Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets News

View our full coverage of National Signing Day at ACC Signing Day Central

Head Coach: Paul Johnson

Total Number of Commitments: 18

While there’s generally a positive correlation between the programs that regularly sign the most highly rated recruiting classes and the programs that are most often competing for championships, Georgia Tech is an example of a team that tends to succeed even when it’s not constantly landing top-ranked players. Nearly every year, the Yellow Jackets’ classes are ranked in the bottom half of the ACC, yet they’ve won the Coastal Divison four times in the last 10 seasons.

Georgia Tech may not hold all of the same recruiting advantages enjoyed by Florida State and Clemson, but there are some factors that work in the program’s favor. There’s a lot to do in a big city like Atlanta, and with an 18-year bowl streak that lasted until this past fall, the Jackets have established a solid winning tradition. It also doesn’t hurt that the staff can point to recent NFL stars like Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas as examples of former Tech players who have made a lot of money playing at the next level.

Under Paul Johnson, the Yellow Jackets take a unique approach to recruiting. Given the nature of the spread-option offense, the staff pays more attention to players who fit the system than it does to star ratings, and it’s not unusual for prospects to change positions once they arrive on campus. Johnson’s 2016 group ranks near the bottom of the ACC, but as demonstrated in the past, that doesn’t necessarily mean this class won’t compete for ACC titles.