My top 120 players in the state of Georgia for the 2025 class is LIVE. Having been in Georgia now for two seasons, I am starting to really get my feet under me, and this could have easily made this list 150 names long.

I am sure I missed a few, but there's a good chance that the majority of Georgia Tech's 2025 class is going to come from this list.

Released his top schools today, and included Georgia Tech among them.
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                                    SILVA JOINS TECH SWIM-DIVE COACHING STAFF
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech swimming and diving announced Wednesday the addition of Arilson Soares da Silva to its coaching staff.
Silva brings an array of international experience to the Yellow Jackets coaching staff. Prior to Tech, Silva served as a swimming consultant and also taught swimming clinics worldwide.
Silva has coached athletes that have participated in every Olympic Games since 2008. Those athletes include Andriy Govorov from Ukraine who finished fifth in 2016 at the Rio Olympics and Bruno Fratus who finished fourth in 2012 at the London Olympics.
Throughout his career, Silva has mentored athletes who have broken multiple world records. In 2009, Felipe Franca became the first man to break the 27-second barrier en route to the 50m Breaststroke. In 2018, Andriy Govorov broke the 50m Butterfly world record, which still stands.
“We are excited to welcome Coach Ari to our team,” Toni M. and Richard L. Bergmark Swimming and Diving Head Coach Courtney Shealy Hart said. “We are thrilled to have an assistant swim coach of his caliber joining us. Coach Ari’s experience as an Olympic-level assistant, his dedication and passion for excellence will undoubtedly drive our athletes to new heights.”
Silva’s coaching resume also includes seven world championship medals and multiple Olympians.
While in Brazil, Silva was a member of the Brazilian Swimming Technical Council and the Brazilian Academy of Coaches of Brazilian Olympic Institute. Silva’s experience also includes participation in the International Coaching Enrichment Program promoted by United States Olympic Committee and University of Delaware in USA.
“I am excited and happy to have this opportunity to work for Georgia Tech!” Silva said. “I want to thank Coaches Courtney and Chico for having considered me for the position! I hope to collaborate my experience and coaching skills with highly competitive swimmers. I look forward to taking on the challenge of teaching one of the most competitive systems in the world in U.S. College Swimming! I missed being able to coach with a team, so I am looking forward to returning to this coaching capacity and learning a lot with this new experience.”
Silva graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education and Sportive Techniques from Guarulhos University. He also took an extension course specializing in Exercise Physiology (1993- Medicine School of São Paulo) and Sportive Training (1994- University of São Paulo).

THE FLATS – After helping lift Georgia Tech to a 30-17 win over UCF in last month’s Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl, defensive back Ahmari Harvey (Tallahassee, Fla./Florida State University School) was named to the Associated Press’ 2023 All-Bowl team, the AP announced following the conclusion of the 2023-24 bowl season.



Harvey recorded six tackles (all solo), two pass breakups and an interception in Georgia Tech’s decisive win over UCF on Dec. 22 in Tampa, Fla. His interception with 1:28 to go in the game sealed the Yellow Jackets’ first postseason victory since their 33-18 triumph over Kentucky in the 2016 TaxSlayer (Gator) Bowl.



Harvey is Tech’s first AP All-Bowl team honoree since current Kansas City Chiefs place kicker Harrison Butker was named to the 2016 team after kicking four field goals, including 52- and 44-yarders, and sent all seven of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks in the Jackets’ TaxSlayer Bowl win over Kentucky.



For the season, Harvey finished second on the team and tied for fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference with three interceptions, and also ranked among the ACC’s top 25 with six passes defended (half of which came in the Gasparilla Bowl win over UCF). He tallied 31 tackles (28 solo) while appearing in 11 games and making six starts at cornerback as a redshirt sophomore in 2023.



Harvey and the Yellow Jackets, who finished 7-6 overall and 5-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference play in ‘23 (good for a tie for fourth place in the 14-team ACC), open the 2024 season on August 24 in Dublin, Ireland versus Florida State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Exclusive travel and ticket packages for Georgia Tech fans are available at gt2ireland.com.

Caught up with Rivals100 2025 RB Alvin Henderson following his Sunday visit to Georgia Tech. He had a lot to say, some off the record, but the majority of it on the record.
Login to view embedded media Some takeaways from our conversation-

- The Georgia Tech offense caught the attention of Henderson this past season. "They had some explosive performances on offense, so I wanted to hear their approach," he said. Henderson plans to continue looking online to see more from their performances last season.

