All four are now enrolled and cleared
Release:
THE FLATS – Four more transfer student-athletes – DB Kenny Bennett (Maryland), DL Christian Burkhalter (UCLA), DL Daniel Carson (Western Illinois) and WR E.J. Jenkins (South Carolina) – have officially enrolled at Georgia Tech and joined the Yellow Jackets’ football program, head coach Geoff Collins announced on Thursday.
Bennett and Jenkins have one season of eligibility remaining, while Carson has two and Burkhalter has four.
“We’re thrilled to welcome four more outstanding young men to the Georgia Tech football family,” head coach Geoff Collins said. “They are terrific additions to an exciting group of newcomers and are great fits for our program, on and off the field. I’m excited to work with all of them.”
A total of 17 transfers have now officially joined Georgia Tech football this offseason, including 13 – OL R.J. Adams (Kentucky), TE Luke Benson (Syracuse), DB Khari Gee (Notre Dame), QB Zach Gibson (Akron), RB Hassan Hall (Louisville), DB Ahmari Harvey (Auburn), RB Dylan McDuffie (Buffalo), QB Taisun Phommachanh (Clemson), OL Pierce Quick (Alabama), DB Eric Reed, Jr. (Auburn), OL Corey Robinson II (Kansas), OL Paul Tchio (Clemson) and DB K.J. Wallace (Notre Dame) – who were previously announced.
Georgia Tech’s group of incoming transfers is currently ranked No. 4 in the Atlantic Conference and No. 20 nationally in 247Sports’ 2022 transfer rankings.
KENNY BENNETT (DB, 6-3, 200, R-Sr., Philadelphia, Pa./Academy at Palumbo/Maryland)
2017-21 (Maryland): Appeared in 22 games and made five starts in five years at Maryland … Retains one season of eligibility … He recorded nine tackles and three pass breakups … Appeared in nine games with three starts at defensive back in 2021 ... Named team's Special Teams Player of the Year ... Totaled nine tackles (six solo) and three pass breakups ... Appeared in all five games with two starts in 2020 ... Tallied eight tackles, two pass breakups and an interception ... Earned first career start at Indiana (Nov. 28) ... Notched first career interception and career-best four tackles at Penn State (Nov. 7) … Appeared in first four games of the 2019 season ... Tallied five tackles (four solo) ... Appeared in three games in 2018 ... Appeared in two games in 2017 as a true freshman before redshirting … Made collegiate debut against Towson (Sept. 2) ... made first career tackle at No. 10 Ohio State (Oct. 7).
High School: A consensus three-star recruit according to all major recruiting databases … 2016 First Team PFN All-State – Class 5A and Second Team All-Southeastern PA … Also a recipient of the 2016 Mini Max High School Award … Led team in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2016 … Posted 27 tackles and 3 interceptions in 2016 … Coached by Scott Pitzner.
CHRISTIAN BURKHALTER (DL, 6-4, 230, R-Fr., Mobile, Ala./Spanish Fort H.S./UCLA)
2021 (UCLA): Did not see game action during lone season at UCLA … Has four seasons of eligibility remaining.
High School: Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals ... Ranked No. 13 tight end by ESPN ... No. 24 weakside DE by Rivals ... No. 235 prospect in Southeast region by ESPN ... No. 19 prospect in state of Alabama by ESPN and Rivals ... named to 2020 Alabama MaxPreps All-State second-team ... Credited with 97 tackles as a senior with 25 tackles for loss ... Toros advanced to AHSAA Class 6A championship game in 2019, 2020 ... Tallied 92 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks in 2019 ... Also played on the basketball team ... Also attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Personal: Father, Todd, played football at Auburn from 1982-83.
DANIEL CARSON (DL, 6-4, 290, R-Jr., Kansas City, Mo./William Chrisman H.S./Texas/Western Illinois)
2021 (Western Illinois): Appeared in 12 games in two years at Western Illinois … Recorded 17 total tackles (eight solo), 2.5 tackles for loss for 19 years and 1.5 sacks for 11 yards in two seasons … Started seven games in fall of 2021 ... Had at least two tackles in all but one of his appearances... Appeared in five games in spring of 2021, starting the final game of the season against Youngstown State … Finished with four tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks … Named Missouri Valley Football Conference academic honor roll … Retains two seasons of eligibility.
