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In an option offense such as the one run by the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the offensive line is key. Without a good offensive line, running the option is near impossible, and the center of that line is the anchor. Head coach Paul Johnson and his staff have brought in another excellent top-tier recruit to possibly be that anchor.
The Goon Squad has become the go-to nickname for the big Georgia Tech offensive line, and 2014 3-star Commit Jake Whitley, from North Augusta, S.C. (North Augusta), fits the bill perfectly with that nickname. Whitley is a 6’3″ 305 lb lineman who can also play any of the interior positions, or possibly even tackle.
During his senior season, North Augusta went 12-2 with a 4-1 record in their division and finished the year off as the number 7 ranked team in the state of South Carolina. Whitely is coming out as the #55 rated offensive guard according to ESPN.com’s rankings, and the #25 overall prospect in the state of South Carolina.
Whitley received offers from a dozen different schools including Maryland and Georgia Southern, but has given his verbal commitment to the Yellow Jackets, saying he had “a blast” on his official visit to the Flats in December.
Scouts have loved Whitley’s sturdy build and upper body strength. He’s been given high grades on pass protection, and even more so on power rush blocking. What the Georgia Tech coaching staff probably liked best was his nasty demeanor on the field. Whitley plays with an edge, but not to the point of losing control. Goon squad material, indeed.
Jake Whitley will be a welcomed addition to that Goon Squad, and although he may need a redshirt year to work out some of the techniques and to add a little musicle, in a few years we quite possibly could be talking about a nationally prominent offensive linemen.
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