Georgia Tech added an intriguing transfer and its first offensive lineman of the 2020 recruiting class Saturday.
Florida defensive end Antonneous Clayton, who was a sophomore last season, announced that he will transfer to Tech. Clayton, from Dooly County High, was a four-star prospect and the No. 27 player in the 2016 class, as well as the No. 4 player in Georgia (247Sports Composite). A primary recruiter of his for Florida was none other than Geoff Collins, then the Gators’ defensive coordinator.
Clayton was on campus Saturday to watch practice and visit with Collins. He cited “a great conversation with Georgia Tech and Coach Collins and their staff (Saturday)” in his tweet announcing his decision.
Also Saturday, Gainesville High offensive tackle Jordan Williams became the sixth prospect to accept a scholarship offer and join Tech’s 2020 class. Williams, listed at 6-foot-6 and 303 pounds, is a three-star prospect and the No. 89 prospect in the state of Georgia. He also reported scholarship offers from Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Rutgers, N.C. State and Indiana, among others. He announced his offer from Tech on March 3.
The last time that Tech had a signee from a high school in Hall County was in 2011.
At Florida, Clayton’s impact did not match the expectations that came with such a lofty ranking. In two seasons and a redshirt season, Clayton played in 17 games with a total of 11 tackles. In 2018, he played in three games as a backup, enabling him to redshirt the season. Undoubtedly, Collins, who coached him for one season at Florida before leaving for Temple, believes he can help Clayton reach his potential. The Jackets can use help, as they have limited depth and experience on the defensive line.
It won’t be a surprise if Clayton seeks a hardship waiver to play in the coming season. If that comes to pass, he will have two seasons to play. Otherwise, he would have to sit out this season and play one season in 2020.
Clayton’s addition increases the number of players scheduled to be on scholarship in the 2019-20 academic year at 88, three above the NCAA limit.
