Georgia Tech Football: Profiling Tech's Top Commits for 2013 Season

With National Signing Day quickly approaching, Georgia Tech football fans have plenty to be excited about when it comes to this year’s signing class.

According to ESPN, 15 players have committed to Georgia Tech this fall. All of them are 3-star recruits.

After another mediocre season, Tech was handed their first bowl win since 2004 when they took on the USC Trojans in the 2012 Sun Bowl. This was a huge victory for the program, and Tech’s new commits will play a role in keeping the winning momentum going into the 2013 season.

Here is a look at five new Yellow Jackets who will take The Flats this fall or next.

Offensive tackle Shamire DeVine from Tri-Cities High School in East Point, Ga. is the highest-rated commit Georgia Tech landed this year.

Weighing in at 355 pounds, DeVine's claim to fame is his size and strength. According to the Yellow Jackets' 2012 roster, he outweighs Tech’s biggest player (OL Thomas O’Reilly) by a whopping 42 pounds.

Not only does DeVine excel on the field, but also he’s a star in the classroom. The future computer engineer explained to Michael Carvell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution why he chose Tech.

I picked Georgia Tech over Florida State, and I really don’t know who the third guy was. Florida State was ranked in the top 10 in computers, while Georgia Tech was in the top three. So I chose the school with the best academics. I don’t really care about the football part. I just want the best degree I can get, as far as the field I want to study. That’s Georgia Tech.

 

This scholar athlete will fit into the Tech community just fine.

For months, wide receiver Ricky Jeune left universities and fans anxiously awaiting to hear his decision as to what school he would be attending this fall. Earlier this month, he chose to take his talents to Georgia Tech.

Reigning from Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, N.J., Jeune is known for his superior ball-handling skills and ability to catch in traffic. 

Jeune caught 77 passes for 1,667 yards and 22 touchdowns in his junior and senior year.

During the recruitment process, Tech told Jeune that they are trying to open up more on offense, He will play a significant role in Tech’s passing game and give quarterback Vad Lee a reliable target. 

If you have watched any Georgia Tech football in the past couple of years, you know that one area that needs major improvement is special teams. Harrison Butker will add another element to Tech’s kicking game, and improve its consistency.

Straight out of Atlanta, Ga., ESPN considers this Westminster School grad to be one of the nation’s top kickers.

During his junior year, Butker made 16 out of 17 field goals, with a long of 51 yards.

Butker told Michael Carvell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he chose the institute because he has the chance to be a four-year starter, and he felt most at home at Tech.

Tolando Cleveland will re-join former Hillgrove High School teammates and brothers Synjyn Days and Jabari Hunt-Days on the Yellow Jacket squad.

According to GeorgiaTech.Scout.com, the choice to attend Tech was easy; he committed as soon as he received the offer while attending a football camp over the summer.

The cornerback stands at 5’11” and weighs 170 pounds. According to Rivals, Cleveland can run the 40-yard dash in a swift 4.4 seconds, and can squat 330 pounds.

He is known for his speed and can be counted on for run support. Cleveland will be a factor in improving Tech’s inconsistent defense.

The first person to commit to the Yellow Jackets for 2013 was running back Travis Custis from Lovejoy High School in Lovejoy, Ga.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Custis broke all of Lovejoy’s rushing records, previously set by former Yellow Jacket and current Buffalo Bill Tashard Choice. During his junior year, he rushed for a notable 1,839 yards and thirty touchdowns.

Custis is a very powerful ball carrier, can elude tackles and gain yards after contact. He is hard to bring down and has the ability to quickly find holes in opposing defenses. Custis will be the perfect addition to Tech’s option offense.