No more Dwags in Hutson “Thanks for the INT” Mason and the man child Hoyt! Listening for Tech fans just got a little better!

For anyone that’s going to the game at MSG tomorrow, have you gotten your tickets yet. The tix aren’t released yet on the GT ticket app.

Georgia Tech has their first Top 100 transfer addition of the cycle.

I'm not going to post a link because it's behind a paywall, but ESPN put 2 GT players on their 2023 Freshman All-American team... Eric Singleton and Ethan Mackenny.

Nice to see these guys get the recognition they deserve.

Got the chance to watch Evans at the Hank Aaron Invitational back in the summer. In that moment, I knew that GT was recruiting him but he was still saying all the right things about his UGA commitment at the time.
Login to view embedded media Nice late get at a major position of need for Taylor, Ramsey, and GT.

Good morning.

in less than 16 hours, the Georgia HSFB state championships will be officially underway at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Starting with 2024 QB commit Aaron Philo and finishing with priority 2025 WR target C.J. Wiley and 2024 WR DeBron Gatling, there's going to be a ton of talent in attendance.

I would expect at least one GT coach to be in attendance for every game. More on that in the buzz.

You can stream either on GPB-tv or at GPB.org/sports.

Below are the names GT fans should be watching-

Prince Avenue vs. Swainsboro 4PM Monday

PRINCE AVENUE
2024 QB commit Aaron Philo
2025 DE Christian Garrett

Bowdon vs. Manchester - 7PM Monday

BOWDON
2026 WR Kaiden Prothro

Stockbridge vs. Perry - 4PM Tuesday

STOCKBRIDGE
2025 LB Chase Taylor

Thomas Co. Central vs. Woodward Academy - 7PM Tuesday

WOODWARD ACADEMY
2024 S/LB C.J. Heard
2025 DE London Merritt
2025 WR Josiah Abdullah
2025 WR Jerome Bettis Jr.

Savannah Christian vs. Cedar Grove - 1PM Wednesday

CEDAR GROVE
2025 QB EJ Colson

Milton vs. Walton - 7PM Wednesday

MILTON
2024 WR DeBron Gatling
2025 WR CJ Wiley

Good evening.

While I was planning on discussing OL recruiting in-depth as part of this update, four-star OL Kai Greer went public with his decision to commit to Georgia Tech.

Greer went on an official visit earlier this month to Louisville, but the trip to see the ACC Championship runners up didn't compare to the unofficial visit he took to Georgia Tech for the Syracuse game.

Greer looked for a few days as if he may be on the outside looking in, from a being a member of Georgia Tech's 2024 class. Given the makeup of the OL room, and the upcoming movement at the position in the coming months, the decision had been made per my sources that if the right OL at the HS level wanted in, that they'd use their last two spots on one transfer, and one HS recruit rather than two transfers.

With Greer in the boat officially, the question now is about who the transfer will be.

My transfer portal FutureCast for GT to land former MTSU OL Keylan "Big Red" Rutledge is still in-tact, and as of this evening, I'm still feeling pretty good about that projection.

The additions of Rutledge and Greer would complete the 2024 class at the position, and help generate a good amount of momentum as GT looks to build the roster for 2024 and beyond.

Sticking with FutureCasts, I am extremely close tonight to entering one for Georgia Tech to land Rivals250 Fla. RB Anthony Carrie.

As I mentioned previously on the buzz locked thread, Georgia Tech went all-in on Carrie today during their in-home visit, bringing head coach Brent Key, RB coach Norv McKenzie, and area recruiter Chris Weinke to the table. Carrie was previously committed to Michigan State, and given the way things played out there with Mel Tucker, Carrie has a different priority list in terms of his future home compared to other recruits ranked similarly.

Carrie was not ready to pull the trigger on a commitment today and shut things down, but the Carrollwood Day tailback is heading into his trip this weekend to College Station with a mindset of "Why not Georgia Tech?" instead of "Why Texas A&M?" and that's just about all you can ask for at this juncture. Especially for a back who did not visit for a single game this season.

Other news and notes:

RB coach Norv McKenzie spent the majority of the day recruiting in Tampa, Graduate Assistant Nathan Brock was in the Macon area. Among Brock's stops was Glynn Academy to see TE commit David Prince.

OL coach Geep Wade went in-home with OL commit Santana Alo-Tupuola, but prior to that he spent the day in South Georgia.

Kenyatta Watson spent the day in Gwinnett County, and per my sources in that part of the city, visited over a dozen schools. The ones I have confirmed-

Grayson
Central Gwinnett
South Gwinnett
Parkview
Norcross
Meadowcreek
Duluth
Buford
Mill Creek
Collins Hill

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Hopefully this doesn't bite us

THE FLATS – Several events are set for Georgia Tech fans traveling to Tampa, Fla. for next week’s Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl, featuring the Yellow Jackets versus UCF.



