Tech’s 2007 class plays its last
Greetings-
Hope you’re well. I am working on a story about the ballyhooed 2007 recruiting class, which will play its final game Saturday. The lone remaining members of that class are A-back Roddy Jones, cornerback Michael Peterson, wide receiver Tyler Melton, defensive end Jason Peters and defensive tackle Logan Walls.
“We’re the last of the Mohicans,” Jones said Tuesday. “There’s not too many of us left. This is our swan song, this is our last one, so we want to go out on a high note.”
The class, you likely know, was considered one of the best in school history, if not the best. During recruitment, members of the class developed a camaraderie and decided to enroll at Tech together. I was looking through the paper’s electronic archives and found this quote from then-coach Chan Gailey just before signing day in Feb. 2007.
“What the guys in this recruiting class have talked about, and what we’ve tried to sell them is we are taking the next step to go compete at the highest level, for the championship, ” Gailey said. “They have taken that to heart. They believe that we can get there.”
He was right about the part about competing for championships. It just turned out to not be with him in charge.
“We came in here and we wanted to win a championship and we did that,” Jones said. “We wanted to put guys in the NFL and we’ve done that. Certainly, we are a class who also pride ourselves on graduating and the majority of us have done that as well. … We definitely have accomplished what we set out to.”
The class has spread wide. Defensive end Derrick Morgan, who turned down Ohio State and Penn State to play for Tech, was a first-round pick in the 2010 draft. Steven Threet, a quarterback, transferred to Michigan after Paul Johnson’s hiring, transferred again, to Arizona State, after Rich Rodriguez‘ hiring, and was a student assistant this season after concussions forced him out of the game. Linebacker Albert Rocker gave up his final year of eligibility to take a job with Microsoft. Safety Morgan Burnett won a Super Bowl last year with the Green Bay Packers. Wide receiver Willie White transferred to a junior college in Kansas and played his final two years at Missouri State. Saturday, Jones will leave Tech with the most starts in school history (it’ll be 52 Saturday), has begun work on his MBA and will see if he has a future in the NFL.
Counting the 2007 season, when several of the class members played as true freshmen, and extending through this year, they are 41-24. They’ll finish 1-4 against Virginia Tech and Georgia but 5-1 against Clemson and 4-1 against North Carolina. They won the 2009 ACC title. The one last item on the list is winning a bowl game. The class is 0-4 in bowl games.
Said Melton, “Put that cherry on top, and we’ll have our sundae.”
Links
El Paso Times stories on Paul Johnson and Utah coach Kyle Whittingham and notebooks from Georgia Tech and Utah.
Deseret News story on Tech’s run game vs. Utah’s run defense and notes.
Salt Lake Tribune feature on Utah wide receiver DeVonte Christopher and notes.
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78 comments Add your comment
wrecked wrecks
December 28th, 2011
4:11 pm
GTJason , BS Thomas was a physical freak, his draft status came because he was 6′3″ 235 lbs and ran a 4.39 40,nothing to do with caoching staff, if that were the case whts happened to WR since he left?Where are the great WR recruits? 5 wins against teams with a combined total of 10 wins is more with less?The best offensive recruit was told by Bama he would not get to play QB , he was an outstanding pickup but wants to play QB. how many 5′8-5-10″ 180 lb players does one squad need? Where is the talent you speak of? Uzzi only player on offense that would see time at another D1 program.This staffs service academy approach has brought the talent down to levels not seen in years.
crackbaby
December 28th, 2011
4:15 pm
@GT4ever – CPJ is 6-2 at home versus ranked teams. Tech is 20-6 at home the last 26 home games.
That is better than ANY Tech coach since Dodd. Better than Curry, Ross, Lewis, O’Leary and Gailey.
Beyond the record, Tech football is exciting and fun to watch. You just couldn’t say that for Gailey’s teams (or Lewis, Curry, etc.). Personally liked Tenuta’s approach on D but Coach Groh is improving the defense.
Tech has talent at all four positions in the secondary. Still need help with the front seven. the team is young and will improve.
To DRad and CPJ – keep working! The magic will happen!
old dog
December 28th, 2011
4:21 pm
macrotech,
Triple option, a variance on the original. Oh well, keep running it, win a few ACC games (like Newnan High could do) and you may slip one by on us….then it will be 18 or 19 out of 20. (we may slip once!) But don’t get on us too badly about our schedule; we have managed to have ya’ll on it and whooped you, so where does that put you?
My fear is that CPJ may realize that in his offense you STILL have to have a real QB. When he finally figures that out ya’ll may come on a little faster…………..maybe!
WnE
December 28th, 2011
4:21 pm
How can some of you putzes claim that Coach Kung Fu Panda has recruited well?
He went from inheriting B-backs from Chan that put up 3-straight 1,300 yds seasons, A. Allen was a Chan recruit, Chan recruited him out of HS and when he wanted to transfer from Louisville ,he decided on GT before CPJ got hired.
