Impermissible texts snag Georgia Tech recruiting

Georgia Tech handcuffed itself in its recruiting efforts with impermissible text messages to a recruit and his father. The NCAA banned the Tech coaching staff from initiating telephone or written communication with the prospect for four weeks, starting in late December, according to an e-mail from Tech compliance director Jerome Rodgers that was obtained through the Georgia Open Record Act.

NCAA rules forbid all forms of electronically transmitted correspondence to recruits or their parents or guardians except for e-mail and faxes.

The NCAA penalized Tech for two of three texts, which were sent in November. The third was a text from Tech coach Paul Johnson, who thought he was replying to a text from a team member, not a recruit. In the e-mail, Rodgers called the violations “inadvertent.”

The e-mail noted that the school sought NCAA permission to divide the four-week penalty into two two-week periods in order to contact the prospect, identified as “Will,” during the week of his official visit to Tech. Sandy Creek High offensive lineman Will Adams visited Tech Jan. 13-15, the same weekend noted in the e-mail, and was the only prospect by that name that weekend. Reached Tuesday, Adams said he was not speaking with news media until his signing-day announcement Wednesday morning.

While Adams was committed to Tech at the time of the visit, he took an official visit to Auburn last weekend and is now considered undecided between Tech and Auburn. He is expected to announce his choice Wednesday morning.