7) | 3-star (0.8656) | 1/27/2017 | Uncommitted |
| LB | Leonard Warner | 6-3 | 220 | Snellville, GA | 4-star (5.8) | 4-star (0.9238) | 1/27/2017 | Uncommitted |
| DL | Robert Porcher IV | 6-3 | 250 | Orlando, FL | 4-star (5.8) | 3-star (0.8639) | 1/27/2017 | Uncommitted |
| DB | Tariq Carpenter | 6-2 | 191 | Ludowici, GA | 2-star (5.4) | 3-star (0.8182) | 1/27/2017 | Committed to UCF |
This coming weekend figures to be a huge one, with a dozen players set to visit, including seven players already committed to Georgia Tech and a pair of players committed to other schools. A couple of commitments here would set up the coaching staff nicely for the final two weekends.
Stay tuned to FTRS for any recruiting news that surfaces over the weekend!