2018-20 (Texas): Made four appearances in three seasons at Texas … Did not see game action as a true freshman in 2018 or as a redshirt sophomore in 2020 … Made four appearances as a redshirt freshman in 2019 … Made one tackle against Louisiana Tech.
High School: Two-time all-state selection … Tabbed first-team Class 5 All-State by the Missouri Media and second team by the Missouri Football Coaches Association in 2017 … Named second-team All-USA Missouri by USA Today … Selected All-District 7 Class 5 by the MFCA … Also chosen conference Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference by the conference coaches … Ranked No. 649 nationally (No. 23 SDE) and No. 8 overall in Missouri by 247Sports … Rated No. 25 SDE nationally and No. 8 overall in Missouri by Rivals … Rated No. 35 DT nationally and No. 8 overall in Missouri by ESPN … Recorded 73 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss and six sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, both of which he returned for touchdowns, and one blocked field goal as a senior … Posted at least three tackles for loss in four games … Part of a defense that allowed just 17.2 points per game … Helped Chrisman to a 7-4 overall record, including a 3-2 district mark, and an appearance in the third round of the Class 5 playoffs in 2017 … Chosen first-team Class 5 All-State by both the Missouri Media and the Missouri Football Coaches Association in 2016 … Selected All-District 7 Class 5 … Collected 56 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, along with two forced fumbles and two recovered fumbles as a junior … Part of a defense that allowed just 16.6 points per game … Helped Chrisman to an 8-2 overall record, including a 4-1 district mark, and an appearance in the second round of the Class 5 playoffs … Also played baseball, basketball and did shot put in track where he was a state champion … Coached by Matthew Perry.
E.J. JENKINS (WR, 6-7, 243, R-Sr., Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor H.S./St. Francis (Pa.)/South Carolina)
2021 (South Carolina): Appeared in 12 games, making one start after enrolling in the spring … Caught eight passes for 117 yards, a 14.6-yard average ... Had two catches for 28 yards, including his lone TD reception, in the win over Troy (Oct. 2) ... Earned the start against Florida (Nov. 6) ... Longest reception was 30 yards in the regular-season finale against Clemson... Named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll … Retains one season of eligibility.
2017-20 (St. Francis (Pa.)): Hauled in 44 passes for 831 yards in two years of action after redshirting in 2017 … Named preseason All-NEC prior to season being moved to the spring due to Covid-19 … Earned second Team All-NEC honors in 2019 ... Caught 39 passes for 779 yards (20.0 ypc), including a long of 79 yards ... Set the single-season school record with 13 receiving touchdowns ... Burst onto the scene with five catches for 125 yards and a 75-yard TD in a win at Lehigh (Aug. 31) ... Caught a 10-yard touchdown reception at James Madison (Sept. 7) ... Led SFU with 71 receiving yards and another touchdown in a win over Merrimack (Sept. 14) ... Caught four passes for 91 yards and a 74-yard touchdown vs. Columbia (Sept. 21) ... Hauled in a one-handed touchdown versus Robert Morris (Oct. 12) ... Finished with three catches for 107 yards including a 79-yard TD at LIU (Oct. 16) ... Caught a 16-yard TD pass vs. Sacred Heart (Oct. 26) ... Caught two passes for 58 yards and a touchdown at Duquesne (Nov. 2) ... Tied the school record with three receiving TDs in a win over Wagner, posting nine catches for a career-high 128 yards (Nov. 16) ... Finished with four catches for 90 yards and two scores in a win at Delaware State (Nov. 23) … Finished the season with 5 catches for 52 yards in 2018 ... Scored his first career touchdown vs. West Virginia Wesleyan (Sept. 29).
High School: Helped the Chargers to a 9-3 record in the 2016 ... Earned First Team All-Conference honors and was named the Free Lance-Star Male Athlete of the Year... In 2016, caught 44 passes for 1,002 yards and 16 touchdowns, while averaging 22.8 yards per catch ... Logged 4,310 receiving yards and 37 touchdowns in his Chargers career ... Owns Chancellor records for career receiving yards, career receiving touchdowns, longest receiving touchdown, most touchdowns in a season and most receiving touchdowns in a game ... Coached by Bob Oliver … Also played basketball, averaging 21.5 points and 12 rebounds per game as a senior.
