Yellow Jackets

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High Expectations
Yellow Jackets Sign 19 Football Standouts



High Expectations
High Expectations

Twenty lettermen returning from last year's ACC regular season championship team, a freshman class ranked fifth in the nation and another preseason Top 20 ranking makes Georgia Tech baseball coach Danny Hall cautiously optimistic about the 2005 season.

"Expectations again are very high," said Hall, who enters his 12th season at Tech. "I feel like we have a good core of position players coming back, including our entire infield, but our biggest question mark will be the pitching staff. We lost some outstanding pitchers last year, but I'm confident our guys can handle the pressure."

The Yellow Jackets, ranked No. 13 in Collegiate Baseball's preseason poll and No. 19 by Baseball America, lost all three members of last year's starting rotation, but junior right-hander Jason Neighborgall has stepped in to anchor the staff.

Hall said sophomores Lee Hyde, Ryan Turner and Blake Wood are leading candidates for starter spots in the weekend rotation while senior closer Jordan Crews anchors the bullpen along with right-handed relievers Jared Hyatt, Tim Gustafson and John Goodman and left-hander Ryan Self.

"We have two of the best catchers in the conference," Hall said. "Andy Hawranick is the Number One guy and we also have Matt Wieders, a very good freshman coming in. Tech has a long history of good catchers. I think everyone who has started at catcher has signed a pro contract and these two guys are cut from the same mold."

Other returning starters include first baseman Whit Robbins, preseason All-American shortstop Tyler Greene, third baseman Wes Hodges and left fielder Steven Blackwood. Mike Trapani returns to second base after starting 22 games at third after Hodges was injured in the final month of the 2004 season. Jeremy Slayden, who missed nearly all of last season with a shoulder injury, returns for his junior season at right field.

Tech's freshman class was ranked the No. 5 recruiting class by Baseball America and includes Wieters, outfielders Danny Payne and Brad Feltes, infielder Michael Fisher and pitchers Brad Rulon, Brian Futral, Tim Ladd, John Michael Vidic and Eddie Burns.

Hall added two new members to his coaching staff, recruiting coordinator Josh Holliday and former Tech shortstop Victor Menocal, to join associate head coach Bobby Moranda.

"Our goals — winning the ACC, hosting an NCAA regional and advancing to the College World Series — never change," Hall said.

The Yellow Jackets opened the regular season Feb. 11 against Georgia State University.



Yellow Jackets Sign 19 Football Standouts

Nineteen athletes, including two nationally ranked ends and a pair of highly regarded linebackers, signed letters of intent to play football for Georgia Tech on National Signing Day Feb 2.

Tight ends Colin Peek of Jacksonville, Fla., and Michael Johnson of Plantersville, Ala., ranked No. 27 and No. 31 respectively by the Rivals.com recruit ranking Web site, and Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100 linebacker Anthony Barnes of Cartersville, Ga., and Top 50 linebacker Taalib Tucker of Atlanta signed to play for the Jackets.

The Yellow Jackets also lured three players who had verbally committed to other programs. All-South Carolina wide receiver Martin Frierson of Irmo, S.C., chose Tech over Notre Dame after Irish coach Tyrone Willingham was fired. Quarterback Jonathan Garner, of Daytona Beach, Fla., ranked No. 19 nationally by Rivals.com, was committed to Florida until the Gators dumped Ron Zook; and All-State offensive lineman

Trey Dunmon of Lilly, Ga., decided on Tech rather than Ole Miss.

Also signing to play for the Jackets were Atlantan Greg Smith, the No. 62-rated wide receiver in the nation by Rivals.com; All-County offensive tackle Randall Cox of St. Augustine, Fla.; All-Pennsylvania offensive lineman Dan Voss of Philadelphia; Cord Howard, of Phenix City, Ala., an All-East Alabama offensive lineman; and Will Miller, an All-State offensive lineman from Centre, Ala.

Others signing were All-State defensive ends Jason Hill of Atlanta and Brad Sellers of Arlington, Texas; All-State safety Jake Blackwood of West Palm Beach, Fla.; All-State linebacker Matt Braman of Niwot, Colo.; and All-Charlotte tackle Vance Walker of Fort Mill, S.C. New defensive backs are Tony Clark, of Garden City, Ga., ranked the No. 29 safety in the nation by Insiders.com, and Jahi Word-Daniels, of Hoover, Ala., ranked the No. 54 cornerback nationally by Insiders.com.

"We think we got an excellent group of football players and students for our program," head football coach Chan Gailey said. "Each one brings something to the table."

©2005 Georgia Tech Alumni Association