Georgia Tech Offers Transfer Linebacker Konnor Near

Could Georgia Tech add another linebacker transfer through the portal?

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Updated:
Apr 25, 2023 5:28 PM EDT
Original:
Apr 25, 2023

In this story:

The second transfer portal window is closing on April 30th and there is not a lot of time for new transfers to enter the portal.

Georgia Tech has made one new addition in the portal window with Princeton offensive line transfer Connor Scaglione and they have started to make offers to other prospects in the portal. USF edge rusher Eddie Kelly received an offer from the Yellow Jackets staff last week.

Today, the Georgia Tech coaching staff sent an offer to Ferris State (D2) linebacker Konnor Near, who has been picking up more offers from FBS teams. Near is a 6'2 220 LBS prospect who has been offered by Washington State, Utah State, Texas Tech, Duke, Toledo, Bowling Green, App State, Miami (OH), and Cincinnati.

Last season, Near totaled 66 tackles, three sacks, and one fumble recovery.

The Yellow Jackets added three linebackers in the early window of the transfer portal and the coaching staff is looking to replace star linebackers Charlie Thomas and Ace Eley this offseason. Bralen Oliver (Minnesota), Andre White Jr (Texas A&M), and Austin Dean (Rutgers). There has also been one transfer departure among the linebackers since the spring game ended (Khatavian Franks).

Here is what defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker had to say about replacing Thomas and Eley and the incoming transfers in a media session after one spring practice last month:

"As we all know, our linebacker room was very much run by Charlie Thomas and Ace Eley, miss those guys dearly, they had unbelievable careers here and it was awesome to enjoy the arc of their career, but they are gone. They were undoubtedly the leaders of the linebacker room and the defense so that is where he thought we had a maturity and a leadership void, we have a talented room, I want to make sure I say that with some young guys that have opportunities to step up but we felt like we needed to have more competition in that room than any other.

We were able to bring in Andre (White Jr) and Braelen (Oliver) from Texas A&M and Minnesota and that was where we spent the majority of our time. They have an opporutnity to compete.

It is too early for me to stamp someone in the context of that this is day four and day one coming off of a long spring break so mistakes were aplenty as we were building things together but that is where we needed competition in a room. I am proud of them and their hard work during the offseason. They are graduate transfers who have played a bunch of downs in college football and they have been a part of winning programs so they have experience. I appreciate the way they have come in with humility with a new team, although they are older in the group, they understand they have to earn the respect of the room and that is the approach they have taken so far."

It does not look like Georgia Tech is done pursuing other linebackers in the transfer portal and be sure to be locked in here for the latest news from the portal.

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