GASPARILLA BOWL BLOCK PARTY AND PEP RALLY

Thursday, Dec. 21 – 4:30-6 p.m.

The Sail Plaza (333 S. Franklin St.)

Show your support for the Yellow Jackets by attending the Gasparilla Bowl Block Party and Pep Rally on Thursday afternoon. Head coach Brent Key and Georgia Tech’s captains will speak at the pep rally, and the Yellow Jacket Marching Band and spirit squads will take on their counterparts from UCF in a battle-of-the-bands-style competition.



Hosted by the Gasparilla Bowl, the Block Party and Pep Rally is free and open to the public.



GASPARILLA BOWL FAN INVASION

Friday, Dec. 22 – 3:30-6 p.m.

Raymond James Stadium (Lot D)

Featuring the Gasparilla Bowl krewes (pirates) and their floats, the Fan Invasion includes gameday interactive areas and entertainment for fans of all ages.



The Fan Invasion is free and open to the public.



GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PREGAME TAILGATE

Friday, Dec. 22 – 4-6 p.m.

Hyundai Club at Raymond James Stadium

The Georgia Tech Alumni Association pregame tailgate is the gathering point for all Tech fans to see old friends and make new ones. The price of admission includes food and soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase (credit card only). Attendees must have a game ticket to access the tailgate (game ticket is not included in the tailgate price of admission).



Tickets for the Georgia Tech Alumni Association pregame tailgate cost $60 for adults and $30 for children ages 5-12. Children under 5 are admitted free. Click HERE to register (registration deadline is Monday, Dec. 18).



The 2023 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 22 at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. Georgia Tech’s allotment of Gasparilla Bowl tickets is sold out, but tickets can still be purchased directly through the Gasparilla Bowl website at gasparillabowl.com/tickets.

Jo’Quavious Marks from Atlanta!!!

THE FLATS – Bianca Bertolino, a junior outside hitter from San Guillermo-Santa Fe, Argentina, has become the 16th All-American in Georgia Tech volleyball history, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced today. Bertolino was awarded Honorable Mention All-America status by the AVCA, marking her first All-American season.



Bianca Bertolino | Jr. | OH | San Guillermo-Santa Fe, Argentina

Bianca Bertolino was been the catalyst for Georgia Tech all season, positively affecting each point in a variety of ways. She is the only Power 5 pin hitter to finish the season with 60+ aces (62) all while posting an incredible .975 receiving percentage as a primary passer in serve/receive. Bertolino completed her junior season with a career-best 351 kills and 321 digs, bringing her career totals to 839 kills and 1,004 digs. It was her first 300 kill / 300 dig season in college and her third consecutive 300 dig season.



She was named ACC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 23 and finished the regular season leading the ACC with 62 aces (.55/set). She finished the regular season leading all Power 5 pin-hitters in aces and 5th overall in Division I in aces/set. She made 7 aces in Georgia Tech's four-set win over Louisville, the second most aces in a single match by a Power 5 player this season and the most in an ACC match since 2017. She becomes the 16th Yellow Jacket in program history and the fifth in the Michelle Collier era to earn multiple All-Region honors. In the NCAA Tournament, Bertolino contributed 32 kills and 40 digs over the course of three matches. Her 18 kill, 17 dig performance in Tech’s 2nd round win at Florida was her second double-double of her NCAA Tournament career, joining Mariana Brambilla as the only Jackets with multiple double-doubles in NCAA Tournament matches in the modern scoring era.



Bertolino becomes the 16th Jacket in program history to earn at least honorable mention All-America status and the fifth in the Michelle Collier era. The Yellow Jackets have had an AVCA All-American in each of the past four seasons (Julia Bergmann (2020, ’21 and ’22), Matti McKissock (2021) and Mariana Brambilla (2020 and 2021)).



The Jackets are one of 17 programs from across Division I to have a representative on the AVCA All-America list in every season of the current decade (each of the last four seasons).

D'Quan Douse

Eric Singleton Jr.

Jordan Williams

Chances D Mo would come back next year?

KQ- Very small, I expect him ride it out with Shane Beamer until he gets fired. Then it could get interesting.

Also we know it’s to early but let’s at least get a small list of some possible DC and DB candidates

KQ- I expect it could be more than those two spots he is hiring and no. You all can wait another 12 days or so before we dive into it. Key has just has conversations with people to this point. He hasn't been doing the full-court press to hire his DC yet. They are trying to close the recruiting class right now.

Do we have any indication when any of our current guys will enter the portal? After bowl game? After spring?

KQ- Both, the ones who thought they were cashing in left already, Kenan Johnson and Kyle Kennard. There are others who will play in the bowl game and leave and then there are more who are going to finish in the spring and leave after the spring or announce their intention to leave before spring practice starts. There are multiple timelines at play.

- What has been the portal and NFL draft’s effect on UCF so far since the end of the regular season? I feel like I remember you saying their NIL situation had some overpromising and underdelivering going on.

