Favorite Underrated Tech Players

[Heisman's Ghost]

Couple of punters made big contributions several times in the Gailey years which were so field-position-oriented.

Ben Arndt stopped a punt return with a tackle to save a TD and the win in 2004 when GT won at #3 Miami. Durant Brooks boomed a bunch of huge long ones the next few years too.

I watched that game recently and the play you talked about with Ben seemed like he knew what he was doing instead of the usual kicker throwing himself at the runner sort of thing.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

Lance and Lawrence Austin were two of the smallest DBs to ever play in the modern era but somehow elevated enough to contest passes to players who were 6-8 inches taller. Was so glad Tech gave them a shot. Even though they were Tech favorites I think a lot of fans underestimated how good they were.

 

[wrmathis]

Coach Dooley said after Tech won in 1984 that Tech just "out athleted (sic) us with Gary Lee isolated against our safeties" One of Albany's own along with the linebacker later from Dougherty High School Darryl Smith and even later Tony Zenon from Deerfield Windsor. Good football players all.

I didnt realize Tony went to Deerfield.

 

[Ramble1885]

QUAYSHAWN NEALY

 

[Ramble1885]

Kelley Rhino. One of my all time favorites.

Ga. Tech punt returner Rhino not short on talent

ATLANTA - When Kelley Rhino takes the field to return a punt, he's usually the smallest player on the field. Smaller, even, than the punter. But that hasn't stopped the 5-foot-7, 179-pounder from s…

www.starnewsonline.com

My family is friends with him. Class guy.

 

[ThatGuy]

Before some of your time, but around the year 1990 there was this walk-on named Kevin Tisdel who asked Coach Ross if he could try returning kicks.

(They often spelled his name “Tisdale,” but I believe the spelling above is correct).

Dude ran all over the place. I can’t remember how many 30+ yard returns he had that year, but IIRC it was a collegiate record at the time. His 78-yard return against Clemson got us back in a position to win it. And every other time he caught the ball, he was a threat.

Not bad for a walk-on.

 

[4shotB]

This post may be revealing of my age but I love fullbacks. Ed Wilder, Stephen Scotton and Mike Cox (not classified as a fullback technically) but will include him anyways. No telling how good “Big Ed” would have been without his knee issues.

 

[4shotB]

Add Malcom King to that list, another SoGa boy iirc.

 

[SidewalkJacket]

KaMichael Hall - Dude was a beast at LB

Hall, Phillip Wheeler and Gary Guyton at LB... maaaann that defense could be nasty. Like those guys were built in a lab specifically for a Tenuta D.

 

[forensicbuzz]

Hall, Phillip Wheeler and Gary Guyton at LB... maaaann that defense could be nasty. Like those guys were built in a lab specifically for a Tenuta D.

Nasty, but none of them were Daryl Smith

 

[AUFC]

QUAYSHAWN NEALY

This is a good answer for underrated/underappreciated studs. Some posts in this thread are mentioning folks like Charlie Thomas as if he wasn’t the most popular player on his teams.

From the same era, I’ll throw out Tony Zenon as a guy who maybe wasn’t the first guy you thought of from his teams but played a crucial role in making the wheels turn.

I want to put in a hoops entry for this thread as well just because I prefer basketball over football and I’m going with Adam Smith, Quinton Stephens, and Khalid Moore.

 

[Jacket4Life]

Ron Rogers. Brooking got all the publicity but Roger’s was damn good. The other one for me is William Bell.

 

[Heisman's Ghost]

I didnt realize Tony went to Deerfield.

A GOAT according to a church friend who is a long time teacher at Deerfield. His family was uprooted by Katrina. Got in the car with all their belongings and drove east and stopped at Albany. Received assistance and Tony got an athletic scholarship and received intensive tutoring. He was already pretty sound in math so he became a huge success story out of that tragedy. He was too small for a typical running back for most programs but in the flex bone he was perfect for an A back

 

[GTG768B]

Gordon Clinkscale
Johnathan Smith
Ace Eziemefe

 

[Heisman's Ghost]

Gordon Clinkscale
Johnathan Smith
Ace Eziemefe

All good players. I would surmise that Jonathan had the most publicized success but they all had their moments. Clinkscale had a big game against Georgia I dimly recall.

 

[bobongo]

Has anyone mentioned Joe Fusile? From walk-on to starter (and a good one), and captain:

Where are they Now? Richmond Hill's Joe Fusile: From Walk-On to Georgia Tech Captain and Burlsworth Trophy Nominee : Prep Sports Report

Joe Fusile, a former standout football player from

prepsportsreport.com

"Because of his respect and influence among teammates and coaches, he was selected as captain for the 2023 season. He was also nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy for the second consecutive year. This award recognizes the best college football player who originally joined the team as a walk-on."

 

[4shotB]

Has anyone mentioned Joe Fusile? From walk-on to starter (and a good one), and captain:

Where are they Now? Richmond Hill's Joe Fusile: From Walk-On to Georgia Tech Captain and Burlsworth Trophy Nominee : Prep Sports Report

Joe Fusile, a former standout football player from

prepsportsreport.com

"Because of his respect and influence among teammates and coaches, he was selected as captain for the 2023 season. He was also nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy for the second consecutive year. This award recognizes the best college football player who originally joined the team as a walk-on."

View attachment 16718

Our guy Freer also needs a shout out! Critical piece of the team as well as a PhD student. Unreal accomplishment imo.

 

[Ramble1885]

Our guy Freer also needs a shout out! Critical piece of the team as well as a PhD student. Unreal accomplishment imo.

He is a fellow Woodward Academy War Eagle. His younger brother is in a grade below me and his dad is about to be WA's president next year.

 

[iceeater1969]

Larry Good (sic) was Kim Kings backup and was subsequently to king graduating was qb .
He was injured - right knee iirc. Went to see my only away game at Auburn - but think it was in different stadium. Defense and Larry fought valiantly against what appeared to be a stronger more talented team. Larry was so on target the only incompletes hit the recievers in the helmet. As time expired he drove us down for a winning field goal attempt. We made it as,sun came out and shown on the gold and white. I decided to go see him play at UGA. He was playing w injured knee. After we scored on our first posession, a low hit took him out of the game. Gt 8- UGA 49 iirc.

 

[UgaBlows]

I always loved watching PJ Davis diagnose and stuff rb’s, closed my eyes when he covered a receiver though…