Coming off a surprising and hugely positive 9–3 season, Georgia Tech entered Signing Day with real momentum. This was supposed to be the moment the Yellow Jackets took another leap on the recruiting trail — the kind of day that helps turn a “good season” into sustained program growth.
Instead, what Tech got was… an average day.
Not a disaster. Not a collapse. But also not the recruiting surge many fans were hoping for after one of the best seasons the program has had in years.
A Mixed Bag of Wins and Losses
Georgia Tech did come away with a pair of important late wins in the secondary. The Jackets flipped Chris Hewitt Jr., a three-star safety who had been committed to Rutgers, and signed Trae Stevenson Jr., giving Tech two defensive backs that were coveted by multiple programs around the country. In today’s ACC, where passing attacks are relentless, stacking defensive backs is never a bad thing.
But the day also came with a tough local loss. Three-star defensive tackle Freddie Wilson flipped to the team up the street at Georgia State, a miss that stings given Tech’s ongoing need for defensive line depth. Losing in-state battles like that always hurts — especially after a season that should have strengthened Tech’s recruiting brand.
Offense: Skill Positions Get Priority, Trenches Lag Behind
Offensively, Georgia Tech made it clear where its emphasis was — wide receiver, tight end, and skill-position development. The Jackets are bringing in multiple receivers who could eventually become impact players, including Darnell Collins and Jeffar Jean-Noel, both of whom have the physical tools to push for early playing time down the road.
They also added Nathan Agyemang at tight end, a solid developmental piece out of Marietta with good size and upside.
But the concerns start in the trenches.
Georgia Tech is not signing a quarterback or a running back in this class, and perhaps more alarming, they only signed two offensive linemen — Courtlin Heard and Courtney Heard out of East Coweta. While both are big-bodied tackles with Power 5 offers, Tech’s offensive line depth and long-term stability remain a major question mark. After a successful season built on physical offense, many expected the Jackets to go heavier up front. That simply didn’t happen.
The Defense Gets Stronger in the Secondary
If one position group truly benefitted on Signing Day, it was the secondary.
The headliners are four-star cornerbacks Jaedyn Terry and Traeviss Stevenson, both long, athletic defenders with high ceilings. Terry, a 6’3” corner from Manchester, Georgia, brings elite length and SEC-level offers, while Stevenson adds another versatile defensive back with speed and ball skills.
Add in Chris Hewitt Jr., plus Kealan Jones, and Georgia Tech suddenly has a very crowded and talented defensive back room. This comes one year after Tech already signed four-star defensive backs Tae Harris and Dalen Penson, meaning the foundation of the future secondary is now firmly in place.
Linebacker Room Finally Gets Restocked
After not taking a linebacker in the previous class, Georgia Tech made sure to address the position this year.
CJ Gamble headlines the group as a strong developmental prospect with good size and instincts. Kymani Morales, however, might have the highest ceiling of the bunch. His combination of speed, physicality, and upside makes him a very intriguing long-term project for the Jackets. Braylon Outlaw rounds out the group as a physical presence capable of contributing on special teams early.
It’s not a flashy linebacker haul — but it’s necessary depth with upside.
Full Class Shows Depth, But Lacks Star Power Up Front
Georgia Tech’s full class includes a wide mix of defensive backs, receivers, edge players, and offensive skill talent. Names like Amier Clarke, Alex Willis, and Johnny Genty (one of the nation’s better punters) bring functional depth across the roster.
Still, when stepping back, the class feels heavy on perimeter talent but light in the trenches, and that imbalance is what ultimately keeps this group from feeling like a true step forward.
Historical Context Shows a Dip After Progress
Under Brent Key, Georgia Tech’s recruiting trajectory had been trending upward:
- 2023: 61st nationally (11th in ACC)
- 2024: 33rd nationally (7th in ACC)
- 2025: 21st nationally (3rd in ACC)
- 2026: 42nd nationally (10th in ACC)
That’s a noticeable step backward after real momentum over the last two cycles. And after a 10–2 season, slipping back outside the top 40 nationally is not where Tech fans expected to land.
The Big Picture
Georgia Tech didn’t fail on Signing Day — but they didn’t capitalize either.
They:
- Strengthened the secondary
- Added young offensive skill talent
- Restocked linebacker depth
But they:
- Lost a key in-state defensive lineman
- Didn’t sign a quarterback
- Didn’t sign a running back
- And didn’t build enough along the offensive line
For a program trying to make the jump from “surprise contender” to “sustained ACC force,” this class feels like a missed opportunity to fully cash in on last season’s success.
The hope now shifts to development, the transfer portal, and whether this staff can once again outperform expectations with what they have.
