The transfer portal is currently closed, and most teams' rosters across college football are set for the 2024 season. There are still players available through the portal, but no new entries.
Georgia Tech has made some smart additions this transfer portal cycle, with Cincinnati safety Jaden Davis, USC defensive end Romello Hite, and Illinois cornerback Zachary Tobe receiving yellows this spring. Joined the Jackets. All of these players fill needed positions and will at least give Georgia Tech depth now and in the future.
Will Brent Key and his staff add more to the team now that the portal window has closed? There are still some holes on the roster and several players who could fill them.
Let's take a look at three players that Georgia Tech would make sense to add.
Note: This is just speculation on players Georgia Tech should consider adding, not something to report.
LB Marcellius Pulliam – Miami
To be clear, this is just speculation on my part, but I think Georgia Tech should try to add Pulliam to the roster. Pulliam played his high school career at Sandy Creek High School in Georgia and will be a solid addition to a position that needs improvement this season.
Georgia Tech has been busy in the portal this offseason, having already added two linebackers in the winter window. Jackson Hamilton (Louisville) and EJ Lightsey (Georgia) are out in the spring and are already competing for playing time, but Pulliam will bring youth to the position and is an excellent player. Georgia Tech has Kyle Efford, Trenillias Tatum, and Taj Butler competing for time, but Pulliam could add depth and even strength at the position. The Yellow Jackets have a lot of questions about their defense (especially their front seven), but they added a transfer in hopes of improving.
Is he ready to play? He could compete for playing time, but is a future piece for the defense even if he doesn't play right away.
For more information on Pulliam, courtesy of miamhurricanes.com:
2023 (True Freshman): Appeared in 10 games in his debut season, primarily playing a key role on special teams units… Finished with one tackle and one interception… Made his career debut in a win over Bethune-Cookman (September 14). Recorded his first career tackle…in all eight of Miami's conference games he saw action…His first career interception returned 14 yards against Boston College (November 24)…against Rutgers (December 28). Set time on Bad Boy Moise Pinstripe Bowl.
high school: Consensus three-star player by ESPN, Rivals, and 247 Sports…Listed as the No. 23 inside linebacker by ESPN…Rated as the No. 32 outside linebacker by Rivals…43 tackles, 5 tackles for loss in 6 regular season games. , recorded four sacks as a senior… Chose Miami over Louisville, Mississippi State, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and others.
DB Savion Riley – Miami
Will he move to Miami again? The Hurricanes have a player in the portal who would be a good fit with Georgia Tech, and 247Sports reports there is interest between Riley and Georgia Tech.
This is a great addition to the secondary, providing depth and someone who will be able to play again this year. The Yellow Jackets have already acquired Cincinnati transfer Jaden Davis during this transfer portal period, and another talented safety could help Georgia Tech in a big way going forward. They still have a good starting safety duo in LaMyles Brooks and Clayton Powell-Lee, and added Riley in addition to Davis and redshirt freshman Taye Seymour.
But Georgia Tech isn't the only school interested in Riley. He has also shown interest from Colorado, Missouri, Penn State, and Michigan, so it will be interesting to see where Riley decides to go. He joined Miami in December, but is already back in the transfer portal looking for a new school. Let's see where this recruitment drive goes.
More about Riley from Vanderbilt Athletics:
As a 2nd year student (2023)
• SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
• Played in eight games as a redshirt freshman, starting two of them.
• Made 48 total tackles, fifth on the team despite missing four games.
• Had a career-high 12 tackles at Florida.
• Recorded 9 tackles (7 solo) at Wake Forest.
• Recorded 8 total tackles (5 solo) in the win over Hawaii.
As a new student (2022)
• I couldn’t see any game action.
riley file
• Competed at Kennesaw Mountain High School for head coach Caleb Karmian.
• 3-star prospect ranked as a top 60 safety in the nation and a top 70 prospect in the state of Georgia by On3.
• Named to All-State First Team and All-Region First Team as a senior.
• Made over 50 tackles, including an interception, and helped Kennesaw Mountain to a 10-2 record as a senior.
• 40 catches, 644 yards, and 8 touchdowns in 2021
• Chose Vanderbilt over Duke.
DL Thomas Gore – Miami
Georgia Tech could use another defensive lineman, and while Gore wasn't a huge standout at Miami last season, he was an excellent player at Georgia State before leaving. He has a wealth of experience and at 6'0 280 LBS provides size inside for the Yellow Jackets and could form a great rotation with Zeke Biggers, Horace Lockett, and the rest of Georgia Tech's inside defensive line. will be possible.
More information about Goa provided by miamihurricanes.com
2023 (5th year redshirt junior): Played in all 13 games in his first season with the Hurricanes… Finished with 8 total tackles, 4 of which were for a loss… Added 2 sacks… Finished with 3 tackles, including 2 tackles against Bethune-Cookman (September 14). Loss…2 sacks at Temple (September 23)…1 tackle against North Carolina (October 14)…1 stop against Louisville (November 18)…Bad Boy Mowers pin against Rutgers Recorded one stop in the Striped Bowl (Dec. 28).
Before Miami: Spent the first four seasons of his career at Georgia State University…finished his season with the Panthers with 93 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks…enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2021, making 45 tackles for loss and 9.5 tackles for loss. He earned All-Sun Belt honorable mention honors with 2.5 sacks and 2.5 sacks.In his final year at Georgia State, he recorded 38 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles.
high school: Helped Brentwood Academy in Nashville, Tennessee win its fourth consecutive state title in 2018…First Team All-State (Division II-AAA) by Tennessee Sportswriters Association…Includes two sacks in Brentwood's win Montgomery Bell, a state semifinalist who had three tackles for a loss…a state champion heavyweight wrestler who also threw the shot put.
