Georgia Tech Inks Another Highly Regarded Football Class

ATLANTA – Highlighted by 11 linemen as well as a talented cast of skill players, including three of the nation’s top quarterbacks and the Georgia player of the year, Georgia Tech signed a highly-regarded class of 24 student-athletes to national letters of intent, head coach George O’Leary announced Wednesday.

Tech helped virtually every position but top prospects in the class include athletic quarterbacks Damarius Bilbo of Moss Point, Miss., Rahshan Johnson of Middleburg Heights, Ohio, and Dawan Landry of Ama, La.; defensive back Reuben Houston of Starr’s Mill High in Peachtree City, Ga.; linebackers Gerris Bowers-Wilkinson of Oakland, Calif., and Tabugbo Anyansi of Pebblebrook High and Austell, Ga., and offensive linemen Nathan Dorsey of New Orleans, La., and Kyle Wallace of Collins Hill High in Suwanee.

The class is made up of three quarterbacks, six offensive linemen, five defensive linemen, four linebackers, three defensive backs, one running back, one tight end and one receiver. In addition to seven signees from Georgia;all of whom were named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Top 50 in the state;10 other states are represented, including five prospects from Florida, three from Louisiana, two from California, and one each from New Jersey, Ohio, Minnesota, Texas, Mississippi, Colorado and Utah.

“We’ve helped our football team in many areas, and every one of these players is academically qualified, so I’m very happy with this class and I’m anxious to see what they can do,” said O’Leary, entering his seventh season at Georgia Tech. “We went out and secured a number of very talented athletes that will eventually help us. How soon will depend on them.

“I think this class is as talented and as athletic as any class that we’ve brought in, but that remains to be seen. The ones that play as freshmen are the ones who don’t act like freshmen.

“We brought in six offensive linemen and five defensive linemen, so that was the thrust of the class.”

Bilbo (6-3, 200) was named the Dick Butkus Football Network National High School Player of the Year as well as the Mississippi Player of the Year by USA Today and Gatorade. He passed for 3,338 yards and 32 touchdowns while rushing for 326 yards and five more scores in leading Moss Point High to a 13-1 record and the 5A state title.

Landry, a 6-2, 200-pound left-hander, was rated the No. 3 athletic quarterback in the nation by Max Emfinger. He passed for 1,417 yards and rushed for 694 yards at Hahnville High while accounting for 26 touchdowns, including 16 rushing and 10 passing, with only two interceptions.

Johnson (6-1, 190), the son of former Cleveland Browns linebacker Eddie Johnson, is an all-state prospect from Midpark High who was named one of the Top 50 student-athletes in Ohio. He passed for 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior while rushing for 500 yards and 10 more scores.

“We brought in three very talented quarterbacks,” said O’Leary. “I hope that the quarterbacks we have here will have a good spring, because if not, I’ll be looking at the freshmen behind George Godsey. I think they are that talented. All three are outstanding players and are very similar in what they can do as far as running and throwing the football.”

Houston (6-0, 200), the Georgia AAAAA Player of the Year, is one of three talented defensive backs to choose Tech, along with Dennis Davis of Atco, N.J., and James Butler of Bainbridge, Ga.

Houston was a two-way standout at Starr’s Mill who gained 2,138 all-purpose yards, scored 19 touchdowns and made 68 tackles and two interceptions. He was tabbed to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution’s Marvelous Metro 11, Super Southern 100 and Top 50 in Georgia, and was named one of Max Emfinger’s Super 20 in Georgia.

Butler (6-3, 190) is another of the AJC’s Top 50 players in Georgia who had 69 tackles and two interceptions as a senior, following 54 tackles and four interceptions as a junior. He was also tabbed to Max Emfinger’s Super 75 in Georgia and the Border Wars Top 100 prospects in the South.

Davis (6-0, 180) was also a two-way player at Edgewood High who scored totalled 1,400 all-purpose yards and 24 touchdowns, making him the fifth-leading scorer in New Jersey. The South Jersey Defensive Player of the Year is rated the No. 14 cornerback prospect in the nation by rivals.com and among the nation’s Top 25 receivers by Tom Lemming.

Anyansi, a native of Nigeria, and Bowers-Wilkinson give Tech two of the nation’s top linebackers, along with a pair of Floridians in E.J. Kuale of Daytona Beach and Tony Hargrove of Port Charlotte.

Anyansi (6-1, 210) was named to the Marvelous Metro 11, the Super Southern 100 and the Top 50 in Georgia by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and was also a first-team all-state (Class AAAA) selection at Pebblebrook High. He collected 81 tackles, four sacks, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions as a senior.

One of the top prospects in California, Bowers-Wilkinson earned second-team all-state and first-team all-city and all-East Bay honors while making 127 tackles as a senior with six sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. The 6-3, 215-pounder was chosen for the CaliFlorida Bowl, an all-star game between California and Florida, and was tabbed to SuperPreps’ Top 285 prospects in the nation.

Kuale (6-2, 210) played defensive end at Mainland High and recorded 120 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. He was a first-team selection to the 5A all-state team by the Florida Sportswriters Association and a member of Max Emfinger’s Florida Hot 100.

Hargrove, 6-4, 245, also an all-state selection, was a safety and quarterback at Port Charlotte High, where he passed for 900 yards while rushing for 800 yards.

