February 3, 1999

ATLANTA - With an emphasis on bolstering the defense and kicking game as well as filling needs for the future on offense, Georgia Tech signed 26 prospective student-athletes to national letters of intent on Wednesday, head coach George O'Leary announced.

The class, the fifth and largest signed by O'Leary at Tech, includes three SuperPrep magazine all-Americas, one Parade Magazine all-America and eight players who earned honorable mention all-America accolades from USA Today, while emphasizing the state of Georgia with 14 signees.

Tech signed five defensive backs, four defensive lineman, four running backs, three offensive linemen, three linebackers, two quarterbacks, two receivers, two kickers and one specialist.

"We were going after some immediate defensive help, offensively we were going after future needs at certain positions, and we brought in two kickers to replace the two that graduated," said O'Leary, who lost five starters on defense, two on offense and both starting kickers from last year's squad that finished 10-2 and ranked ninth nationally.

"Overall, it's a very sound class. Academically, I think it will be one of the top classes in the country, and athletically it's right there, too. The assistant coaches did a great job of identifying the student-athletes and identifying them for Georgia Tech."

"You'd have to say the kickers are going to be looked at right away just because of our need there," O'Leary continued. "We have two returnees there but none on scholarship, so that's an immediate area where we'll look for help. Both players we signed can punt and kick.

"Other than that, I would think that if any help is going to come immediately, it would be on the defensive side of the ball."

Tech's top defensive signees include SuperPrep all-America defensive back Cory Collins (6-0, 175) of Egg Harbor Township, N.J. and Egg Harbor High, a USA Today honorable mention all-America, along with free safety Jeremy Muyres (6-3, 195) of Stone Mountain, Ga., and Parkview High School; linebacker Recardo Wimbush (6-2, 215) of Early County High School in Blakely, Ga., and defensive end Greg Gathers (6-3, 255) of East St. John's High in LaPlace, La.

Tech also lured four additional USA Today all-Americas on the offensive side in running backs Sidney Ford (5-9, 195) of Pepperell High in Lindale, Ga., and Mike Kitchen (5-9, 185) of Lebanon, Pa., and Lebanon High; wide receiver Anthony Lawston (6-4, 215) of Baltimore, Md., and Eastern Tech High; and offensive lineman Raymond Blake (6-3, 270) of Walthourville, Ga., and Bradwell Institute.

Two kickers signed with the Jackets, including Parade Magazine all-America Luke Manget (5-11, 180) of Conyers, Ga., and Rockdale County High, who was hampered by a hamstring injury his senior year but managed to boot seven of 12 field goals, as well as Philip Newman (6-1, 180) of Walton High in Marietta, Ga., who hit six of 11 field goals while averaging 44 yards per punt. Each has kicked three field goals of over 50 yards.

The class features two of the storied names in Georgia Tech football history as the Jackets signed Kelley Rhino of Smyrna, Ga., the son of Randy Rhino, the only three time all-America in Tech history, and cornerback Eric Lavette of Powder Springs, Ga., whose father Robert Lavette is the Jackets' all-time leading rusher. Kelley Rhino's grandfather Chappell and uncle Danny also played for the Rambling Wreck.

More than half the class--14 signees--hails from the state of Georgia, including nine players named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Top 50 in Georgia in Blake, Ford, Muyres, Manget, and Wimbush, as well as offensive John Bennett (6-5, 275) of Etowah High in Woodstock, Ga., defensive end Hugh Reilly (6-4, 245) of Atlanta's Marist School, and linebackers Ather Brown (6-3, 210) of Macon, Ga., and Jones County High, and Gary Johnson (6-1, 240) of Troup County High in LaGrange, Ga. Ford, Wimbush and Muyres are also members of the AJC Super Southern 100.

Seven other states are represented, including four players from Florida, two each from Louisiana and South Carolina, and one from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland.

Five defensive backs--more than any other position--joined the fold, led by Collins, who was named Northeast Defensive Player of the Year as well as the No. 3 prospect in New Jersey by SuperPrep, and Muyres, a member of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's preseason "Super 11" in Georgia who was tabbed the No. 43 player in Dixie by SuperPrep. Muyres is the younger brother of Tech receiver Jon Muyres, a rising junior.

The Jackets also bolstered their secondary with Selwyn Scott (5-10, 170) of Leonard High School in Boynton Beach, Fla, who was the Wendy's High School Heisman winner in Florida while setting a state record for career kickoff return yardage; and Winfred Brown (5-9, 170) of Marietta's Harrison High, rated the No. 6 defensive back in Georgia; and Lavette (5-10, 185), who helped lead McEachern High to the AAA state championship game.

Tech added four defensive linemen, led by Gathers, a defensive end who hails from the same high school as Tech freshman receiver Kerry Watkins and was SuperPrep's No. 49 prospect in Louisiana with 42 career sacks. Another defensive end, Reilly, was tabbed the No. 98 player in Dixie, and the defensive line group also includes Fred Wright (6-4, 250) of Lehigh High in Lehigh Acres, Fla., and Jamey Hamilton (6-3, 245), Lavette's teammate at McEachern in Powder Springs, Ga.

