Georgia Tech jumps into Top 20 of On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings

Georgia Tech is quietly on pace to sign its best recruiting class in recent memory — and it added another crucial piece to the puzzle on Saturday.

The Yellow Jackets quickly picked up momentum in the recruitment of Cedartown (Ga.) four-star safety Tae Harris and have now flipped his commitment away from Clemson. The one-time Georgia pledge is once again set to stay in-state, but is now headed to Atlanta, not Athens.

“Georgia Tech has a great staff,” Harris told On3. “Coach Peoples, coach Eley (Donald Hill-Eley), coach Santucci and coach Key are all my guys. They have my back and coach Key is turning the program, so don’t be surprised by that in the future.”

With Harris’ commitment, Georgia Tech jumped four spots in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings and now has the No. 19 class in the nation. Head coach Brent Key now has pledges from seven four-star prospects.

Yellow Jackets are holding their own on the in-state recruiting trail

Now 7-4 after a win over NC State this week, Georgia Tech continues to take the next step in the ACC under Key and his staff. What’s being built in Atlanta has caught the eye of multiple top Peach State prospects.

The eight highest-ranked commits in the GT class all hail from Georgia. In total, 15 in-state recruits are featured throughout the pledge list.

Roswell (Ga.) Fellowship Christian four-star interior offensive lineman Josh Petty committed on Aug. 12, capping off what was an impressive summer of recruiting wins for the Jackets. The 6-foot-4 Petty is now the No. 42 prospect and No. 3 IOL in the nation.

“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.”

Just two weeks later, Bogart (Ga.) Prince Avenue Christian four-star defensive lineman Christian Garrett committed. The No. 10 DL in the On300, Garrett headlines the defensive prospects in the class alongside Harris and Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek four-star cornerback Dalen Penson, the No. 157 recruit overall.

Duluth (Ga.) four-star offensive tackle Damola Ajidahun also committed in August and is a top-20 player at his position. Rabun Gap (Ga.) Nacoochee School four-star IOL Justin Hasenhuetl has been in the class since April.

“I believe in what coach Key is building,” Ajiduhan told On3. “I like the chemistry I have with the coaches and the players, the resources to be great are there and the stability in the coaching staff is another big thing in my decision.”

Colquitt (Ga.) Miller County four-star running back JP Powell has seen his stock rise throughout his senior season and is now a top-400 prospect and a top-30 RB overall. Other commits in the class include three-star safety Fenix Felton, three-star defensive lineman Derry Norris and three-star quarterback Grady Adamson.