Although 4-star linebacker Bruce Jordan-Swilling knows he made the right decision choosing Georgia Tech, he still remembers how difficult it was to turn down Alabama coach Nick Saban.
Jordan-Swilling received an offer from the Crimson Tide in January 2016.
When asked why it was so difficult for him to say no to the Alabama coach, Jordan-Swilling had a simple answer.
"It's just Nick Saban,” Jordan-Swilling said. “(Saban’s) probably one of the best college coaches ever to coach and he's always winning. He's always putting people in the (NFL).”
Jordan-Swilling is ranked No. 12 on 247 Sports’ list of top outside linebackers in the 2018 signing class and No. 193 on 2017 ESPN 300.
While playing running back at Brother Martin High School in New Orleans, La., Jordan-Swilling mostly communicated with Alabama running backs coach Burton Burns during recruitment, but Saban did give Jordan-Swilling a memorable one-liner.
"We actually did sit down and talk,” Jordan-Swilling said. “He was talking with my parents and all of us really, but he told me, 'If you miss class, I promise you you won't miss it again.' And you know, that kind of stuck with me."
Although Jordan-Swilling— 6-foot-1, 209 pounds— felt the lure of Alabama, the adopted son of Georgia Tech great Pat Swilling couldn’t deny his destiny.
Jordan-Swilling verbally committed to Georgia Tech on Aug. 23, one day after brother Tre Swilling verbally committed.
Jordan-Swilling and Swilling each signed their letter-of-intent to play at Georgia Tech on National Signing Day.
The Swilling brothers will enroll in Georgia Tech after graduation from Brother Martin on May 19.
Here’s the rest of the Q&A with Jordan-Swilling:
What is your funniest or best memory with Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson?
Jordan-Swilling: "Probably when we had an in-home visit with him I guess he had just finished (eating) and he belched and it was just so stinky."
What advice would you give a junior about recruiting?
Jordan-Swilling: "Just enjoy it really. Not to just listen to everything coaches are telling you, but go take a visit and see how it actually is."
If you had to go through the recruiting process all over again, what would you change?
Jordan-Swilling: "I would probably would say more unofficial visits."
Where would you go?
Jordan-Swilling: "Ohio State and Clemson."
What's the most creative thing a college did to get your attention?
Jordan-Swilling: "The flyers (and edited pictures) were cool, but when I went to Georgia Tech on my official (visit), they had the donuts, the Yellow Jacket donuts. That was cool."
What college was the hardest for you to say no to?
Jordan-Swilling: "Probably (the University of Southern California) because that was my dream school. But I just felt right at home with Georgia Tech. USC is far away and I wanted my family to come to every game."
Where there any rumors that went around about you during the recruiting process?
Jordan-Swilling: "People were actually saying that I was committing to Alabama or LSU. But when they were talking about Alabama, I didn't even have an offer from them yet. I hadn’t even been up there to visit. And when people were saying I was going to LSU, I was like, 'That's kind of funny because, I can't really say I'll be going somewhere,’ because this was around my junior year and I was just enjoying the recruiting process."
What are Georgia Tech's expectations of you as a freshman?
Jordan-Swilling: "Just to come in and work hard. If they have me play behind someone, just learn from them and do the best I can to help the team."
What do you want Georgia Tech fans to know about you?
Jordan-Swilling: "That I'm going to be ready when they call my name. To come in and help the team and just do the best I can."
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