Georgia Tech has been busy this spring in the transfer portal.
The Yellow Jackets were active in the first transfer portal window, but they added to it in the spring. Georgia Tech was hard at work trying to fix a defense that was one of the worst in the country last season and they made some key additions. Today, the program officially announced six new additions to the program, with three of them being on the defensive line, a spot where Georgia Tech needed some potential impact players.
Let's take a look at each of them.
TE Josh Beetham (Michigan)- Michigan (2021-23):Appeared in 11 games over three seasons at Michigan, seeing action at tight end and on special teams … Appeared in nine games as a redshirt sophom*ore in 2023, helping the Wolverines to a 15-0 campaign and national championship … Played in one game apiece in 2021 and 2022 … Two-time Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Week for his efforts in helping Michigan prepare for games against Maryland and Penn State in 2022 … Two-time academic all-Big Ten honoree (2022 and 2023).
Illinois (2020):Did not see game action as a true freshman quarterback … Retained season of eligibility due to Covid-19 pandemic.
High School:Named honorable mention all-state as a senior QB … Two-time all-conference and all-area selection … Coached by Dan McGuire … Also an all-conference and all-area performer in basketball.
Safety Jayden Davis (Cincinnati)-
Cincinnati (2023):Saw action in two games as a true freshman (vs. Houston and vs. West Virginia) … Did not record any statistics … Redshirted.
High School:Rated as a three-star prospect byRivals,247Sportsand ESPN … Ranked among the top 50 overall prospects in the state of Georgia by bothRivalsand ESPN … Senior season was cut short due to injury, but still garnered all-county recognition from the Touchdown Club of Gwinnett County … Earned all-region and all-county honors as a junior in 2021, when he recorded 65 tackles (59 solo), three interceptions and eight pass breakups while helping lead Collins Hill to a 15-0 record, the Georgia 7-A state championship and a No. 3 final national ranking … His 2021 Collins Hill team was the first to play in the highest classification in Georgia and win every game by at least 15 points since 1971 … Coached by Lenny Gregory.
Defensive lineman Thomas Gore (Miami and Georgia State):
Miami (2023):Played in all 13 games … Recorded eight tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks … Notched both sacks in a win at Temple … Had season-high three tackles against Bethune-Cookman … Had solo stops against North Carolina, Louisville and in the Pinstripe Bowl against Rutgers.
Georgia State (2019-22):Spent four seasons at nearby Georgia State … Amassed 93 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in four seasons … Named honorable mention all-Sun Belt after recording 45 tackles, 9.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman in 2021 … Redshirted as a true freshman in 2019 and retained a season of eligibility in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
High School:Rated as a two-star prospect byRivalsand 247Sports … Named first-team all-state after helping lead Brentwood Academy to its fourth-straight state championship in 2018 … Coached by Cody White … Was also a state heavyweight champion in wrestling … Threw shot put in track and field.
Defensive End Romello Height (Auburn and USC):
Southern California (2022-23):Played two seasons at USC … Played in 12 of the Trojans’ 13 games as a redshirt sophom*ore in 2023, recording 21 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks and a fumble recovery … Was limited to just two games as a sophom*ore in 2022, starting against Rice and Stanford before sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury.
Auburn (2020-21):Played two seasons at Auburn … Appeared in just one game as a true freshman in 2020 (vs. LSU) and retained season of eligibility due to Covid-19 pandemic … Made 19 tackles, including three for loss, as a freshman in 2021 … Twice recorded a season-high four tackles at Arkansas (including a half TFL) and vs. Alabama (including a TFL).
High School:Rated as a four-star prospect by247Sports… Tabbed as the No. 24 outside linebacker in the nation and No. 35 overall prospect in the state of Georgia … Named first-teamMaxPrepsSmall Schools all-America and Georgia Class 2-A Defensive Player of the Year following his senior season in 2019 … Amassed 27 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception that he returned 60 yards for a touchdown as a senior, helping lead Dublin to the Georgia 2A state championship … Also caught two passes for 112 yards and a touchdown at wide receiver and returned a kickoff 43 yards during final prep season … Coached by Roger Holmes.
Cornerback Zachary Tobe (Illinois):
DB, So., 6-2, 190, Ocoee, Fla./Ocoee H.S. (Illinois)
Illinois (2023):Played in 10 games and made three starts at cornerback in lone season at Illinois … Recorded 25 tackles and five pass breakups … Had three tackles and a season-high three pass breakups vs. FAU … Amassed a season-high seven tackles in finale vs. Northwestern … Also had three or more tackles against Nebraska (4), Minnesota (3) and Indiana (3) … Broke up single passes against Wisconsin and Indiana.
High School:Rated as a three-star recruit byRivals,247Sportsand ESPN … Four-year letterwinner at Ocoee H.S. .. Coached by Aaron Sheppard … Member of academic honor roll all four years.
Defensive lineman Jordan van den Berg (Penn State):
Penn State (2021-23):Appeared in 28 games over three seasons at Penn State … Totaled 26 tackles, including 2.5 sacks and four tackles for loss, forced two fumbles and recovered one in his three seasons at PSU … Had a career-high 11 tackles in 11 games as a redshirt sophom*ore in 2023 … Recorded nine stops, including a career-best 1.5 sacks, and forced a fumble as a redshirt freshman in 2022 … Played in just four games but notched a career-high two tackles for loss to go along with six total tackles, a sack and a forced fumble as a freshman in 2021 … Both of his forced fumbles and lone fumble recovery came in Big Ten games against Maryland (FR in 2023, FFs in 2021 and 2022) … Named to 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl preseason watch list … Named PSU’s Developmental Squad co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 … Two-time academic all-Big Ten honoree.
Iowa Western C.C. (2020):Played one season at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa during the spring of 2021 (season moved from fall due to Covid-19 pandemic) … Added 40 pounds to aid in transition from linebacker to defensive line … Named first-team junior college all-America and first-team all-region despite playing in only six games … Recorded 13 tackles, including four TFL … Had a season-high 7.5 tackles against Iowa Central C.C. … Had a season-best two TFL against Snow College … Helped lead Iowa Western C.C. to an 8-1 overall record.
High School:Played linebacker at Providence Christian Academy in nearby Lilburn, Ga. … Named first-team all-state as a senior in 2019 … Two-time all-region and all-county honoree … Providence Christian’s all-time leader in career tackles, single-season tackles and single-season tackles for loss … Set school records with 157 tackles and 14 TFL as a senior … Also notched four sacks during final prep campaign … Coached by Parker Conley … Also earned three letters in baseball and two in basketball.
