ESPN Analyst Gives Assessment Of Brent Key's First Transfer Class

Brent Key has brought in potential impacts from the Transfer Portal

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Publish date:
May 18, 2023 5:47 PM EDT

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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Brent Key is in the midst of his first offseason as the head coach of Georgia Tech and it has been a busy couple of months. Key has had to work hard in the transfer portal and on the recruiting trail ahead of his first season. The Yellow Jackets are looking to get back into a bowl game for the first time since 2018 and the players that Key has brought in this offseason are going to play a role in determining how much this team improves this season

In a discussion about how first-year head coaches are navigating the portal and the recruiting trail, ESPN Senior Writer Tom VanHaaren broke down how he thought each new coach was doing at this point in the offseason. It was an interesting take on what has been a busy offseason for the Yellow Jackets program.

Georgia Tech interim head coach Brent Key — Georgia Tech Athletics

Here was VanHaaren's take on the recruiting Key has done:

"Georgia Tech needed a big recruiting class, and the staff was able to accomplish that by utilizing in-state recruits. Key and his staff signed 14 recruits from Georgia out of the 20 total commitments in the class. That's not new at Georgia Tech, but the staff needed to bring in prospects that can help build competition.

So far, Key and his coaches have seven commits in the 2024 class as they continue to build."

The 2024 class has gone stronger in recent weeks with the addition of quarterback Aaron Philo. The transfer class has also gotten stronger as well and here is what Van Haaren had to say about the transfer class for the Yellow Jackets:

"The coaches lost quarterback Jeff Sims, who went 7-16 in 23 starts under center, to Nebraska, but added Haynes King, a former top-50 recruit who has recorded 1,579 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 10 career games at Texas A&M.

They were also able to get Texas A&M wide receiver Chase Lane (617 career receiving yards), Alabama receiver Christian Leary (a former top-100 recruit) and Georgia receiver Dominick Blaylock (548 career receiving yards), among others."

In terms of what is coming next for Key at Georgia Tech, here was the final piece:

"In the short term, Key has given his staff talent to work with for the upcoming season. Key and his coaches likely won't be able to rebuild the program with only recruits, as the Yellow Jackets have signed just three top-300 prospects over the past three cycles, so it will take time for them to develop high schoolers and balance out the roster with transfers who can compete immediately."

I like what Georgia Tech has done in the portal, especially in the wide receiver room, as well as the four linebacker transfers. Two underrated additions that were not mentioned were Kansas State cornerback Omar Daniels and USF defensive lineman Eddie Kelly. Both of those guys are going to be depth pieces that could push for a lot of playing time.

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