- The visit impressed Henderson, who was not really sure what to expect coming into the trip. The facilities, and recent renovations (and those still taking place)

- His relationship with RB coach Norv McKenzie was a big factor in the decision to visit. "He's always been in contact with me, hitting me up and just checking in. I was in town, so I wanted to make the trip to stop by.

- Henderson wasn't ready to rule out adding Georgia Tech to his top 10, and mentioned that a plan to return could be in the works.

Henderson also visited Georgia this past weekend.

Has entered the transfer portal.

Tae Harris was just offered while at Florida this weekend and GT is up next, he tells Rivals

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Former Duke GA Xavier Garcia has made the move to Georgia Tech. He joins the program as an analyst.

One of the nights both Chad and I question our life choices being up here for a 9 pm tipoff.

Naithan George

Kyle Sturdivant

I'll add video shortly from Damon

The fellas crack a few over-carbinated beers open with Jackets Online very own @Kelly Quinlan . We delve into how Kelly brought the site up and running, his favorite memories covering GT, and the latest on the defensive staff overhaul. Kick back with a 6 pack and enjoy! @chunkosauruswrex gives it 5 pony kegs out of 5 pony kegs of Steel Reserve.

Name usually comes up when we have a defensive opening. Per footballscoop he’s joining USC staff as co- dc.

ESPN carried an interview with Chris while he was practicing with his buddy Coco Gauff yesterday. James Blake commented that he has been advising Chris to put on some weight and build up strength in his legs. Seems Chris is now more seriously working on improving.
And Coco has hired highly respected Brad Gilbert as her coach. Since Coco and Chris are hitting partners and Brad watches her hitting sessions with Chris, it would not surprise me if Brad did not give Chris some advice also.

Will be at Georgia Tech this weekend, he told me this morning. Login to view embedded media

THE FLATS – Highlighted by new defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci, Georgia Tech football has officially added three assistant coaches to the defensive side of the ball, head coach Brent Key announced on Saturday. In addition to Stantucci, who will coach the Yellow Jackets’ linebackers, the new defensive assistants include outside linebackers/edge coach Kyle Pope and defensive line coach Jess Simpson.
“We’re really excited to welcome Tyler, Kyle and Jess to our staff and the Georgia Tech family,” Key said. “A lot of time and consideration was put into these hires because we were committed to finding the right fits for Georgia Tech football and our student-athletes. These three outstanding coaches fit the makeup of our staff as great teachers and recruiters with championship pedigree, and I’m looking forward to them working with our student-athletes.”

After successful stints as defensive coordinator at Atlantic Coast Conference rival Duke and co-defensive coordinator at Texas A&M, Tyler Santucci joins Georgia Tech’s staff as defensive coordinator/linebackers coach.
In one season at Duke (2023), Santucci directed the ACC’s top-ranked scoring defense, allowing just 19.0 points per game, which was good for 16th nationally. The Blue Devils also ranked among the nation’s top 50 in rushing defense, passing defense, total defense, tackles for loss, third-down defense, fourth-down defense and red-zone defense. Duke allowed a total of just 10 points in a pair of wins over teams that finished the season in the top 25 – No. 20 Clemson (28-7) and No. 21 NC State (24-3) – and finished 8-5 overall after a 17-10 win over Troy in the 2023 Birmingham Bowl.
For his role in directing the ACC’s top scoring defense, Santucci was a nominee for the 2023 Broyles Award, which honors college football’s top assistant coach.
Prior to his lone season at Duke, Santucci spent three seasons at Texas A&M (2020-22), serving as linebackers coach for all three seasons and as co-defensive coordinator in his final campaign with the Aggies in 2022. As co-defensive coordinator, where he direct the nation’s No. 1 pass defense (156.2 ypg) and a top 25 scoring defense (20.7 ppg). The Aggies also ranked among the top 10 nationally in red-zone defense and top 20 in interceptions and pass efficiency defense with Santucci as co-DC. In his three seasons at A&M, the Aggies won 22 games, including nine during the Covid-19-shortened 2020 campaign, when they finished 9-1 overall and ranked No. 4 in the nation.
In addition to the last four seasons at Duke and Texas A&M, Santucci has also coached linebackers at Wake Forest (2019) and Texas State (2016). His experience also includes two seasons as a defensive analyst at Notre Dame (2017) and A&M (2018), two seasons as a graduate assistant at Wake (2014-15) and four seasons on the staff at his alma mater, Stony Brook, first as a graduate assistant (2010-11), then as the Seawolves’ safeties (2012) and defensive line (2013) coach.
In all, he’s helped lead teams to bowl games in six of the last seven seasons.
Santucci was a standout linebacker at Stony Brook from 2006-09, finishing his playing career with 284 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss and five interceptions. He was an all-Big South Conference selection as a junior (second team) and senior (first team), and was named Big South Defensive Player of the Year and second-team Associated Press NCAA Division I FCS all-America as a senior in 2009. In 2013, he was named to the Big South’s first all-decade team. He graduated from Stony Brook with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2010.
Santucci and his wife, Arielle, have a daughter, Liana.
THE SANTUCCI FILE
Personal
Hometown: New Kensington, Pa.
Family: Wife – Arielle; Child – Liana
Alma Mater: Stony Brook, 2010
Playing Experience
2006-10: Stony Brook (LB)
Coaching Experience
2010-11: Stony Brook (Graduate Assistant)
2012: Stony Brook (Safeties)
2013: Stony Brook (Defensive Line)
2014-15: Wake Forest (Graduate Assistant)
2016: Texas State (Linebackers)
2017: Notre Dame (Defensive Analyst)
2018: Texas A&M (Defensive Analyst)
2019: Wake Forest (Linebackers)
2020-21: Texas A&M (Linebackers)
2022: Texas A&M (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2023: Duke (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2024: Georgia Tech (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)