KQ- No clue, my comments on their NIL related to the signing of HS kids. There is not a ton of interest in paying HS kids from a lot of boosters including those at UCF.

- How does bowl prep change now with the Thacker and Tillman news? Do those two go home now and do nothing? If so, who takes the two on-field coaching roles for the next two weeks and for the game on the 22nd?

KQ- Your guess is as good as mine. They have plenty of bodies who can coach in the bowl game like Brian Baker, Quentin Jones and Bill Stewart on the defensive side of the ball. I think Jones will take up the DB coaching duties, he is a GA but has actually been a college DB coach at a lower level. Stewart can help Sherrer and let Sherrer work more with the DBs and Ricky Brumfield has also helped with the DBs and been a DB coach in college so they are fine. Thack and Tillman can do whatever Brent asks them to do. My guess is they are looking for their next job.

What are the main differences/similarities you see in Paul Johnson and Brent Key? (Just going to skip over the clown) I know college football is a different world now than when Paul was coaching. But in terms of how they handle things like staff, players, recruiting, the state of the program..

KQ- Both men are highly competitive people. PJ is a card shark and pool hustler among other talents like investing. He is hyper-competitive and Key has that in all things relating to football, recruiting and how he runs his program. I think there is a huge difference in their egos and how they go about things. I think that is the similarity, the approaches are very different.

if you were a detective, who are you declaring the mole?

KQ- I'm pleading the 5th.

Any chance we could hire Wesley McGriff from auburn as the next DB’s coach?

KQ- None or 100 or something in between. It is going to come down to the DC hire and how he wants to assemble the staff and what the DC's speciality is rather than just throwing names like McGriff or Trooper Taylor out there that people get excited about.

Can we bring Charlie Hustle in on Overreaction Sunday to hear his take on the William Depepae situation? 🤣

KQ- Hey kid will land on his feet, I'm happy for him. He is going somewhere that is a better fit IMO.

Any thoughts on transfers from last cycle who haven't played yet? Jordan Brown, Justin Brown, Austin Dean?

KQ- Jordan Brown has been hurt quite a bit since he arrived at GT and is still a pretty young guy. They dressed him for the final games again. He is a backup G/T type.

Austin Dean is a walk-on from Rutgers, he isn't going to play a meaningful role. I think some media screwed that up and made it sound like he was a scholarship guy when he was a walk-on.

Justin Brown is a true freshman, he isn't really a transfer. He left after Mike Leach died and he didn't like the vibe at Miss State with Arnett in charge. He had to go in the portal because he stepped foot on campus there. No telling where he is at yet because he is a true freshman.

Meant to ask a few weeks ago after UGA. Do you have any insight on Amari Harvey’s sideline blow-up in the UGA game? He got pulled late in a drive (I think the one where we got the pick in the end zone) and came off the field hot and clearly pissed. He moved away from the other defenders over to the bench and Avery Boys came over to talk to him to try and calm him down (unsuccessfully).

Anyway, wasn’t sure if you had any intel on that or any sense if Harvey was unhappy and may be an attrition risk?

KQ- No clue, but Ahmari Harvey is stuck at Georgia Tech. He transferred here from Auburn last year. He can't go anywhere without a GT degree he doesn't have and won't have any time soon. The whole DB coaching staff is gone so I doubt he is going to be pissed about that if he had a beef.

Can we go into depth on the Koby Young situation? Are we truly dropping him for a separate receiver (Gatling)? If so.... why?

KQ- You have to be able to meet the entrance requirements to enroll at Georgia Tech. That is not a given right now so they are readjusting the WR class.

- Re: Competitive Drive Initiative, Turn 2 ... how much has been raised to date? (Website shows ~$451K, as of 11/7)
- Re: NIL ... ditto ... how much have we raised?
- And NIL-wise, how much have other ACC schools raised?

KQ- On Competitive Drive 2, I have no clue, there are some subs on here who could shed light on how that is going.

NIL is private and for a reason. You don't want other people knowing your numbers. They've had an uptick in money coming in including a big donation this past weekend though.

No one knows what collectives have financially other than some ranges at best. It is mostly conjecture except for situations where someone has been clear there is an issue which I'm seeing a few schools. My understanding is GT is in decent shape in the ACC now.

Does dropping an out of state commit this late in the cycle scare the other out of state commits of that same thing happening to them? I understand that William lives far away from here but seemed like a GT kid and even came to visit on gamedays this fall so seemed like he did everything right. Could that be a reason why Butler is going to Tulane to have a backup option?

KQ- That has nothing to do with what other kids are doing to this point. The staff has been clear on what and why things are happening the way they are with recruits. Tah'j has been a dude they've had to fight to keep for the entire recruiting cycle. He has been looking.

Story with quotes-

I must have missed that

Greetings from the road. I’ve watched one of GT’s QB commits already in Graham Knowles and tonight I’m watching Aaron Philo and his team in the playoffs live from Bogart, Ga.

Just told me he is coming back