Big Weekend on the Flats....

It was a big weekend on the Flats as Tech hosted all but 2 of our verbal commitments for the class of 2010 on their official visits. Word is that things went extremely well. We're gonna try & give you a brief run down on the class with more to come on & around signing day. First our scholarship situation.

A program has 85 scholarships total with no more than 25 being awarded in any given year. At this moment Tech has 8o scholarship players including Alabama transfer Chris Jackson, who has to sit out a year due to changing schools. The reason we only have 80 players on scholarship is that the class sizes were skewed which creates huge problems so CPJ is using this year to balance things out. We lose six seniors to graduation: Voss, Sellers, Howard, Sedric Griffin, Jason Hill, & Martin Frierson. Reserve offensive lineman Zach Krish will be graduating this spring & has informed coaches he will be leaving the program to attend law school. Kudos to you, sir. That leaves us 12 available scholarships. Another spot just recently opened up as RS Sophomore DE Antonio Wilson learned he has a degenerative neck condition and will not be able to play football. Wilson will remain on scholarship & help around the program however his scholarship will not count against the 85 limit. So we've got 13 scholarships for the class of 2010, pending the decision of the juniors to go pro, any transfers, or academic casualties.

My thought is when all is said & done we'll take 15-16 scholarship players in 2010. So this class is clearly about finding quality kids that fill a need in our program. So far we have 13 commitments and are actively recruiting several players for our anticipated final spots. The commitments (in no particular order):

• Caitlin Alford, OG, Adairsville, H.S., Adairsville GA, 6'4", 275: a perfect fit for our system. A pure run blocker. Offered after camping at Tech this summer. A mauler witha nasty disposition. Will redshirt.


• Morgan Bailey, OT, Loganville H.S., Loganville, GA. 6'4", 290: some project Bailey at guard but I see him at tackle. Great size & can move in space. Our #1 offensive line target this year.


• Charles Perkins, RB, Collins Hill H.S., Suwanee, GA, 6'0", 210: the sleeper of the class, Perkins is a flat out baller. May start at A-back but I see him as the B-back of the future. Decisive runner with great acceleration. At top speed after 3 steps. Runs hard & isn't afraid of contact. A slasher. I expect a redshirt but this kid can really play. Our first 2010 commitment.

A bit of foreshadowing? Perkins sheds a Parkview/Clemson defender...

• Denzel McCoy, DT, Northview H.S., Duluth GA, 6'4", 275: our most highly regarded recruit on a national level, McCoy is the vocal leader of this class, actively working the phones & getting others to commit. No baby fat on this kid, very lean & muscular. Will need to add 25 pounds to compete at the next level. Expect a redshirt.


• Ryan Ayers, CB, South Paulding H.S., Douglasville, GA. 5'10", 175 : blazing fast with several 4.4 clockings in the 40. Will need to add mass & be more physical on the next level. Raw player with all the physical tools. Will redshirt.

Ryan Ayers has all the makings of a great corner at Tech...

• B.J. Bostic, ATH, Jefferson County H.S., Louisville, GA. 5'10". 160 : An electric player. Projects at CB & was recruited to play there but he's just amazing with the ball in his hands. Something tells me CPJ might steal him to play A-Back. More quick than fast. Very elusive. 42" vertical at the Tech camp. Great return man. Will need to bulk up. Redshirt.


• Synjyn Days, QB, Hillgrove H.S., Powder Springs, GA. 6'2" 205 : a good athlete that could eventually move from the QB position. Played in the Triple Option throughout high school so is very familiar with the system. Brother Jabari is a 2011 recruit. Redshirt.

Synjyn Days, a foppish young man with an keen eye for the open running lane

• Shawn Green, DT, Grayson H.S., Loganville, GA. 6'2" 285 : a prototype nose or 1 technique DT. Low center of gravity, innate understanding of leverage. Cat quick. An impact player. I won't be surprised to see him push for playing time as a true freshman. I'm very high on this kid...


• Fred Holton, S, Thomasville H.S., Thomasville, GA. 6'1" 195 : a big time hitter. Very physical player. A bit stiff in coverage. If he can hold the weight might play LB at Tech. Will need work on technique. Redshirt.


• Isaiah Johnson, S, Sandy Creek H.S., Tyrone, GA. 6'2" 175 : from the same school as Calvin & Andrew Gardner. Very instinctual player. Runs well & breaks on the ball. Ball hawk. A bit thin in the lower body. Will be groomed to take Morgan Burnett's spot. Great raw talent. Redshirt.


• Quayshawn Nealy, LB, Lakeland H.S., Lakeland, FLA. 6'0" 215 : projects at SLB at Tech. Good speed & can add 20 pounds to his frame easily. Can go sideline-to-sideline. Good in coverage. Should redshirt but might play on special teams.


• Jake Skole, S, Blessed Trinity H.S., Roswell, GA. 6'1" 185 : Dual sport athlete (baseball). Brother Matt is starting 3rd baseman on the Tech team. Very fast. Will need to bulk up. Reminds some of former Tech safety Jon Muyres. Redshirt.


• Anthony Williams, DE, Union Grove H.S., McDonouh, GA. 6'4" 235 : perhaps the best player in the class. Relentless motor. Great speed for his size. Terrific pass rusher. Should be the heir apparent to Derrick Morgan. Could play as a freshman.

So there are our 13 commitments for 2010. Nine defenders & three offensive players. All but one from the state of Georgia. Nice to see us addressing needs. Who else is still on our radar? The top three:

• T.J. Stripling, DE, Southwest Dekalb H.S., Decatur, GA. 6'6" 215 : a current UGA commit, Stripling has always been interested in Tech. A fierce edge rusher, seen by many as one of the top 5 players in the state this year. The current coaching shake up at Georgia gives us a chance. Will take an official visit to Tech next weekend. Think former Tech DE Michael Johnson. Would be HUGE to grab him away from the Mutts.


• Mike Thornton, DT, Stephenson H.S., Stone Mountain, GA. 6'2" 280 : a long shot. Very good player with a great frame & good quickness. Strong Auburn lean. With Green & McCoy would make a huge DL class. Our only hope is a chance to play as a true freshman. Official visit this weekend.


• Justin Parker, LB, Beaufort H.S., Beaufort, S.C. 6'3" 230: already built like an NFL player. Excellent sideline-to-sideline player. Many thought he wouldn't leave the state of S.C. but he appears open to several schools. Would play as a true freshman at Tech. We'll get his last official visit in January.
  

If we land any of those three players, Tech fans should be thrilled. There are several other players being recruited along with a couple of potential preferred walk-ons. We'll just have to wait & see. If you have questions, please ask & I'll try to answer. Just remember, none of it means a thing until they sign on February 3rd. Except in the case of Perkins, Bostic & Johnson who have graduated this semester & enrolled at Tech. They begin classes after Christmas & will all take part in spring practice.