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I admit I haven’t watched it yet, but figured I would post.

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (Douglasville, Ga./Alexander H.S.) has added to his long list of honors with inclusion on the prestigious 2023 Football Writers Association of America freshman all-America team, the FWAA announced on Tuesday.



One of college football’s premier freshman all-America teams, the FWAA freshman all-America team includes just 32 student-athletes from across the nation.



Singleton Jr. ranked fourth among all freshmen nationally (true or redshirt) in 2023 with 59.5 receiving yards per game and was tied for fourth among true freshmen nationally with six touchdown receptions. His 714 receiving yards and six touchdown catches both ranked among the top 10 overall in the Atlantic Coast Conference, while his six TD receptions were the second-most by a freshman in Georgia Tech history.



He finished second in voting for ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year, third in balloting for the conference’s overall Rookie of the Year and was previously named to ESPN’s, College Football News’, The Athletic’s, On3’s and 247Sports freshman/true freshman all-America teams.



Singleton Jr. is the first Yellow Jacket to earn a spot on the FWAA freshman all-America team since punter Pressley Harvin III in 2017. Harvin went on to win the Ray Guy Award as college football’s top punter in 2020 and just wrapped up his third National Football League season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

For Monday?.......Now that we know who the DC is, how many days did you have to sit on that info?

KQ- Well my story was written on Jan. 10th and Russell did his profile thing the next day.

How disruptive will Saban’s retirement be to anything other than the coach hiring process? We are getting a visitor for an OV and a 2025 recruit is visiting us, but will anything else happen? Lanning is staying put so that’s a domino removed, but seems to have serious potential.

KQ- Any movement is potentially a domino, but really it could be a net positive for GT depending how things shake out. There will be more portal activity and that can impact both the 2024 and 2025 classes and roster decisions.

When, If, Or never, will we recruit 5 or more Top 50 players in the State of Georgia?

KQ- @Russell Johnson

* Since you have full knowledge of the football staff now, fill in the blank. This is Georgia Tech's strongest overall football staff since _______?

KQ- You will need to ask this next week at the earliest my friend.

* True or False? GT will have enough preseason hype to garner some top 25 votes, and would move into the top 25 with a season opening win over FSU.

KQ- Interesting question. If they handle FSU then yes. If it is a close game I could see GT cracking the top 30. I would not be shocked if they get a vote or two in the preseason for the top 25.

Do you know what the general mood is among the players and can you provide any insights into the locker-room vibe heading into 2024?

KQ- Not really, they just started school back up with workouts and everything like that coming. It is a little early for a vibe check.

So if you’re Damon, do you clip the moving screen calls and show the ones Duke had that were all clearly fouls and ask for an explanation what the difference was?

