Teased this recently, but wanted to share my take on this topic before the ball drops at midnight.
P.S. Saltine crackers are underrated.
ATLANTA - As 2023 winds down, and I go through my camera roll, 2023 was an eventful year.
In terms of Georgia Tech Athletics, specifically, it was a year full of change. A new head coach on the sidelines at McCamish Pavilion. A new era in Georgia Tech Football, led by former interim head coach Brent Key and the staff he was able to put together.
Each coach has had some significant recruiting wins in the last 12 months, and there's no better time than now to take a look back at the top five.
HONORABLE MENTION
Georgia State LHP/OF Cam Jones transfer to Georgia Tech (6/21)
Tucker RUSH CJ Jackson commits to GT over UGA, others (6/25)
Early evaluation, contact leads to commitment for G Naithan George (9/7)
Georgia Tech beats Maryland, others for Terps legacy G Jaeden Mustaf (9/14)
Rivals250 Fla. RB Anthony Carrie spurns Texas A&M, commits to GT (12/20)
TOP FIVE
After entering the portal and looking for a new home, Reeves had offers from schools all over the country.
Given the recruiting wins that have followed for Stoudamire and his staff, Reeves was the first big win.
For Canion, this was the end of his recruitment. He was not a fan of the buzz and interviews that go along with being a four-star recruit, and despite some shaky moments for the team on the field, Canion never wavered.
With former LB Trenilyas Tatum looking as if he was ready to take the needed next step in his progression both on the field and off, the LB position seemed complete after spring football.
Something happened that indicated otherwise, and Georgia Tech became quite active in the transfer portal looking to spell Tatum, Oliver, and White.
Enter Paul Moala. It is unclear what other options he had at the time of his decision, but Moala was a critical part of a defense that did just enough to get Georgia Tech to bowl eligibility.
Clemson and new OL coach Matt Luke entered the equation, and pushed hard for a visit. Georgia Tech remained in contact with the former MTSU OL throughout the push, and went in-home as well.
The plan was for Rutledge and his family to visit Georgia Tech on Friday and Saturday, and from there go to Clemson on Sunday, and decide after.
Moments after dropping his family off en route back home, Rutledge got into a nasty one car accident, flipping his truck several times.
While the result was bumps, bruises, a totaled car, and a minor surgery, things could have been much worse.
He never did make that visit to Clemson.
Rutledge reached out to JOL just days later, after being discharged from the hospital. He wanted to give some fresh quotes for his upcoming commitment to OL coach Geep Wade and head coach Brent Key.
Baye Ndongo was a Top 130 recruit nationally last cycle. He was committed to Rutgers for over three months, but did not sign.
Georgia Tech head coach Damon Stoudamire was able to pry coach Karl Hobbs away from the Big Ten program, and the whispers began nearly instantly about him following Hobbs to Georgia Tech.
Ndongo let things play out, added some additional offers, but did in-fact end up choosing Georgia Tech.
The results? Going into the second-part of the 2024 season, Ndongo has already been named ACC Rookie of the Week three times, and the freshman forward is averaging 12ppg, 9.1 rpg, nearly 2 bpg, and is shooting 62% from the field.
P.S. Saltine crackers are underrated.
ATLANTA - As 2023 winds down, and I go through my camera roll, 2023 was an eventful year.
In terms of Georgia Tech Athletics, specifically, it was a year full of change. A new head coach on the sidelines at McCamish Pavilion. A new era in Georgia Tech Football, led by former interim head coach Brent Key and the staff he was able to put together.
Each coach has had some significant recruiting wins in the last 12 months, and there's no better time than now to take a look back at the top five.
HONORABLE MENTION
Georgia State LHP/OF Cam Jones transfer to Georgia Tech (6/21)
Tucker RUSH CJ Jackson commits to GT over UGA, others (6/25)
Early evaluation, contact leads to commitment for G Naithan George (9/7)
Georgia Tech beats Maryland, others for Terps legacy G Jaeden Mustaf (9/14)
Rivals250 Fla. RB Anthony Carrie spurns Texas A&M, commits to GT (12/20)
TOP FIVE
No. 5- Kowacie Reeves returns home, transfers to GT from Florida
- Reeves was a five-star coming out of high school, and in his time with the Gators, he showed flashes of being special. He just wasn't getting his chance to start, and as a result wasn't touching the ball enough to make the level of impact he was capable of.After entering the portal and looking for a new home, Reeves had offers from schools all over the country.
Given the recruiting wins that have followed for Stoudamire and his staff, Reeves was the first big win.
No. 4- Warner Robins WR Isiah Canion flips from Notre Dame
- Following a secret visit to the school, Georgia Tech WR coach Josh Crawford pulled off one of the biggest wins of the 2024 cycle for GT. Isiah Canion, thought by Notre Dame 'experts' to be locked in on his commitment to the Irish, had flipped to the hometown school.For Canion, this was the end of his recruitment. He was not a fan of the buzz and interviews that go along with being a four-star recruit, and despite some shaky moments for the team on the field, Canion never wavered.
No. 3- Paul Moala transfers in to Georgia Tech by way of Idaho.. and balls out
- One of the more under-rated additions to the 2023 roster, former Idaho LB Paul Moala came out of nowhere as a commitment to Brent Key and Georgia Tech.With former LB Trenilyas Tatum looking as if he was ready to take the needed next step in his progression both on the field and off, the LB position seemed complete after spring football.
Something happened that indicated otherwise, and Georgia Tech became quite active in the transfer portal looking to spell Tatum, Oliver, and White.
Enter Paul Moala. It is unclear what other options he had at the time of his decision, but Moala was a critical part of a defense that did just enough to get Georgia Tech to bowl eligibility.
No. 2- Keylan Rutledge spurns Clemson, transfers to GT
- Oh man, the roller coaster that took place on this one was unreal. Georgia Tech got in on Rutledge just after he entered the transfer portal and hosted him for multiple unofficial visits. Coming off of the first visit, a story was entered into the drafts on JOL to break his commitment, which was thought to be a matter of when, not if.Clemson and new OL coach Matt Luke entered the equation, and pushed hard for a visit. Georgia Tech remained in contact with the former MTSU OL throughout the push, and went in-home as well.
The plan was for Rutledge and his family to visit Georgia Tech on Friday and Saturday, and from there go to Clemson on Sunday, and decide after.
Moments after dropping his family off en route back home, Rutledge got into a nasty one car accident, flipping his truck several times.
While the result was bumps, bruises, a totaled car, and a minor surgery, things could have been much worse.
He never did make that visit to Clemson.
Rutledge reached out to JOL just days later, after being discharged from the hospital. He wanted to give some fresh quotes for his upcoming commitment to OL coach Geep Wade and head coach Brent Key.
No. 1- Baye Ndongo flips from Rutgers to Georgia Tech
- We've reached the end of the countdown. The No. 1 recruiting win shouldn't be too surprising, unless you don't follow GT basketball.Baye Ndongo was a Top 130 recruit nationally last cycle. He was committed to Rutgers for over three months, but did not sign.
Georgia Tech head coach Damon Stoudamire was able to pry coach Karl Hobbs away from the Big Ten program, and the whispers began nearly instantly about him following Hobbs to Georgia Tech.
Ndongo let things play out, added some additional offers, but did in-fact end up choosing Georgia Tech.
The results? Going into the second-part of the 2024 season, Ndongo has already been named ACC Rookie of the Week three times, and the freshman forward is averaging 12ppg, 9.1 rpg, nearly 2 bpg, and is shooting 62% from the field.
