5-star IOL Josh Petty commits to Georgia Tech: ‘The chance to be a hometown hero is very big for me’

Choosing between Florida State, Georgia Tech, Ohio State, Stanford and Tennessee was an “extremely challenging” decision for Roswell (Ga.) Fellowship Christian School five-star interior offensive lineman Josh Petty. In the end, the finalist closest to home won out. 

The Yellow Jackets made Petty feel like a priority from early on in his recruitment and he has visited their campus multiple times, including on July 27 and from June 4-6 for an official visit. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound recruit told his family last Wednesday that his mind was on Georgia Tech and it stayed there, as he committed to head coach Brent Key and his staff on Monday. 

“Coach Key is going to take this program and make them real competitors in the ACC,” Petty told On3. “He’s building a Georgia-based team and Georgia has some of the best high school talent in the country. If we can keep getting high priority, in-state guys, Georgia Tech will be a great program in no time. 

“The way coach Key runs his offense and the way that he runs the ball with Georgia Tech has been incredibly impressive. It’s made a statement in the ACC. People know about Georgia Tech now, they know about the run game and they hear about those guys. I think this program is turning around for the better.” 

Key played a big role in Petty’s decision

Landing Petty delivers a massive boost to Georgia Tech’s 2025 recruiting class. It also gives Key his largest win on the recruiting trail as the Yellow Jackets’ head coach. 

Key, who played guard at Georgia Tech from 1997-2000, was a massive part of Petty’s decision. The No. 6 player in Georgia grew close with his future head coach throughout the recruiting process. 

“His dedication to my recruitment showed me the truth of his work,” said Petty, the No. 29 overall prospect and No. 2 interior offensive lineman in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. “Everything he’s done has been tremendous. He’s been an outstanding part of my recruitment and he’s made it really special.” 

“Coach Key played a much bigger role during the later half of my recruitment, but that role was huge,” he added. “He was getting on the phone with me, texting me, making sure everything was alright and making sure everything was taken care of. When I was on campus, he made me feel like a top priority. He hit all those boxes for me and made sure that everything could go right so that I could go to Tech. That means a lot. He said he cares about his in-state guys and he showed that very clearly through his actions.” 

Petty is excited for what Georgia Tech offers on and off the field

Petty’s high school is just over 30 minutes away from the Yellow Jackets’ campus. He is excited to represent his state on the football field, as well as be close to family and friends. 

“The chance to be a hometown hero is very big for me,” Petty said. “Originally, it didn’t mean that much to me in my recruitment and I was ready to go anywhere for the right school. But the fact that I am able to stay home and stay in-state with Georgia Tech is a blessing. Being around people who I’ve known for my whole life and being in a city that I know very well is great. I am staying around my guys, my people and my area. It’s special.” 

The five-star is looking forward to playing in Atlanta, where he had a “very personal” and “great” official visit earlier this summer. That trip helped Georgia Tech make “a big leap” in his recruitment. 

Petty liked what he saw from Georgia Tech’s offensive linemen. What the Yellow Jackets offer in the classroom stood out to him as well. 

“The education is unmatched,” Petty said. “I hear about the Georgia Tech degree 24/7, especially coming from Georgia. They are one of those institutions that can help you become a millionaire just by graduating from there. That’s definitely something special. Another big piece for me is the o-line development and the o-line staff. Their o-line room is unmatched. They have a lot of o-line guys and they are from everywhere. You can tell that coach Key cares about that group.”