KQ- Of course, but GT has been hit by that a few times. They probably need to teach Baye to flop when they do that to him.

Your overall grade for this staff that Key has put together? I know we don’t have a DB coach yet as I’m typing this..

KQ- I think it is an A- staff so far. I like the new additions and what is coming back. I'm really curious about the final DB hire. That could move it up IMO.

What percent of Gibbs leaving was NIL and what percent was he figured out MoBS was full of crap

KQ- That is an interesting question. I think it was largely money. His family didn't have a pot to piss in and they got set up better at Bama.

Who is an offensive player (not Leo Blackburn, if possible) you will have your eye on in Spring ball as a potential breakout candidate/impact guy in 2024? Defensive player? Newcomer (HS or transfer)?

KQ- Potential breakout on offense not named Blackburn, maybe Brett Seither. If he can stay healthy he has a chance to be very productive in the passing game. On the defensive side, Eddie Kelly. He can play both end positions and you can see his athleticism and motor. He just needs to be coached up. Newcomer, Anthony Carrie is the guy I think replaces what Dontae Smith did and maybe more.

Do you have enough insight into how CDS was thinking about our team before the season started to assess if he thinks this team is underachieving, on target, or overachieving at this point in the season?

KQ- I think they are playing about how he expected with the record probably about where he thought it would be. He knew it was going to be a game-to-game deal. Miles Kelly struggling in the first half of the season was a surprise and Amaree Abram's struggles were not predicted and Nait George being better than anticipated also helps.

What is your assessment of GTMBB about halfway thru 2023-24? What would you like to see more of (good) in that back half of the schedule? Less of (bad)?

KQ- I think the schedule has been hard and the team learning their roles and all of that has made it more difficult but there have been some cool highlights and they are capable of playing with just about anyone as they've shown. I think they need to show they can beat and put away lesser teams in the second half. That is the biggest thing I'll be watching as they play some revenge games too like at ND.

With the first offseason portal period over, what grade do you give the defensive additions as a whole?

KQ- Like a B-, they didn't have a DC or most of the positions filled for the entirety of the period so it was hard to make plays and as I said before the second portal will be the key for finding the final spots as those kids are generally not the ones just chasing money or guys who are leaving because they weren't playing. I do like the FCS kids they've added and I loved Lightsey out of HS.

Most likely to least likely for Damon in Year Two ‘24-‘25:
A - No postseason
B - NIT
C - NCAA

KQ- I think B, but Damon will be expecting C.

Our Offense is good and trending up. Obviously our Defense is caught short on talent and depth. How realistic is it to expect recruiting enough transfer talent and depth via the portal’s second opening to enable GT to be a Top 25 team? Particularly since oftentimes we’re outbid.

KQ- First off they've been outbid on some kids because it was decided the kid wasn't worth the asking price. It hasn't been because of a lack of money. So get that out of your mind. Yes there is a budget, but they have a functional one. Secondly I have no clue what the final defense will look like so I can't really say yet.

You have often said that GT needs to focus on player developmemt to succeed. Who would you say are the coaches with the reputation for being the best player developers at positions and who are some names that are seen as the rising stars?

KQ- I guess you mean on GT's current staff. That would be Simpson (developer not young) and Pope on D and Norv, Geep and Crawford on offense. Key has a pretty young staff overall and that is because he wants guys to grind.

Are there any coaches in the coaching realm that actually like MoBS not named Thacker or Rhule?

KQ- Yes, Mack Brown clearly, Hugh Freeze likes him as well. He would've interviewed for that job had UNC not hired him per some people close to Hugh. Geoff can be a fun guy to hang around. I just think he sucks as a head coach and I'm unclear on him as a DC.

Seems like we've heard every new GT football coach talk about the importance and priority they're going to place on recruiting the state of Georgia, yet with varying results. Even in this cycle, Key's staff took several head-scratching out of state commits only to end up dropping the majority of them.

1- Even though almost everyone recruits GA I think no one should know the state (especially Metro Atl) better than GT. Is that a fair expectation?

KQ- Georgia is a huge state and UGA has a huge advantage baked in with some many alums and fans serving as head coaches in the state of Georgia so I reject this concept outright from the jump. I've been in hundreds of schools, I've seen GT gear a handful of time, UGA stuff I see all the time. The kids that got dropped had a lot to do with some strange standing on the table done now or soon to be former staffers.

