Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Ted Roof gets to coach his son, too. T.D. Roof, a three-star scholarship linebacker out of Buford (Ga.) High, will get to play for his father for the first time.
“I wanted him, before he made a decision on where he was going to go to school, to understand all the implications that come along with that,” Roof told reporters on signing day. “If he comes here, he's going to get whatever he earns. I lean on the other way of treating my sons harder rather than easier because that prepares them for the world and not just football. All he wants is a fair shake and the other coaches here, Coach (Paul) Johnson will make sure he gets that.”
Roof tried to stay out of the recruiting process as much as he could, leaving the heavy lifting to Johnson and former assistant Bryan Cook (now at Georgia Southern). T.D. made his commitment last summer and didn’t waver. His twin brother, Mic, ended up signing with
UNC-Charlotte as a quarterback. Georgia Tech didn’t recruit him because he wasn’t a fit for Johnson’s offense.
So not only will T.D. Roof be with his dad full time, he will be away from his brother for the first time in his life. Both will take adjusting. As for learning how to play as the defensive coordinator’s son, Ted Roof said, “At the end of the day if you're a tough guy, if you’re a baller, you get respect and if you're not, you don't. He’s going to have to start from scratch here and earn it.”
That was not the only familiar connection for Roof. Brothers Bruce Jordan-Swilling and
Tre Swilling also signed with the Jackets. Their dad, Pat, played with Roof at Georgia Tech.
