THE FLATS – Graduate transfers Brent Cimaglia, a place kicker from Tennessee, and Kenneth Kirby, an offensive lineman from Norfolk State, were among the 12 newcomers that officially joined Georgia Tech football on campus on Sunday.
Cimaglia, a 2019 Lou Groza Award semifinalist as one of college football’s top kickers, and Kirby, a two-time all-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selection, both have one season of eligibility remaining.
“We’re really excited to add Brent and K.J. to our dynamic class of newcomers here in the heart of Atlanta,” Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins said. “They’re both outstanding young men who are great fits for our culture.”
BRENT CIMAGLIA (r-Sr., PK, 6-0, 210, Nashville, Tenn./Fred J. Page H.S./Tennessee)
Established himself as one of college football’s top kickers in four seasons at the University of Tennessee … Made 46-of-62 field-goal attempts at Tennessee (.742 – third in UT history) … Made 88-of-89 PAT attempts … Has scored 226 career points … Has been especially impressive from long range, making 18-of-29 field-goal attempts (.621) from 40 or more yards and 4-of-6 (.667) from 50 or more yards during his collegiate career … Put together one of the nation’s finest seasons by a kicker as a junior in 2019, when he made 23-of-27 field goals (.852), including 9-of-11 from 40 or more yards … 23 field goals in 2019 was tied for seventh nationally … Was a semifinalist for the 2019 Lou Groza Award, which honors college football’s top kicker … Made two field goals from 50 yards or more in ’19 – a 53-yarder against UAB (Nov. 2), which was longest field goal by a UT kicker in 24 years, and a 51-yarder against BYU (Sept. 7) … Was also 35-for-35 on PAT attempts in ’19, good for a total of 104 points (sixth-most in UT history) … Made 10-of-13 field goals as a sophomore (2018) and 8-of-13 as a true freshman (2017), including a 51-yarder vs. Florida on his first collegiate field-goal attempt (Sept. 16) … Battled injuries to make 5-of-9 field goals, including a 50-yarder at Arkansas (Nov. 7) during Covid-19-shortened 2020 campaign … Was a three-time member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll … Majored in business management at UT … Was a three-star recruit and one of the nation’s top kicking prospects coming out of Fred J. Page H.S. in Nashville … Two-time all-state honoree … Earned a five-star rating and was tabbed as the nation’s No. 6 kicker in the Class of 2017 by Kohl’s Kicking … Was born in Florida, moved to Charlotte, N.C. at age 7 and moved to Nashville following his freshman season of high school … Was teammates at Tennessee with Georgia Tech offensive lineman Ryan Johnson … Last name is pronounced sih-MAG-lee-uh.
KENNETH KIRBY (r-Sr., OL, 6-5, 280, Newport News, Va./Menchville H.S./Fork Union Military Academy/Norfolk State)
Started all 34 games over three seasons at Norfolk State … Started all 12 games at left tackle as a junior in 2019 and was named first-team all-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference after grading out at 96% for the season … Surrendered just two half-sacks and led the team in knockdowns while playing a team-high-tying 884 snaps in 2019 … Led an offensive line that helped Norfolk State set a school-Division I record with 28.9 points per game and rank third in the MEAC in rushing in ’19 … Started all 11 games as a sophomore in 2017, en route to third-team all-MEAC recognition … Started all 11 games at left tackle as a freshman in 2016 … Redshirted in 2018 and missed the 2020 season due to NCAA Division I FCS postponing its fall season … Earned seven high school letters – four in football and three in baseball … Was a two-time all-conference selection as a two-way lineman at Menchville H.S. … Played one postgraduate season at Fork Union Military Academy before matriculating to Norfolk State … Majored in interdisciplinary studies at NSU.
2021 GEORGIA TECH FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS
2021 Georgia Tech football season are on sale now. Starting at just $299 per seat, season tickets include reserved seats for all seven games on the Yellow Jackets’ 2021 home schedule, including “Mayhem at MBS” versus North Carolina on Sept. 25 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the return of “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” versus archrival Georgia on Nov. 27 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. For full 2021 Georgia Tech football season ticket information, visit ramblinwreck.com/footballtickets.
Single-game tickets will go on this summer. Click HERE to receive information and presale opportunities when they become available.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Support The Swarm Fund, which helps Georgia Tech athletics offset the significant financial challenges associated with Covid-19, and the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GTAthletics), Facebook, Instagram or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.
