Hello. Is this thing on?
By the time some of you read this on late Monday night, it is possible some of you may already be in Tampa. Some of you may be sick, like the majority of Cherokee County. Some of you may be trying (key word) to sleep or spend time with your significant others.
Head coach Brent Key arrived in Tampa this afternoon, and in-between practice, game-planning, radio appearances, etc. Key is heavily involved in pushing to close on several 2024 targets. The targets range from one-time commits, to long-time targets, portal recruits, and everything in-between.
**QUICK NOTE: Ala. DE Trashun Griffin tells me he will sign in February. He says he is still committed to Georgia Tech. That's what he says.
*QUICK NOTE No. 2: QB commit Aaron Philo made the all-state first team by the ATL Touchdown Club on Monday.
I have been talking to some colleagues on the network who have seen him live, and they believe that Philo is set for a bump up in the rankings. Unknown if he will become a member of the Rivals250, but there is no way up from 5.7 that does not include a fourth star.
QUICK NOTE No. 3: The same can be said for Marist ATH/DE/TE Luke Harpring, who was also named to the all-state first team. His name was on the list defensively though, rather than as the pass-catching weapon he will be for GT.
While it is unclear whether or not he will become a four-star, a bump to 5.7 territory is likely.
Enough about things that, frankly don’t matter. Without further ado, let's get to it, starting with the transfer portal targets-
DE Jack Barton- Barton visited Georgia Tech over the weekend. Prior to the dead period getting underway on Monday, Barton did not take any other visits that JOL is aware of. Barton’s connections to Georgia Tech run deep, to the point that Barton was actually considering being a walk on to be able to follow the family tradition of playing at GT.
Barton was recruited by the old staff, but never did get that offer. He ended up going to Furman, and now has the chance to finish his career at the school that many members of his family call their alma mater.
I’d be surprised if he were to end up anywhere else. Consider this my Transfer Portal FutureCast Projection.
RB Elijah Green- Green visited Georgia Tech over the weekend, and was the sole official visitor. He had the undivided attention of the staff, the players, and was able to get a close look at what life at Georgia Tech would be like if he were to choose to stay home.
As I mentioned on Sunday in my live updates, Green has the type of personality that is contagious. He lifts up the room, and as Georgia Tech looks to rebuild a room losing Dontae Smith, I am not sure there would be a better fit for that role than Green.
That’s without even mentioning his on-the-field abilities.
I’m ready to officially submit my (fake) Transfer Portal FutureCast for Green to end up at GT, and to move in on January 3rd.
LB E.J. Lightsey- Lightsey has kept a real low profile since entering the transfer portal earlier this month, to the point that I am not even sure if he has gone on any other visits since.
Lightsey was injured severely a couple of years ago when getting shot, and he never was able to recover enough to make an impact at UGA after signing with the Bulldogs over GT and others out of HS.
GT seems to be locked in on Lightsey, and finding a way to put him in situations where he will be able to make a difference on their defense in 2024 and beyond.
Going back to his highlights coming out of HS, Lightsey’s the type of player that GT needs more of defensively.
Still feeling confident in my FC, though I am currently unaware of any type of timetable for a decision. He may not even make an announcement, opting to instead go the route of several others and just move onto campus and get to work.
DL Ayobami Tifase- The last of the portal targets in tonight’s update is Ayo Tifase, a recent official visitor who continues to add offers.
The former FSU Seminole had a layover in Atlanta heading back to Tallahassee from his Wisconsin visit, and made the most of it by completing a one day OV to Georgia Tech.
With a campus tour, looking at the housing for the players, watching practice, and dinner at the Little Alley all smashed into one day, Ayo got the chance to really see what life would be like for him at GT.
An impressive looking DL, Tifase was in-line for a real opportunity for snaps heading into the 2024 season at FSU, but opted to leave in hopes he could find a better fit.
Tifase also visited Charlotte, and has also added multiple offers since leaving Atlanta. What’s next for him is still to be determined, but it was clear from conversations with sources that GT made an impression, despite the missing pieces on the staff.
