So GT should aim for 20 in 2017 recruiting class. They sit at 13 with neither Demetris Harris or OJ Tucker fully committed.
OL- Demetris Harris is going to visit USF more than likely and that will cause some issues. The thing in GT's favor is the likelihood that Willie Taggart leaves to take another coaching job like Purdue or UK if Stoops gets canned. IF Harris decommits or takes that visit look for GT to bring Cody Shear down for an OV. He has been actively pushing GT for an OV and regrets his commitment.
DB- OJ Tucker obviously PJ has told him that since they took additional DBs he could look around, I doubt he ends up at GT but stranger things have happened.
So let's call that 12, how does GT get to 20
13. QB- They would like a QB/ATH in this class, CPJ's goal is to sign at least one in every single class and then move them around as needed to backfill AB/WR/DB positions because those guys tend to do well at that (Synjyn Days, Demond Smith, David Sims, etc..). CBC is supposed to head down to Mitchell County tonight to see a real under the radar kid Kentavious Williams. Williams did not play as a junior so there was no film circulating on him. He has put up crazy numbers and his film is good, but he is raw. The staff did not like Darriel Mack Jr., thought he was slow and stiff and they still have guys like Tobias Oliver they could also reel in later in the year if need be.
14. BB/AB- So this is the hardest position because they are overloaded as of today, but the Jackets lose Marcus Allen at B-back and Lynn Griffin and Ike Willis at A-back so they would like a guy who can play both. I think Jalen Holston is unlikely unless Fedora leaves UNC and VaTech backs off, but stranger things have happened. Lot of different guys with interest especially at A-back so I think you will see any offers come out from this group in December.
WR- not taking one
OL- a fifth OL is another thing that has been discussed. So far I've heard CPJ doesn't want to sign 5 OLs in this class yet, so that is tabled for now, but there are several options if/when he changes his mind.
15. SDE- Cortez Alston will likely end up a Yellow Jacket. Everything points to that happening and CLO has done a nice job with him on it.
16. RDE- This is a position they would like to take, but so far they have not found anyone special. They need more production out of this position and the staff will be keeping an eye out for some later options. Both Saint-Amour and Antonio Simmons were later takes at this spot so there will be options.
17,18. DT They would like to sign two DTs, the long term decision on where Desmond Branch plays could impact this because he has mostly been taking game snaps inside and the thought when they took Branch was that he was likely to grow into a DT with a college S&C program. Lots of stuff in flux with the DT targets right now. CBP went to see the two Hawaiian kids after the Clemson game for example and both are expected to OV in Jan.
18. MLB- There is still something weird going on with Leonard Warner's recruitment and why he hasn't pulled the trigger. His parents WANT him at GT, kid wants UGA or Stanford, very strange. Kendric Haynes will take an OV to GT in January which will give the Warner thing more time to play out and Haynes is still pretty likely to end up a Jacket.
19. S or OLB- GT still working on Stuart Head who is fully cleared to enroll at Stanford, but family still has some cold feet. Malik Robinson is the other wild card here, he is Haynes cousin and he really likes GT and would like to stay home. I could see a good case to take 4 LBs in this class with TD Roof, Bruce Jordan-Swilling, Haynes and Robinson. That would be a major talent injection at a position in dire need of that. The weirdest part about Jordan-Swilling is he could probably unseat Dedrick Mills at B-back if he wanted to play offense!
20. ATH- CBC hasn't given up hope on Malik Willis, he is still working it, we shall see what happens, maybe selling him as an athlete will help. This is also the spot where PJ sometimes takes a guy he likes like PJ Davis or Brad Stewart late who impressed him either in camp like Davis or in the GHSA playoffs like Stewart. CPJ likes to have some wiggle room for guys who impress later like Dorian Walker and Stewart.
OL- Demetris Harris is going to visit USF more than likely and that will cause some issues. The thing in GT's favor is the likelihood that Willie Taggart leaves to take another coaching job like Purdue or UK if Stoops gets canned. IF Harris decommits or takes that visit look for GT to bring Cody Shear down for an OV. He has been actively pushing GT for an OV and regrets his commitment.
DB- OJ Tucker obviously PJ has told him that since they took additional DBs he could look around, I doubt he ends up at GT but stranger things have happened.
So let's call that 12, how does GT get to 20
13. QB- They would like a QB/ATH in this class, CPJ's goal is to sign at least one in every single class and then move them around as needed to backfill AB/WR/DB positions because those guys tend to do well at that (Synjyn Days, Demond Smith, David Sims, etc..). CBC is supposed to head down to Mitchell County tonight to see a real under the radar kid Kentavious Williams. Williams did not play as a junior so there was no film circulating on him. He has put up crazy numbers and his film is good, but he is raw. The staff did not like Darriel Mack Jr., thought he was slow and stiff and they still have guys like Tobias Oliver they could also reel in later in the year if need be.
14. BB/AB- So this is the hardest position because they are overloaded as of today, but the Jackets lose Marcus Allen at B-back and Lynn Griffin and Ike Willis at A-back so they would like a guy who can play both. I think Jalen Holston is unlikely unless Fedora leaves UNC and VaTech backs off, but stranger things have happened. Lot of different guys with interest especially at A-back so I think you will see any offers come out from this group in December.
WR- not taking one
OL- a fifth OL is another thing that has been discussed. So far I've heard CPJ doesn't want to sign 5 OLs in this class yet, so that is tabled for now, but there are several options if/when he changes his mind.
15. SDE- Cortez Alston will likely end up a Yellow Jacket. Everything points to that happening and CLO has done a nice job with him on it.
16. RDE- This is a position they would like to take, but so far they have not found anyone special. They need more production out of this position and the staff will be keeping an eye out for some later options. Both Saint-Amour and Antonio Simmons were later takes at this spot so there will be options.
17,18. DT They would like to sign two DTs, the long term decision on where Desmond Branch plays could impact this because he has mostly been taking game snaps inside and the thought when they took Branch was that he was likely to grow into a DT with a college S&C program. Lots of stuff in flux with the DT targets right now. CBP went to see the two Hawaiian kids after the Clemson game for example and both are expected to OV in Jan.
18. MLB- There is still something weird going on with Leonard Warner's recruitment and why he hasn't pulled the trigger. His parents WANT him at GT, kid wants UGA or Stanford, very strange. Kendric Haynes will take an OV to GT in January which will give the Warner thing more time to play out and Haynes is still pretty likely to end up a Jacket.
19. S or OLB- GT still working on Stuart Head who is fully cleared to enroll at Stanford, but family still has some cold feet. Malik Robinson is the other wild card here, he is Haynes cousin and he really likes GT and would like to stay home. I could see a good case to take 4 LBs in this class with TD Roof, Bruce Jordan-Swilling, Haynes and Robinson. That would be a major talent injection at a position in dire need of that. The weirdest part about Jordan-Swilling is he could probably unseat Dedrick Mills at B-back if he wanted to play offense!
20. ATH- CBC hasn't given up hope on Malik Willis, he is still working it, we shall see what happens, maybe selling him as an athlete will help. This is also the spot where PJ sometimes takes a guy he likes like PJ Davis or Brad Stewart late who impressed him either in camp like Davis or in the GHSA playoffs like Stewart. CPJ likes to have some wiggle room for guys who impress later like Dorian Walker and Stewart.