Look at CPJ’s B-Back recruits, R. Watson is a bust & hasn’t done anything going into his RS-Sr. yr. next yr. his 5th year out of HS, Perkins has NOT panned out, next yr. he’s a RS-Soph his 3rd yr. out of HS, Zach Laskey just isn’t a BCS caliber RB at any RB slot, Daniel “Lattimer” Drummond is a scumbag, cheating STERIOD USER and was too slow for B-Back and now he’s too SLOW for LB also.
This is what we have gotten out of Coach Fish Fry’s B-Backs recruits approaching his FIFTH Recruiting Class at the most IMPORTANT position(B-Back) in his system.
After Chan left behind the 2 NFL-guys that put up 3 straight 1,300 yd. seasons, Coach Fish Fry got smug and ARROGANT and proclaimed, “anybody I put in there at B-Back is gonna get 1,000 yds. in MY SYSTEM”.
After ALL HIS RECRUITS have not panned out, now coach Fish Fry is using a former QB(D. Sims) that only got 698 yds. vs. the 71st toughest schedule in the Country.
Where is Coach Kung Fu Panda’s smug arrogance NOW?
After seeing his chosen Recruits at B-Back go BUST, CPJ is in full panic MODE and now he’s looking at a JUCO RB from Ga. Military, that same GMC that GT Fans criticize so much when UGA signs a JUCO!
Given these IRREFUTABLE FACTS, how can any HONEST GT FAN say that CPJ has recruited than Chan?
The same goes for DLs, WRs, and QBs that can throw !
CPJ has not re-stocked the Roster, regardless of what the boot-licking-toadies proclaim!
gt45
December 28th, 2011
4:48 pm
Chan didn’t recruit well until his sixth season, gomer!
WnE
December 28th, 2011
4:57 pm
re:
gt45
December 28th, 2011
4:48 pm
Chan didn’t recruit well until his sixth season, gomer!
______________________________
When coach Fish Fry first got to GT EVERYONE (not me of course) said, “wait until 2010 & 2011, by then we’ll be competing for MNCs”; now everyone is saying WAIT UNTIL 2014 and we might be able to win 9-10 per yr.
You don’t see what’s happening right before your very own eyes?
What?
December 28th, 2011
4:59 pm
Homers, is it a “gimmick” because of the game named Triple Option at the county fair you guys get your yearly entertainment? It’s not the same thing. I’m sorry that game beats you everytime. Try to avoid the carnival barker when he lures you in. What, nevermind…
GTFan478
December 28th, 2011
5:00 pm
@wrecked wrecks What GTJason means by using Thomas as an example is, he was a two maybe three star recruit at best. Every offer he had was as a tightend except Techs offer. So yeah if taking a two or three star recruit and turning him into a first round pick isn’t coaching up, I don’t know what is. Do some research first before you try to argue with people and look like an idiot doing so.
William Casey
December 28th, 2011
5:05 pm
For the life of me, I do not understsand why self-proclaimed UGA fans come onto a GT football blog. With the exception of GT/UGA game week, I never go to the UGA blog. My only comment there was congratulating the Dawgs on a well-earned win. Is there something gratifying about constantly trash-talking about another team? Do we need to get Freudian here? Just wondering.
Congrats to the remaining members of the ‘07 class. You represented GT well on the field and off.
gt45
December 28th, 2011
5:18 pm
9,10, and 11 win seasons beat Gailey’s career, here, any day.
wrecked wrecks
December 28th, 2011
6:38 pm
Gfan648, Thomas had offers to play wide receiver at South Carolina , think he would have come to tech and play for Johnson? 2 years playing for Chans staff. PJ had nothing to do with his getting drafted his size and speed did.He ran poor routes for 2 years under PJ What a dumb prick.
wrecked wrecks
December 28th, 2011
7:01 pm
GTfan648, Chan used tight ends, Chan made D. Thomas a WR. not PJ and his servie academy coaching staff. What other WR’s have they developed?
FIRE JOHNSON
December 28th, 2011
7:20 pm
TO EVERYONE ON HERE THAT THINKS JOHNSON CAN RECRUIT THEN PLEASE CHECK OUT RIVALS.COM and SCOUT.com amd ESPN.COM AND PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU SEE A CLASS THAT WAS IN THE TOP 30. JOHNSON KNOWS HE AS TO RECRUIT TO COMPETE WITH UGA AND THE OTHER BIG TIME SCHOOLS. PLUS HE IS NEEDS TO DO MORE ON OFFENSE SUCH AS PASSING ALOT MORE WITH A QB THAT CAN. ALSO AL GROH IS GETTING OLD I MEN HOW MUCH LONGER DOES THIS JOKE OF A COACH HAVE LEFT?
WnE
December 28th, 2011
7:27 pm
re:
gt45
December 28th, 2011
5:18 pm
9,10, and 11 win seasons beat Gailey’s career, here, any day.
____________________–
First of all, Chan ain’t he only Pro-Style HC out there, one bad experience with ONE Pro-Style HC doesn’t me an you SCRAP the idea of playing Pro-Style offense especially in a place with a fertile Recruiting Ground that is Ga. HS FB.
Finally, the LAST 2 SEASON as Chan’s Recruits have filtered out of the Program and Coach Fish Fry’s recruits have filtered IN, GT’s record is abysmal.
