2019-20 Georgia Tech Everyday Champions Issue #3

AROUND THE FLATS

STEWART CINK RECEIVES NCAA SILVER ANNIVERSARY AWARD

AROUND THE FLATS GEORGIA TECH COMPLETES HISTORIC RECRUITING CLASS IN FOOTBALL Three student-athletes – graduate

he started 32 games over three seasons and was a preseason all-Southeastern Conference selection prior to last season. He is originally from Norcross, Ga. in metro Atlanta. “The big thing jumping off the board with Devin is 6-foot-7, 320 pounds, playing left tackle at a really high level in a good conference,” Collins said. “He’ll be able to come in here and provide leadership, stability and a lot of length to the offensive line.” Kootsouradis is a 6-4, 295-pounder from Crestview, Fla. The versatile offensive lineman was tabbed as one of the nation’s top 50 offensive guards by ESPN and one of the country’s top 100 offensive tackles by 247Sports. “Cade was one of the first commits in this signing class. He stayed with us and helped recruit a lot of the other guys in this class,” Collins said. “He’s a big, physical guy that plays really hard and has high character. I’m excited to see him work with our guys.” The addition of Cochran, Gibbs and Kootsouradis brought the total number of signees of Georgia Tech’s 2020 signing class to 25. The class is currently ranked No. 25 nationally by Rivals and is the second-highest ranked recruiting class in Georgia Tech history (the Yellow Jackets signed Rivals’ 18th-ranked class in 2007, when Collins was Georgia Tech’s director of player personnel). With the addition of seven four-star prospects in the 2020 class, Georgia Tech has brought in 12 four- or five- star recruits since Collins’ arrival in December 2018. This year’s class alone includes seven of the 36 and nine of the 41 highest-rated recruits in Georgia Tech history, according to 247Sports.

transfer offensive lineman Devin Cochran (Norcross, Ga./Greater Atlanta Christian/ Vanderbilt), running back Jahmyr Gibbs (Dalton, Ga./Dalton) and offensive lineman Cade Kootsouradis (Crestview, Fla./Crestview) – signed National Letters of Intent on February 5 to attend and play football at Georgia Tech and complete what is widely regarded as the second-best recruiting class in program history. Highlighting Wednesday’s newcomers is Gibbs, who was Georgia’s 6-A Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team Sports Illustrated high school all-American in 2019. The 5-11, 200-pounder from Dalton, Ga., ran for nearly 5,000 yards and 70 touchdowns during his prep career, including 2,554 yards and 40 touchdowns as a senior. “We take pride in our evaluation piece. Jahmyr was undervalued early on by the college football world but he was the No. 1 running back on our board from day one,” Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins said. “[Running backs coach and offensive recruiting coordinator] Tashard Choice did an unbelievable job of building a relationship with Jahmyr that is going to last for a long, long time, and when he was rushing for seven touchdowns in a game and 250 yards a game as a senior, we were able to sustain that relationship. He wants to be a part of our culture and the great young men in our locker room, and he wants to be developed at a high level. I think Jahmyr is going to be a household name in the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia for a long, long time.” Cochran is a 6-7, 320-pound graduate transfer from Vanderbilt, where

Former Georgia Tech All-American and veteran PGA Tour golfer Stewart Cink has received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, in recognition of his collegiate and professional achievements, along with five other former student-athletes at the NCAA Honors Celebration during the NCAA Convention. The Silver Anniversary Award annually recognizes distinguished individuals on the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of their college athletics careers. Representatives of NCAA member schools and conferences, along with a panel of former student-athletes, select each year’s recipients. Cink received the award along with Kenyon swimmer, Carla Ainsworth, Brown soccer player Darren Eales, Connecticut basketball star Rebecca Lobo, Stanford swimmer Jenny Thompson and South Dakota State kicker Adam Vinatieri. Since turning pro, Stewart Cink has established himself as one of the most popular and philanthropic players on the PGA Tour. In 2017, he was awarded the Payne Stewart Award in recognition of his philanthropic endeavors, his commitment to growing the game, his professionalism, and the distinguished manner in which he embraces the values of golf. Last year, Cink was honored by receiving the 15th annual Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup. As a member at East Lake Golf Club, Cink is one of the leaders in the community when it comes to supporting the East Lake Foundation. The foundation provides resources for families of The Villages of East Lake and students of Drew Charter School to build a better life through college education, mixed-income housing, and community wellness. In addition to being a top supporter of the East Lake Foundation, Cink and his wife, Lisa, have created the Cink It Challenge to benefit local charities that are close to the couple’s hearts. All proceeds from the Cink It Challenge support the Pregnancy Resource Center of Gwinnett and Gwinnett Medical Center Newborn Intensive Care Unit. The Cinks are longtime supporters of the Yellow Jackets’ golf program as well, and are among the founding members of Georgia Tech’s Noonan Golf Facility, the Jackets’ practice venue.

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