Yellow Jackets’ top-20 transfer class now totals 17
THE FLATS – Four more transfer student-athletes – DB Kenny Bennett (Maryland), DL Christian Burkhalter (UCLA), DL Daniel Carson (Western Illinois) and WR E.J. Jenkins (South Carolina) – have officially enrolled at Georgia Tech and joined the Yellow Jackets’ football program, head coach Geoff Collins announced on Thursday.
Bennett and Jenkins have one season of eligibility remaining, while Carson has two and Burkhalter has four.
“We’re thrilled to welcome four more outstanding young men to the Georgia Tech football family,” head coach Geoff Collins said. “They are terrific additions to an exciting group of newcomers and are great fits for our program, on and off the field. I’m excited to work with all of them.”
A total of 17 transfers have now officially joined Georgia Tech football this offseason, including 13 – OL R.J. Adams (Kentucky), TE Luke Benson (Syracuse), DB Khari Gee (Notre Dame), QB Zach Gibson (Akron), RB Hassan Hall (Louisville), DB Ahmari Harvey (Auburn), RB Dylan McDuffie (Buffalo), QB Taisun Phommachanh (Clemson), OL Pierce Quick (Alabama), DB Eric Reed, Jr. (Auburn), OL Corey Robinson II (Kansas), OL Paul Tchio (Clemson) and DB K.J. Wallace (Notre Dame) – who were previously announced.
Georgia Tech’s group of incoming transfers is currently ranked No. 4 in the Atlantic Conference and No. 20 nationally in 247Sports’ 2022 transfer rankings.
KENNY BENNETT (DB, 6-3, 200, R-Sr., Philadelphia, Pa./Academy at Palumbo/Maryland)
2017-21 (Maryland): Appeared in 22 games and made five starts in five years at Maryland … Retains one season of eligibility … He recorded nine tackles and three pass breakups … Appeared in nine games with three starts at defensive back in 2021 ... Named team's Special Teams Player of the Year ... Totaled nine tackles (six solo) and three pass breakups ... Appeared in all five games with two starts in 2020 ... Tallied eight tackles, two pass breakups and an interception ... Earned first career start at Indiana (Nov. 28) ... Notched first career interception and career-best four tackles at Penn State (Nov. 7) … Appeared in first four games of the 2019 season ... Tallied five tackles (four solo) ... Appeared in three games in 2018 ... Appeared in two games in 2017 as a true freshman before redshirting … Made collegiate debut against Towson (Sept. 2) ... made first career tackle at No. 10 Ohio State (Oct. 7).
High School: A consensus three-star recruit according to all major recruiting databases … 2016 First Team PFN All-State – Class 5A and Second Team All-Southeastern PA … Also a recipient of the 2016 Mini Max High School Award … Led team in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2016 … Posted 27 tackles and 3 interceptions in 2016 … Coached by Scott Pitzner.
CHRISTIAN BURKHALTER (DL, 6-4, 230, R-Fr., Mobile, Ala./Spanish Fort H.S./UCLA)
2021 (UCLA): Did not see game action during lone season at UCLA … Has four seasons of eligibility remaining.
High School: Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals ... Ranked No. 13 tight end by ESPN ... No. 24 weakside DE by Rivals ... No. 235 prospect in Southeast region by ESPN ... No. 19 prospect in state of Alabama by ESPN and Rivals ... named to 2020 Alabama MaxPreps All-State second-team ... Credited with 97 tackles as a senior with 25 tackles for loss ... Toros advanced to AHSAA Class 6A championship game in 2019, 2020 ... Tallied 92 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks in 2019 ... Also played on the basketball team ... Also attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Personal: Father, Todd, played football at Auburn from 1982-83.
DANIEL CARSON (DL, 6-4, 290, R-Jr., Kansas City, Mo./William Chrisman H.S./Texas/Western Illinois)
2021 (Western Illinois): Appeared in 12 games in two years at Western Illinois … Recorded 17 total tackles (eight solo), 2.5 tackles for loss for 19 years and 1.5 sacks for 11 yards in two seasons … Started seven games in fall of 2021 ... Had at least two tackles in all but one of his appearances... Appeared in five games in spring of 2021, starting the final game of the season against Youngstown State … Finished with four tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks … Named Missouri Valley Football Conference academic honor roll … Retains two seasons of eligibility.