GT the last 2 seasons have played the 69th & 71st toughest schedules in 2010 & 2011 and the record has been 14-11 with one crappy Bowl game left to play.
Chan always played Schedules ranked in the mid-30s to mid-40s had CPJ played schedules that tough he very well could have had back-to-back losing seasons.
CPJ @$$ has been saved by GT’s vey weak Schedules.
To summarize:
1-3 vs. Muttville
1-3 vs. Miami during a period of turmoil at Miami
1-3 vs. Va. Tech
0-3 vs. Bowl Games the best GT can do is 1-3 vs. Bowl Games
And for all THAT, we are paying CPJ 2.5 Times what we paid Chan.
Do you really think that CPJ is earning his $2.5 mil based on GT’s Defense, STs, and crappy Passing Game?
macrotech
December 28th, 2011
7:33 pm
old dog, I hear ya….when was the last time the dogs won it all? I think people are starting to figure out that ‘forward pass’ thing! MIGHT want to get a less gimmicky game plan!
FIRE JOHNSON
December 28th, 2011
7:33 pm
@WnE i think TECH needs to fire the DUMBASS AD for hiring him. I like the way you think WnE.BTW i am a die hard Tech fan i just hate PAUL JOHNSON we are not GA.SOUTHERN or NAVY and i feel like he driving the ramblin wreck there
FIRE JOHNSON
December 28th, 2011
7:35 pm
That forward pass beat TECH.Murray threw for 4 TD’s. And if your a TECH fan dont bash UGA they own GT.Until Tech starts beating UGA than run your mouths
macrotech
December 28th, 2011
7:47 pm
WnE…I hear ya. I really do! I think things would’ve been different had certain players not left early for the nfl. We lost some studs and we were stuck with a REALLY young team this year. I’m no prophet, but I DO believe that CPJ knows how to get the most out of his team. I look forward to THIS team maturing and taking things to the next level as soon as next season. Be advised, however, I’ve ALWAYS been an optimistic soul….I love Tech and enjoy CPJ as our coach! If none of this happens by ‘14, then I’ll join you in your disdain for a coach committed to the TO.
macrotech
December 28th, 2011
7:50 pm
No…I don’t have to wait…mutts suck! They bark a lot over little wins, but run yelping in the big games…I guess that’s why we have more NCs than them. Nice little wins, though! Bark away!!!
Regarding the forward pass comment…I guess you missed the meaning of the post…no biggie! How many points DOES one get if they make a 3 point basket?
FIRE JOHNSON
December 28th, 2011
8:03 pm
If Johnson does not beat Georgia next year then he will be fired POINT BLANK not to mention if we lose the bowl game.
FIRE JOHNSON
December 28th, 2011
9:30 pm
found some clips from johnson at hawaii.So is 2012 when we see some the passing and other formations?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwnbkqkV0VI&feature=related
macrotech
December 29th, 2011
1:56 am
It would be NICE!
Albert
December 29th, 2011
10:03 am
It must be sad to never win a bowl game during your college career.
macrotech
December 29th, 2011
2:11 pm
Albert…I’m sure they’d like to win one on their way out, but at LEAST they got a great education and the chance to be a part of a long and prestigious tradition in Tech athletics! They’ve won more games than they’ve lost and were a part of a conference championship winning team…not TOO bad!
FIRE JOHNSON
December 29th, 2011
5:16 pm
*PRESTIGIOUS ATHLETICS*?? haha
macrotech
December 29th, 2011
6:56 pm
Sure….google it….we’ve enjoyed a rich history athletically. Enjoy the trip! We don’t win as many as your mutts do, but we win more of the big games when it matters most! Don’t you have a Bobo to sniff? All that hate is going to eat you up….is it worth it?
bruce mac
January 1st, 2012
12:28 pm
So, what is the record for consecutive bowl losses? Nine maybe. Keep em coming please. This would be a great record for Tech to own. It would be the most reflective statement of days long gone. Long live Bobby Dodd.
panzytechieschedual
January 1st, 2012
6:44 pm
GA.TECHIE FANS MOST OF THEM ARE MEMBERS OF THE DOUBLE ASS DUMB CLUB AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE CLUB IS AHHH AND GT JASON IS VICE PRESIDENT AND YOU COULD NOT FIND ANYONE TO BETTER REPRESENT THIS GROUP THEY PUT THIER MOUTH IN MOTION BEFORE THEY PUT THIER BRAIN IN GEAR AND BOTH SUFFER FROM DIARRHEA OF THE MOUTH. THEY TALK ABOUT EASY SCHEDUALS WHEN TECHIE PLAY A PANSY SCHEDUAL AS THE WHOLE SCHEDUAL HAD A LOSING RECORD YOU DONT GET MUCH WORSE THAN THAT AND FOR THIER DUMB ASS MIND GEORGIA SCHEDUAL HAD A WINNING RECORD SO WITCH IS THE EASIEST SECUDAL I KNOW THEY CANT FIGURE THAT OUT BUT MAYBE SOMEONE CAN HELP THEM. IT HARD TO THINK WHEN YOU HAVE A VIOD BETWEEN YOUR EARS