The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are playing in their first bowl game since 2018 in Brent Key's first season in charge. That success on the field is starting to translate to the recruiting trail as they continue to pick up some big-time players from the Peach State.
Rusty Mansell discussed the success that Key has been having in head-to-head recruiting battles and how important it is that he's coming out on top.
"With Georgia Tech, I don't really about the rankings because I know these kids and I know what kind of people they are," Mansell said about the recruiting class that Brent Key has put together at Georgia Tech. "It centers around Aaron Philo, the quarterback out of Prince Avenue Christian."
The three-star quarterback from Bogart, GA made news last week after breaking the GHSA's all-time passing record and tied the record for touchdown passes in a season in the Wolverines' 49-32 state championship win. Philo threw for 13,922 yards in three seasons, breaking the record of 13,902 that was previously held by Trevor Lawrence which was set in four.
"The kid's a winner and a hell of get for [Georgia Tech offensive coordinator] Buster Faulkner and Brent Key," continued Mansell. "But this class [also includes] Jameson Riggs, an offensive lineman out of Hiram High School, and they beat Clemson for him. When you start winning some of those battles, [that's big]."
Additionally, the Yellow Jackets secured the commitment of Georgia linebacker E.J. Lightsey. He was a former GHSA defensive player of the year and won a state championship at Fitzgerald. Despite the fact that he wasn't able to get onto the field at Georgia, it shouldn't matter to most teams due to the depth of the UGA inside linebacker position.
"[Lightsey] couldn't get on the field, but that doesn't mean one damn thing," Mansell finished. "Jermaine Johnson couldn't get on the field at Georgia. He went to Florida State and was a first-round draft pick."
