Three big time recruits verbal to GT

Wow you step away for a few days and miss out on all kinds of great news. In regards to last year's recruiting class, I had mentioned how Paul Johnson is building a monster program down at Georgia Tech. He's getting players now that are far above the caliber of those he has ever had at any of his coaching stops. The three latest commits are going to elevate his program even further. Just looking at offer sheets, you can tell PJ has to be smiling right now.

The first verbal is 6'4 285 OL Antonio Foster from Valdosta. Foster is ranked 3 stars by Rivals and decommited from Tennessee after Phil Fulmer announced his resignation. Foster has listed offers from South Carolina, Tennessee and South Florida. It looks like Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, and Arkansas were all trying to acquire his services after the Fulmer announcement. Foster joins 6'4 280 lb Will Jackson (3 star) and 6'1 278 C Raymond Beno (3 star) as OL recruits in this class. Its also likely that 6'4 255 lb Jay Finch (3 star) will also end up on the OL.

Georgia Tech also got a verbal from 6'0 190 lb RB Orwin Smith of Phenix City, AL. Smith is a 3 star that had offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Southern Miss, Vandy and UAB. Smith projects to the A-Back in Paul Johnson's offense.

Lastly, 6'4 190 three-star (4 stars by Scout) WR Stephen Hill of Lithonia also committed. Hill had offers from Miss State, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Boston College among others. Georgia was also showing very heavy interest.

Building a monster...

The Youth Movement

I think outsiders generally have no idea what kind of transition Georgia Tech is making this year and what kind of circumstances that Paul Johnson is winning under. No, this isn't Navy of 2000. I've discussed at length the scholarship reductions, injuries, radical transformation, winning with West Coast Offense players etc. But really what stands out to me is what Paul Johnson is doing with one of the youngest teams in the country. Yesterday, 15 freshmen or sophomores started. It was true freshman safety Cooper Taylor that laid the hit on FSU's Marcus Sims forcing a fumble on the goalline. It was freshman Rashaad Reid who recovered it in the end zone. Of course, GT would likely have not been in that position if Josh Nesbitt hadn't left the game late in the 3rd quarter with an ankle sprain.

A tough game at North Carolina is on deck. Nesbitt's ankle injury is worrisome-this is one of those games that he must play in, in order for GT to win. Without him-forget it.

I was texting back and forth with a friend during the game and discussing how Paul Johnson was coaching circles around longtime FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews and the FSU defense, which was ranked 1st in the ACC coming into yesterday's game. I apparently wasn't the only one that saw that.

FSU can't prepare
FSU pounded by GT offense

Other news bits and pieces:

GT News and Notes

WOW

After a miserable loss to Virginia last week, the fighting Paul Johnson's survived a furious rally by Florida State to salvage their season. I'm still shocked right now because it looked like such a bleak situation. The GT defense, on their heels, forced a miraculous fumble in the end zone to stave off FSU and keep their ACC title hopes alive. It wasn't a close game until Josh Nesbitt went out of the game with an ankle injury.

More notes later but this was the first win for Georgia Tech over Florida State in 33 years. GT now sits atop the Atlantic division of the ACC at 4-2 because Virginia lost to Miami. The schedule will get tougher and lets hope Nesbitt will be back soon.