By the time some of you read this on late Monday night, it is possible some of you may already be in Tampa. Some of you may be sick, like the majority of Cherokee County. Some of you may be trying (key word) to sleep or spend time with your significant others.
Head coach Brent Key arrived in Tampa this afternoon, and in-between practice, game-planning, radio appearances, etc. Key is heavily involved in pushing to close on several 2024 targets. The targets range from one-time commits, to long-time targets, portal recruits, and everything in-between.
**QUICK NOTE: Ala. DE Trashun Griffin tells me he will sign in February. He says he is still committed to Georgia Tech. That's what he says.
*QUICK NOTE No. 2: QB commit Aaron Philo made the all-state first team by the ATL Touchdown Club on Monday.
I have been talking to some colleagues on the network who have seen him live, and they believe that Philo is set for a bump up in the rankings. Unknown if he will become a member of the Rivals250, but there is no way up from 5.7 that does not include a fourth star.
QUICK NOTE No. 3: The same can be said for Marist ATH/DE/TE Luke Harpring, who was also named to the all-state first team. His name was on the list defensively though, rather than as the pass-catching weapon he will be for GT.
While it is unclear whether or not he will become a four-star, a bump to 5.7 territory is likely.
Enough about things that, frankly don’t matter. Without further ado, let's get to it, starting with the transfer portal targets-
DE Jack Barton- Barton visited Georgia Tech over the weekend. Prior to the dead period getting underway on Monday, Barton did not take any other visits that JOL is aware of. Barton’s connections to Georgia Tech run deep, to the point that Barton was actually considering being a walk on to be able to follow the family tradition of playing at GT.
Barton was recruited by the old staff, but never did get that offer. He ended up going to Furman, and now has the chance to finish his career at the school that many members of his family call their alma mater.
I’d be surprised if he were to end up anywhere else. Consider this my Transfer Portal FutureCast Projection.
RB Elijah Green- Green visited Georgia Tech over the weekend, and was the sole official visitor. He had the undivided attention of the staff, the players, and was able to get a close look at what life at Georgia Tech would be like if he were to choose to stay home.
As I mentioned on Sunday in my live updates, Green has the type of personality that is contagious. He lifts up the room, and as Georgia Tech looks to rebuild a room losing Dontae Smith, I am not sure there would be a better fit for that role than Green.
That’s without even mentioning his on-the-field abilities.
I’m ready to officially submit my (fake) Transfer Portal FutureCast for Green to end up at GT, and to move in on January 3rd.
LB E.J. Lightsey- Lightsey has kept a real low profile since entering the transfer portal earlier this month, to the point that I am not even sure if he has gone on any other visits since.
Lightsey was injured severely a couple of years ago when getting shot, and he never was able to recover enough to make an impact at UGA after signing with the Bulldogs over GT and others out of HS.
GT seems to be locked in on Lightsey, and finding a way to put him in situations where he will be able to make a difference on their defense in 2024 and beyond.
Going back to his highlights coming out of HS, Lightsey’s the type of player that GT needs more of defensively.
Still feeling confident in my FC, though I am currently unaware of any type of timetable for a decision. He may not even make an announcement, opting to instead go the route of several others and just move onto campus and get to work.
DL Ayobami Tifase- The last of the portal targets in tonight’s update is Ayo Tifase, a recent official visitor who continues to add offers.
The former FSU Seminole had a layover in Atlanta heading back to Tallahassee from his Wisconsin visit, and made the most of it by completing a one day OV to Georgia Tech.
With a campus tour, looking at the housing for the players, watching practice, and dinner at the Little Alley all smashed into one day, Ayo got the chance to really see what life would be like for him at GT.
An impressive looking DL, Tifase was in-line for a real opportunity for snaps heading into the 2024 season at FSU, but opted to leave in hopes he could find a better fit.
Tifase also visited Charlotte, and has also added multiple offers since leaving Atlanta. What’s next for him is still to be determined, but it was clear from conversations with sources that GT made an impression, despite the missing pieces on the staff.