2018-20 (Texas): Made four appearances in three seasons at Texas … Did not see game action as a true freshman in 2018 or as a redshirt sophomore in 2020 … Made four appearances as a redshirt freshman in 2019 … Made one tackle against Louisiana Tech.
High School: Two-time all-state selection … Tabbed first-team Class 5 All-State by the Missouri Media and second team by the Missouri Football Coaches Association in 2017 … Named second-team All-USA Missouri by USA Today … Selected All-District 7 Class 5 by the MFCA … Also chosen conference Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference by the conference coaches … Ranked No. 649 nationally (No. 23 SDE) and No. 8 overall in Missouri by 247Sports … Rated No. 25 SDE nationally and No. 8 overall in Missouri by Rivals … Rated No. 35 DT nationally and No. 8 overall in Missouri by ESPN … Recorded 73 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss and six sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, both of which he returned for touchdowns, and one blocked field goal as a senior … Posted at least three tackles for loss in four games … Part of a defense that allowed just 17.2 points per game … Helped Chrisman to a 7-4 overall record, including a 3-2 district mark, and an appearance in the third round of the Class 5 playoffs in 2017 … Chosen first-team Class 5 All-State by both the Missouri Media and the Missouri Football Coaches Association in 2016 … Selected All-District 7 Class 5 … Collected 56 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, along with two forced fumbles and two recovered fumbles as a junior … Part of a defense that allowed just 16.6 points per game … Helped Chrisman to an 8-2 overall record, including a 4-1 district mark, and an appearance in the second round of the Class 5 playoffs … Also played baseball, basketball and did shot put in track where he was a state champion … Coached by Matthew Perry.
E.J. JENKINS (WR, 6-7, 243, R-Sr., Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor H.S./St. Francis (Pa.)/South Carolina)
2021 (South Carolina): Appeared in 12 games, making one start after enrolling in the spring … Caught eight passes for 117 yards, a 14.6-yard average ... Had two catches for 28 yards, including his lone TD reception, in the win over Troy (Oct. 2) ... Earned the start against Florida (Nov. 6) ... Longest reception was 30 yards in the regular-season finale against Clemson... Named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll … Retains one season of eligibility.
2017-20 (St. Francis (Pa.)): Hauled in 44 passes for 831 yards in two years of action after redshirting in 2017 … Named preseason All-NEC prior to season being moved to the spring due to Covid-19 … Earned second Team All-NEC honors in 2019 ... Caught 39 passes for 779 yards (20.0 ypc), including a long of 79 yards ... Set the single-season school record with 13 receiving touchdowns ... Burst onto the scene with five catches for 125 yards and a 75-yard TD in a win at Lehigh (Aug. 31) ... Caught a 10-yard touchdown reception at James Madison (Sept. 7) ... Led SFU with 71 receiving yards and another touchdown in a win over Merrimack (Sept. 14) ... Caught four passes for 91 yards and a 74-yard touchdown vs. Columbia (Sept. 21) ... Hauled in a one-handed touchdown versus Robert Morris (Oct. 12) ... Finished with three catches for 107 yards including a 79-yard TD at LIU (Oct. 16) ... Caught a 16-yard TD pass vs. Sacred Heart (Oct. 26) ... Caught two passes for 58 yards and a touchdown at Duquesne (Nov. 2) ... Tied the school record with three receiving TDs in a win over Wagner, posting nine catches for a career-high 128 yards (Nov. 16) ... Finished with four catches for 90 yards and two scores in a win at Delaware State (Nov. 23) … Finished the season with 5 catches for 52 yards in 2018 ... Scored his first career touchdown vs. West Virginia Wesleyan (Sept. 29).
High School: Helped the Chargers to a 9-3 record in the 2016 ... Earned First Team All-Conference honors and was named the Free Lance-Star Male Athlete of the Year... In 2016, caught 44 passes for 1,002 yards and 16 touchdowns, while averaging 22.8 yards per catch ... Logged 4,310 receiving yards and 37 touchdowns in his Chargers career ... Owns Chancellor records for career receiving yards, career receiving touchdowns, longest receiving touchdown, most touchdowns in a season and most receiving touchdowns in a game ... Coached by Bob Oliver … Also played basketball, averaging 21.5 points and 12 rebounds per game as a senior.
