Georgia Tech may have lost the top-ranked recruit in its 2022 recruiting class. Lee County High linebacker Jaron Willis, a four-star prospect who announced his commitment to Tech in May, re-opened his recruitment, Lee County coach Dean Fabrizio confirmed Thursday to the AJC. Willis’ decision was first reported by 247Sports.
“I just think a lot of people have been staying on him,” Fabrizio said. “It’s getting about that time, and he’s evaluating all his options.”
Willis, ranked 18th in Georgia and 170th nationally (247Sports Composite), plans to announce his decision and sign Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period. Willis told 247Sports that he will consider Arkansas, Florida State, Pittsburgh and Mississippi, but Fabrizio said that Tech remains a possibility.
“They’re still in it, without a doubt,” Fabrizio said.
Also Thursday, a second prospect committed to the class, but three-star running back Terron Kellman from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, announced his decision to withdraw his commitment. Last week, another prospect who had been committed, tight end Nate Kurisky from Gonzaga College High in Washington, switched his commitment to Louisville. Without Willis and Kellman, Tech’s class fell from 23rd nationally (247Sports Composite), higher than coach Geoff Collins’ 2020 class featuring running back Jahmyr Gibbs and quarterback Jeff Sims, to 34th. Tech’s class is now at 16 players.
Fabrizio said that a Tech contingent, including defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker, running backs coach Tashard Choice and new defensive backs coach Travares Tillman, visited Willis at his school and made a home visit Wednesday. Tech has been recruiting Willis as a safety.
Asked how much Tech’s 3-9 record in Collins’ third season was a factor in Willis re-opening his recruitment, Fabrizio said he did not know, as he does not get involved in his players’ college decisions.
“Things are moving fast right now,” he said.
With the start of the early signing period less than a week away, it is indeed a time of fluidity. Tech apparently has heated up its recruitment of another in-state prospect, running back Jamie Felix of Camden County High. With Gibbs and fellow Yellow Jackets running backs Jamious Griffin and Tony Amerson all transferring and Jordan Mason announcing Thursday that he’ll turn professional, Collins is in need of more depth at the position. Felix, the offensive player of the year in Region 1-7A, will take an official visit to Tech this weekend.
“I certainly think he’s a power-five running back,” Camden County coach Jeff Herron told the AJC.
Herron, who has won state championships at Camden County, Oconee County and Grayson, has witnessed an unusual recruiting cycle.
“It’s just been a weird year for (Felix) and other kids at our place and other schools because of the transfer portal, (college) kids having an extra year of eligibility and, even in Jamie’s case, in some instances schools that were recruiting him and offered him have now had coaching changes,” Herron said.
One top prospect committed to Tech, four-star running back Antonio Martin of Langston Hughes High, told the AJC on Thursday that he remains firm with his decision to enroll at Tech. He has not had a lack of suitors trying to persuade him to reconsider.
“You know how that goes,” Martin said. “Everybody’s trying to flip me, but I’m still locked in.”
Martin said that on the group text shared by the prospects committed to Tech, the mood hasn’t changed.
“We respect the guys’ decision,” Martin said. “They haven’t ruled out coming to Tech still. They just want to make sure they’re in the right position.”
The Jackets’ three-win season did not dissuade Martin. He remains eager to attend college and play close to home and be trained by running-backs coach Tashard Choice. He is planning to enroll in January.
“We knew they were in a rebuilding stage, so I wasn’t really surprised by it,” Martin said. “I noticed a couple games they could have (won).”
As far as the transfers of Gibbs and Griffin, among others, “once you see them leave you’re wondering if something’s going on there,” Martin said. On the other hand, “I get to come in and hopefully get a lot of play time. I’m really just worried about coming in, working and earning my spot at this point.”
