When Georgia Tech flips a recruit from Georgia, it turns heads - and for good reason. The Bulldogs have been a recruiting powerhouse for years, routinely reeling in top-tier talent not just from the state of Georgia, but across the country. So when a player like Kealan Jones changes course and commits to the Yellow Jackets instead, it’s not just a win on the recruiting trail - it’s a statement.
Brent Key and his staff are starting to build something real in Atlanta. Coming off a 9-3 regular season and a lengthy stay in the AP Top 25, Georgia Tech is no longer just a team with potential - they’re a program on the move. And moves like this one, flipping a high-upside in-state safety from their biggest rival, are the kind that can accelerate a rebuild into a resurgence.
Jones, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound safety out of Marietta, had been committed to Georgia since April. But Georgia Tech never backed off.
They stayed in contact, brought him to campus multiple times - including three game-day visits - and hosted him for an official visit over the summer. That consistency paid off.
“This was a really hard decision,” Jones told Rivals. “There are pros and cons for each school, especially with both being in-state.
Georgia Tech has always been there. They recruited me from the beginning, but I wasn’t always listening.
It took some time to really think about it, and over time, it grew on me. I made the decision recently.”
That kind of honesty gives you a glimpse into what makes recruiting such a nuanced game. Relationships matter.
Persistence matters. And in this case, the Yellow Jackets made Jones feel like a priority from the jump - even when he wasn’t ready to hear the pitch.
Jones pointed to the opportunity for early playing time as a major factor, and that tracks. Georgia’s depth chart is stacked with blue-chip talent, making it tough for young players to break through early. At Tech, the path to the field is clearer - and for a player with Jones’ skillset, that’s a big deal.
“There’s a lot of positivity around the program,” he said. “They’re going up.
The coaches are there, and now they’re getting the recruits. The program is on the rise.”
That optimism isn’t just talk. With Jones now on board, Georgia Tech has 20 commitments for the 2026 cycle. According to 247Sports, he ranks as the No. 42 safety in the class - a solid get for a program that’s steadily climbing the recruiting rankings.
For Brent Key, this is the kind of win that reinforces the message he’s been preaching: Georgia Tech is no longer playing catch-up. They’re in the fight.
They’re winning battles. And they’re doing it right in Georgia’s backyard.
If the Yellow Jackets can keep stacking classes like this - and keep pulling in players who might’ve once been considered long shots - the ceiling for this program gets higher by the day.