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Georgia Tech Football: Florida WR Malik Rutherford becomes first commitment of 2021 class

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

BLACKSBURG, VA - OCTOBER 25: A member of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets cheerleading squad celebrates a touchdown against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the second half at Lane Stadium on October 25, 2018 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA - OCTOBER 25: A member of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets cheerleading squad celebrates a touchdown against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the second half at Lane Stadium on October 25, 2018 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) /
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The Georgia Tech football under head coach Geoff Collins has seen their recruiting game take a step up and as the Jackets are putting the finishing touches on one of their best recruiting classes in a long time, they’ve already begun their 2021 efforts.

On Sunday afternoon, the Jackets received their first commitment in the 2021 recurciting class from Florida wide receiver Malik Rutherford. At 5-foot-9 and 165-pounds, Rutherford is a reciever that will fit into the Ahmarean Brown type role for the Yellow Jackets once enrolling on campus. A speed threat, Rutherford is also a versatile athlete for Champagnat Catholic in Hialeah, Florida. In addition to playing wide receiver, he also lines up at defensive back and is a return specialist for the Lions.

There are a bit of discrepancy about his size, while his 247Sports profile lis him at 165-pounds, his official weight at a “The Opening Regional” back in February had the Florida wide out weigh in under 140-pounds.

https://twitter.com/MalikRutherford/status/1198729567495737344

Either way, while being that small could be a bit of a concern, he still has plenty of time to add weight to his frame and it shouldn’t be too much of a worry once he gets up closer to the 175-pounds area.

The Jackets have gotten in rather early on Rutherford’s recruitment it seems with the wide receiver holding 11 reported offers. Notable offers include Indiana, Nebraska, and Syracuse. Other schools that have shown interest but haven’t offered include Florida, Michigan State, Penn State, and Pittsburgh.

The wide receiver position has been a position the Jackets have targeted heavily on the recruiting trail over the lsat two recruiting cycles and that has continued into the 2021 cylce it appears. With four commitments in the 2020 recruiting class at the position, the Jackets have now had nine commitments/signees at the position over the 2019, 2020, and 2021 recruiting classes. As of right now, the Jackets are not set to lose anyone at the position heading into next season. While 2019 signee Nazir Burnett has already left the program, the Jackets won’t lose anyone else as senior Jalen Camp will return in 2021 after redshirting this season with an injury.

As the Jackets look to continue their work on the recruiting trail, they’ll have one last game to prepare for in 2019 as they’re preparing for some Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate with the Georgia Bulldogs at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Jackets will have an opportunity to play for spoiler as a loss would knock the Bulldogs all but out of playoff contention.