Well, for those of you that don’t follow college football recruiting closely, today was National Signing Day, means all players, except for early HS graduates, make their verbal commitments official by signing the Letter of Intent.

Today, the Jackets signed twenty one players, which will equate from a ranking anywhere from twenty five to fifty based on recruiting analysts team rankings.

Now, there’s something different when you are recruiting at Tech, and more so for the triple option. The top offensive line prospect will most likely have absolutely no interest in Techs program and there is a good chance Tech may feel the same way. Since we run a ’system’ offense, we have to recruit a different type of lineman, quarterback, wideout, etc;. Therefore, Techs team ranking doesn’t really prove to anyone how good Techs incoming class may be. In my opinion, it’s pretty damn good.

Out of the 21 commits only one was truly in question heading into today, WR Stephen Hill from Miller Grove, a four star prospect according to Scout.com. Hill’s recruiting process has been a roller coaster. Commits to UCF, Switches to Tech, backs off Tech and will choose between Tech and UGA, picks Tech again, Yet again he backs off commitment (last night) and says UGA is back in the question. Well, this morning Hill made if official and signed his LOI for Tech and faxed the papers over which is big. Hill has Sunday type playmaking abilities, and if used right, he could be very good in this offense pending pass protection.

The other news the past couple of days has been the Dontae Aycock story. Aycock, a highly touted QB from Chamberlain, Florida made a ’secret commitment’ to Tech a few weeks ago. He vowed to not take any more visits but didn’t want to go public quite yet. Well, Aycock broke his word and took a visit to Auburn. The Tech staff found out, pulled the scholarship and that was that, Aycock signed with Auburn this morning.

Now, as a whole Techs recruiting class was headlined by QB Jordan Luallen, WR Stephen Hill, DB Roderick Sweeting, DT J.C. Lanier, DE Emanuel Dieke among many more.

I’ll give a few ‘awards’ out to a couple of players:

Most likely to have an impact as a freshman (offense) – Stephen Hill – Could start opposite Bebe as a freshman
Most likely to have an impact as a freshman (defense) – J.C. Lanier/Roderick Sweeting – D line has spots open so Lanier could play early and often. With Jahi gone, Sweeting will compete for playing time early
Most likely to be leading the team in four years – Jordan Luallen (Some say he’ll have a shot to take the QB job from day 1, however, I disagree)
Biggest Darkhorse: David Sims (QB/S) – Clocks a 4.45 forty yard dash, could be dangerous at QB or Safety
Best NFL Prospect – Stephen Hill

Other notes on some commits

Daniel Drummond – Aback/Bback from Flowery Branch, had a great senior year, hard nosed, not sure if he’s athletic enough to get playing time in his first few years

Emmanuel Dieke – Nicknamed Too Tall, could me Michael Johnson Jr.

Carl Miles – Dback, Good size at 5′10″, athletic

Lance Richardson – Good sized safety, good hitter

Izaan Cross – DE, also from Flowery Branch, Athletic, needs some technical work

Euclid Cummings – Another DE prospect, great speed off the edge, good size, needs to work on getting off blocks

Julian Burnett – LB, Small but very smart, good tackler

Antonio Foster – O lineman, Smart, Aggressive, Great run blocker, needs some pass work

Orwin Smith – Aback, Great highlights, A tad slow, Should be better than rating

Jemea Thomas – Safety from Fitzgerald, Very smart, Little small for a Safety but is a playmaker

Raymond Beno – Guard, Quick and Agressive, needs to get stronger

Will Jackson – Guard, Agressive, Strong, Needs to learn how to fire off the ball

Chris Crenshaw – DE, Fast, Needs some technique work

Jeremy Moore-WR, Fast, Good Blocker, Not Sure if he can ever be a starter

Jay Finch – O Guard, Great Speed, Needs to get stronger but should excel in offense

Brandon Watts – LB, Great speed, could even play Safety, Should be very good, just needs some tuneup

Well, there you have it, what I think of Tech’s class

Play FSU tomorrow in basketball, Go Jackets,

JE