Rounding out the defensive players, Tech signed three of the top four linebackers in the state, according to the AJC, in Wimbush, Johnson and Brown.

On offense, four talented running backs lead the way including Ford, the state's leading rusher in 1998 with 2,595 yards and 33 touchdowns, and Kitchen, who rushed for 1,410 yards and 14 touchdowns. Tech also welcomes William Glover (5-10, 185) of Tampa, Fla., Jesuit High, who was tabbed the No. 9 prospect in Florida by the Florida Times Union while rushing for 1,585 yards and 20 touchdowns, and Jermaine Hatch (6-2, 205), of Baton Rouge, La., Catholic High, the SuperPrep's No. 25 prospect in Louisiana with 954 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns.

The Jackets inked a pair of out-of-state quarterbacks in Brian Camp (6-2, 220) of Dublin, Ohio and Coffman High School, the Player of the Year in Ohio by both Gatorade and Associated Press, and Andy Hall (6-3, 190) of Cheraw, S.C., rated the state's No. 9 prospect by SuperPrep. Both excellent athletes, Camp passed for 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 420 yards and 11 scores, while Hall passed for 692 yards and six touchdowns along with 499 rushing and eight touchdowns.

Tech added two wide receivers, led by Lawston, the top player in the state of Maryland and a member of Prep Star's "Top 100 Dream Team." He caught 49 passes for 819 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior, while another receiver prospect, Roderick Middleton (6-2, 182), of Bonneau, S.C. and Timberland High School was rated the No. 21 player in South Carolina by SuperPrep. He is a cousin of Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton but not related to former Tech receiver Harvey Middleton.

On the offensive line, where just one player graduated, the Rambling Wreck added two of the AJC's Top 50 in Georgia in Blake and Bennett. The third offensive lineman is Clay Hartley (6-5, 284) of Bryceville, Fla., and West Nassau High, who was rated No. 50 in Florida and No. 61 in Dixie by SuperPrep.

Rounding out the class is the versatile Rhino (5-8, 175) from Marist School, who has the speed and quickness to be a threat as a running back, defensive back or return specialist after collecting 875 yards rushing and 150 yards receiving as a senior.

In addtion to legacies Rhino and Lavette, the Jackets welcome the brother of one current Tech player (Muyres) and the cousin of another (Middleton).

"That's important for loyalty and support in the program," said O'Leary.

1999 GEORGIA TECH FOOTBALL
National Letter of Intent Signees
February 3, 1999

Name              Pos   Ht.    Wt.   Hometown (High School)
John Bennett       OL   6-5    275   Woodstock, Ga. (Etowah)
Raymond Blake      OL   6-3    270   Walthourville, Ga. (Bradwell Institute)
Ather Brown        LB   6-3    210   Macon, Ga. (Jones County)
Winfred Brown      CB   5-9    170   Marietta, Ga. (Harrison)
Brian Camp         QB   6-2    220   Dublin, Ohio (Coffman)
Cory Collins       DB   6-0    175   Egg Harbor Township, N.J. (Egg Harbor Township)
Sidney Ford        RB   5-9    195   Lindale, Ga. (Pepperell)
Greg Gathers       DL   6-3    255   LaPlace, La. (East St. John's)
William Glover     RB  5-10    185   Tampa, Fla. (Jesuit)
Andy Hall          QB   6-3    190   Cheraw, S.C. (Cheraw)
Jamie Hamilton     DL   6-3    245   Powder Springs, Ga. (McEachern)
Clay Hartley       OL   6-5    284   Bryceville, Fla. (West Nassau)
Jermaine Hatch     RB   6-2    205   Baton Rouge, La. (Catholic)
Gary Johnson       LB   6-1    240   LaGrange, Ga. (Troup County)
Michael Kitchen    RB   5-9    185   Lebanon, Pa. (Lebanon)
Eric Lavette       DB  5-10    185   Powder Springs, Ga. (McEachern)
Anthony Lawston    WR   6-4    215   Baltimore, Md. (Eastern Tech)
Luke Manget        PK  5-11    180   Conyers, Ga. (Rockdale County)
Roderick Middleton WR   6-2    182   Bonneau, S.C. (Timberland)
Jeremy Muyres      DB   6-3    195   Stone Mountain, Ga. (Parkview)
Philip Newman    PK/P   6-1    180   Marietta, Ga. (Walton)
Hugh Reilly        DE   6-4    245   Roswell, Ga. (Marist)
Kelley Rhino       DB   5-8    175   Smyrna, Ga. (Marist)
Selwyn Scott       DB  5-10    170   Boynton, Fla. (John I. Leonard)
Recardo Wimbush    LB   6-2    215   Blakely, Ga. (Early County)
Fred Wright        DE   6-4    250   Lehigh Acres, Fla. (Lehigh)