Georgia Tech’s recruiting classes since 2020 have been all over the map, and the best player from each group tells that story pretty clearly.
The Yellow Jackets have landed a few classes that stood out in the ACC, but they’ve also spent plenty of years outside the top 25. Per 247Sports, Georgia Tech’s class rankings since 2020 have been 28th in 2020, 43rd in 2021, 44th in 2022, 64th in 2023, 51st in 2024, 23rd in 2025 and 39th in 2026. The 2025 haul has been the highlight of the decade so far, and Brent Key’s 2027 class is currently ranked 24th nationally.
If you’re sorting through the best individual players from those classes, the list starts with Jahmyr Gibbs. He was only at Georgia Tech for two seasons before transferring to Alabama, but he left a real mark on The Flats.
Gibbs rushed for more than 1,200 yards over those two years and added 773 receiving yards on 60 catches. He was the best player in the 2020 class, later became a first-round pick, and is now regarded as one of the NFL’s top running backs.
Honorable mentions from that class: Jordan Williams, LaMiles Brooks, and Akelo Stone.
The next standout is Malik Rutherford, who finished his Georgia Tech career as one of the program’s most productive receivers. He ranked second in school history with 182 career receptions, trailing only Kelly Campbell, who had 195 from 1998-01, and sitting one spot ahead of Calvin Johnson, who caught 178 passes from 2004-06. Rutherford played a major role in helping move the program in the right direction under Brent Key and was the top player from his class.
Honorable mentions: Zeek Biggers, Jamal Haynes, and Weston Franklin.
For the 2022 group, Powell-Lee gets the nod. He was a steady veteran presence and another player who helped push the program forward. He started 12 games in 2025, started 13 games in 2024, appeared in all 13 games in 2023, and was an honorable mention Freshman All-American in 2022.
Honorable mentions: Kyle Efford, Aidan Birr, and Rodney Shelley.
Singleton Jr. is the clear choice from the 2021 class based on what he did at Georgia Tech, even if his path has taken him elsewhere since. In two seasons with the Yellow Jackets, he caught 104 passes for 1,468 yards and nine touchdowns. He later transferred to Auburn, where he posted career lows in every category except receptions, and he is set to play for Buster Faulkner at Florida this season.
The 2023 class has been a different story. Of the 23 players Georgia Tech signed, 16 have already transferred.
Among the seven still on the roster - Jordan Floyd, Amontrae Bradford, Jordan Boyd, Jameson Riggs, Landen Marshall, Graham Knowles and Trelain Maddox - Bradford has logged the most snaps. So far, there hasn’t been a consistent starter or major impact player from that group, though that could still change down the road.
Philo, meanwhile, threw for 938 yards in two seasons with the Yellow Jackets before transferring to Florida this offseason.
The 2024 class is still too young to hand out a final verdict, but Allen made the biggest splash as a freshman. He finished fourth on the team in receiving last season with 22 catches for more than 300 yards.
Looking ahead, several names could see bigger roles in 2026: Tae Harris, Fenix Felton, Christian Garrett, Dalen Penson, Andre Fuller Jr, Elgin Sessions and Kevin Roche Jr.
And Brent Key has shown he’s willing to play freshmen when they’re ready. That means the list of players to watch also includes CB Jaedyn Terry, WR Jeffar Jean-Noel, CB Trae Stevenson Jr, S Kealan Jones, WR Darnell Collins, OL Courtlin and Courtney Heard, DL Christian Speakman, LB Braylon Outlaw, WR J.J. Winston, and WR Isaac Obrokta.
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