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Georgia Tech Football: A Look Back at the Highest Rated Georgia Tech Recruits Since 2000

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

Oct 17, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets cheerleaders ride the Ramblin Wreck car before a game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets cheerleaders ride the Ramblin Wreck car before a game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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NFL: Preseason-St. Louis Rams at Tennessee Titans
NFL: Preseason-St. Louis Rams at Tennessee Titans /

#6. 4* SDE Derrick Morgan – 2007

The second highest rated recruit of the 2007 recruiting class, Morgan was considered a top-100 player in the nation and the ninth best strongside defensive end in the country.

Morgan saw the field immediately at Georgia Tech seeing all time in all 12 games in 2007. While the stats don’t add up to all that much with just nine tackles and one and half tackles for a loss, Morgan had an impact in his first season on The Flats.

His sophomore season Morgan made a bigger impact both on the field and in the box score. That season he collected 51 tackles including nine and half for a loss and seven sacks. Following the 2008 season he received honorable mention All-ACC honors as well as honorable mention Sophomore All-America honors.

His junior season was even better than his sophomore season. In 14 games in 2009, Morgan collected 55 total tackles including an outstanding 18.5 tackles for a loss and 12.5 sacks. He finished his career with 19.5 sacks, which ranks him eight all-time in the Yellow Jackets sack leaders.

His tremendous junior season earned Morgan the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award as well as a consensus All-American and first team All-ACC.

Morgan went onto be drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 2010 NFL Draft in the first round with the 16th overall pick.

Hit or Miss: Morgan came into Georgia Tech and lived up to the expectations immediately. In his sophomore and junior seasons he proved to be an offenses worst nightmare. Becoming a first round pick doesn’t hurt either,  Chan Gailey’s staff definitely had a HIT with Derrick Morgan.