Georgia Tech will have an early look at one of Georgia high school football’s most intriguing young defensive backs this weekend when Marquise Ealey comes to campus for the Yellow Jackets’ matchup with Boston College.
Ealey, a 2029 prospect, is already drawing attention as a sophomore at SW DeKalb, where he was recently named Defensive Player of the Game after a strong outing. In that game, the defensive back posted nine tackles, including five solo stops, along with two tackles for loss and two PBus.
His rise has come with more opportunities, and he’s made the most of them. Ealey’s game has started to stand out for the right reasons: he tackles well in space, fits as a zone cornerback, and shows the kind of instincts that help a defender arrive at the ball before the play fully develops.
That ability will be on display again when SW DeKalb takes on Mays in one of the season’s biggest games. Mays enters at 7-0, and the matchup will air on Peachtree Sports Network, giving Ealey another chance to show what he can do on a bigger stage.
For now, though, the focus is Georgia Tech. Even with a tough season around the program, Ealey said the Yellow Jackets still leave a strong impression.
“I think they are a good team. Good coaching, a crazy fan base, and the way they show love to their players, making them feel loved,” said Ealey.
The visit gives Georgia Tech a shot to start building the kind of relationship that matters early in a recruitment like this one. Ealey said he wants to get a better feel for the program and the people behind it.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the team in person, meeting everybody, and experiencing the environment firsthand. I’m also excited to see how the coaches work with the players and how the team competes,” said Ealey.
Georgia Tech has had success recruiting cornerbacks in recent years, and the staff has shown a willingness to play young defensive backs right away. Jaedyn Terry and Trae Stevenson Jr., both true freshmen, have already logged meaningful snaps this season, a detail that can matter to a rising prospect watching the program closely.
Head coach Brent Key has also made it clear that developing young players is a priority.
“So I thought we've come out of spring, we can look back and say now we did a better job. I think this year developing young guys, new guys at a quicker rate.
So those guys are playing at a higher level late in the season, midpoint late through the season, more so than last year that we were. I think we have a chance to have a solid football team,” said Key.
Ealey’s recruitment is still early, but he’s a name to keep watching. If his trajectory keeps moving the way it has, he should become one of the state’s top cornerbacks over the next few years. For Georgia Tech, Saturday is a chance to make a strong first impression.
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