2- Can GT do better in Georgia and if so what are some constructive ways that can happen?

KQ- They need to have kids in early and trust their evals. I think some former assistants really did not evaluate well and that put GT behind the 8-ball like Tre Alexander in the last cycle. It was clear as day to me and Russell he should've been offered and committed back in July.

GT plays (11) 2023 bowl teams this next season. Is it unreasonable to expect 8 wins?

KQ- With a bowl win sure I guess. We don't know who will be on these teams yet.

Shot in the dark question but would it even be possible for Aeneas Peebles to finish his current semester at VT and then portal to GT in the spring?

KQ- Yes if the multi-transfer rule isn't put back in.

Could Chuck Oliver be more condesending and ill informed when you are on his show? Makes it sound like kids are running for the portal and our defensive hires are mediocre. Sounds like he is scrambling for notes to ask you a question. I’ll hang up and listen.

KQ- Hahahaha, I love Chuck, I thought he was fine, but he loves SEC ball.

per sources, paperwork is done and the ink is dry.

Thanks to our sponsor Inteleca for helping bring back Q's Take my weekly look at things around GT and college sports from my vantage.




This wasn't a turnkey operation for Damon Stoudamire and his staff and that is ultimately why he is the head coach at Georgia Tech instead of Josh Pastner. This team lacks some key pieces and the Duke game was the ultimate display of the good and the bad of the current roster and the quick scouting that Stoudamire and Karl Hobbs did early on to attract guys like Baye Ndongo, Naithan George and Tafara Gapare to Atlanta while mixing in a hodgepodge of transfers and a three returning rotation players from last year in Miles Kelly, Kyle Sturdivant and Deebo Coleman.

Had the game not been at Duke, chances are Georgia Tech would've won. The 13-0 run got their students into the game and changed the entire momentum of the game. Stoudamire has squeezed a lot of out the two true freshmen Ndongo and George who are shockingly turning into very good ACC starters and that was something no one outside of the basketball facilities could've envisioned.

Stoudamire just lacked the horse to overcome the home-court advantage (atmosphere/officiating) afforded the Blue Devils even post-Coach K. After the game, Damon was clearly both pleased and pissed about the game, pleased with his team showing what they are capable of when playing to their max and pissed at the outcome and coming up a couple of buckets short of a sweep of a team he hates in his bones IMO as a former Arizona player.

In a year or so, Tech should be beyond the phase of playing the Ty Claude's against Kyle Filipowski or lacking the athleticism to defend on the ball against seasoned guards like Jeremy Roach. Those two things were really the main difference in the game. I warned everyone when Claude came to GT not to expect Ja'Von Franklin, but rather a guy who is an undersized big man who can rebound and score around the rim. He is that and not Franklin or a freaky athlete like Gapare or Ndongo.

Miles Kelly is a complimentary player and Stoudamire alluded to that in the post-game presser, he isn't the alpha that is going to lead the team and that is okay. He needs to relax and play his game instead of trying to make too much happen. The game also swung late on momentum on a couple of poor decisions Kelly made with the ball. You can live with George throwing a bad entry pass to Claude though Stoudamire chewed him out for that, but Kelly had two big late turnovers and had his shot blocked and didn't get back on defense. He has to be better.

Kowacie Reeves is going to be hot and cold shooting and scoring and Duke did a great job of denying him the baseline except for that nasty dunk on Ryan Young. For Tech to win they need Kelly and Reeves to be efficient on both ends of the court and Kelly has to keep his emotions in check as well.

Gapare continues to remind me so much of a young Moses Wright where the athleticism, body control and game knowledge are not synched up yet.

Even Ndongo missed timed block attempts and was a little flustered at times, but you can see the sheer NBA skills that will make him money eventually.

George remains the real jewel to me. He could be the next big Georgia Tech point guard and once his defense and his body are caught up with his ball skills, his shot will become more consistent and he will be a potential All-ACC point guard very soon if he can keep up his development.

As I said at the very start of the season, this team will win games they are not supposed to win and lose a few they should win. The schedule isn't a great jumping off point as they lost the only two easy games they have this month. Next month is more favorable and they should be able to push to be a decent double-digit seed for day one of the ACCT.

I can see what Stoudamire is trying to build and that is very encouraging as a guy who has missed consistent big-time basketball in Atlanta.