Georgia Tech running back Jamious Griffin, whose decision to sign with the Yellow Jackets was the first major recruiting victory for coach Geoff Collins after his hire in December 2018, decided to enter the transfer portal. Griffin, who redshirted this season, made his announcement Monday evening.
Griffin had 37 carries for 125 yards as a freshman in 2019 and then 47 carries for 229 yards as a sophomore in 2020, but his workload was drastically reduced this season as he competed for playing time with Jahmyr Gibbs, Jordan Mason and Dontae Smith in what was considered the deepest running-back group in the ACC.
Griffin had played in two games with five carries this season when he made the decision to redshirt. He played in two more games with two more carries after that to reach the four-game maximum allowed to declare a redshirt season. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
“He’s been an unbelievable teammate this entire season,” Collins said Nov. 9. “We’ve got a great running backfield, just the way they vibe together, they work together, they pull for each other, and Jamious is very integral in all of that.”
With Jahmyr Gibbs, a first-team All-ACC selection, having also gone into the transfer portal, along with backup Tony Amerson, that leaves Jordan Mason and Dontae Smith. There is a strong possibility that Mason will turn professional, which would leave only Smith the lone remaining scholarship running back. Smith has declared his intention to stay.
Griffin, the 2018 Gatorade state player of the year for Georgia in 2018 out of Rome High was recruited to Tech by Collins for the 2019 signing class. His declaration that he was signing with Tech on signing day in February 2019 was considered a major victory for Tech and Collins and a sign of things to come.
With Gibbs, a first-team All-ACC selection, having also gone into the transfer portal, along with backup Tony Amerson, that leaves Mason and Smith. There is a strong possibility that Mason will turn professional, which would leave only Smith the lone remaining scholarship running back. Smith has declared his intention to stay.
Tech does have two running backs committed for the 2022 signing class, four-star prospect Antonio Martin of Langston Hughes High and three-star prospect Terron Kellman of Baltimore.
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