Tech signed a total of 11 linemen, including six on offense and five on defense.

One of the state’s top offensive line prospects, the 6-5, 280-pound Wallace is a member of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Super Southern 100 and Top 50 in Georgia. The first-team all-state selection in Class AAAAA was named to Max Emfinger’s Super 75 in Georgia. Dorsey, Tech’s biggest signee at 6-6 and 325 pounds, is rated the No. 21 prospect in Louisiana by SuperPreps and was tabbed to Max Emfinger’s Louisiana Elite 85.

Two offensive linemen – Garren Findlay (6-5, 290) of North Logan, Utah, and Gavin Tarquinio (6-3, 265) of Wheeler High in Marietta, Ga.-are already enrolled at Tech and will participate in spring practice. Findlay was a first-team all-conference and all-region selection at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, and was rated the No. 55 junior college prospect in the nation by Max Emfinger. Tarquinio is an all-state honoree and a Top 50 prospect in Georgia by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Andy Tidwell-Neal (6-4, 280), a first-team all-state honoree and an undefeated heavyweight wrestler from Plymouth, Minn., and second-team all-state selection Brad Honeycutt (6-4, 290) of Mesquite, Texas, round out the offensive line group.

The group of defensive linemen features Travis Parker (6-3, 240) of Hacienda Heights, Calif., Eric Henderson (6-3, 255) of New Orleans, La., LeRon Lee (6-2, 265) of Ft. Pierce, Fla., and Omar Billy (6-2, 255) of Daytona Beach, Fla.

The Jackets inked one running back in Brian Johnson of Lakeside High School in Evans, Ga.; one receiver in Levon Thomas of College Park, Ga., and Banneker High; and one tight end in Salih Besirevic of South High in Denver, Colo.

Johnson, 6-3, 240, is a powerful fullback who was rated one of the Top 50 players in Georgia according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as well as Class AAAAA first-team all-state selection by the AJC.

Thomas, a 6-0, 180-pound prep quarterback who accounted for 1,300 yards and 20 touchdowns, is another of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Top 50 in Georgia. He was named to the Border Wars Top 100 in the South and Max Emfinger’s Super 70 in Georgia.

Besirevic, a 6-7, 260-pound native of Bosnia who moved to the U.S. with his family in 1997, is an all-state selection who caught 27 passes for 579 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior.

“When you look at the talent level and the grades of the class, I think the assistant coaches did an outstanding job,” said O’Leary. “We covered 11 states, so they really scoured the country to find the right guys.”

2001 Recruiting Class

Tabugbo Anyansi
LB 6-1, 210 Austell, Ga. (Pebblebrook)
The top linebacker in the state of Georgia . . . Named to the Marvelous Metro 11, the Super Southern 100 and the Top 50 in Georgia by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . Tabbed to Max Emfinger’s Super 20 in Georgia . . . Ranked among the Top 100 players in the South by BorderWars.com . . . First-team all-state (Class AAAA) by the AJC and the Augusta Chronicle . . . Collected 81 tackles, four sacks, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions as a senior . . . Also punted 26 times for a 40-yard average . . . As a junior had 80 tackles, six sacks and two blocked punts . . . Four-year letterwinner for coach Chuck Stines at Pebblebrook High . . . Tabugbo Anyansi . . . Pronounced tie-BOO-bo on-YON-zee . . . Native of Nigeria . . . Parents are Ikebudu and Louisa Anyansi . . . Born Oct 4, 1981.

Salih Besirevic
TE 6-7, 260 Denver, Colo. (South)
The No. 22 prospect in Colorado by the Denver Post . . . All-state and all-conference selection . . . Caught 27 passes for 579 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior . . . Added nine receptions for 450 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior . . . Team captain for coach Herman White at South High . . . Native of Bosnia who moved to the U.S. with his family in 1997 . . . Played football for the first time as a sophomore . . . Salih Besirevic . . . Pronounced suh-LEE buh-SEER-uh-vich . . . Parents are Nedim and Nadira Besirevic . . . Born April 16, 1983.

Damarius Bilbo
QB 6-3, 200 Moss Point, Miss. (Moss Point)
Named the Dick Butkus Football Network National High School Player of the Year . . . Mississippi Player of the Year by USA Today . . . Passed for 3,034 yards and 31 touchdowns while rushing for five more scores . . . Led Moss Point to a 13-1 record and the 5A state title . . . Completed 18 of 28 passes for 317 yards and four touchdowns in the championship game against nationally-ranked Clinton . . . Also kicked nine field goals . . . Ranked the No. 5 passing quarterback in the nation by Max Emfinger . . . Rated among the nation’s Top 25 quarterbacks by Tom Lemming . . . One of the SuperPreps’ Top 285 prospects in the nation.

Omar Billy
DE 6-2, 255 Orlando, Fla. (Colonial)
First-team all-state by the Florida Times Union . . . First-team all-Central Florida by the Orlando Sentinel . . . Collected 62 solo tackles and 47 assists . . . The No. 13 defensive lineman in Florida by SuperPrep.

Gerris Bowers-Wilkinson
LB 6-3, 215 Oakland, Calif. (Skyline)
SuperPreps* all-America as one of the top 285 prospects in the nation . . . Second-team all-state and first-team all-city and all-East Bay . . . Made 127 tackles as a senior with six sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries . . . Added 85 tackles and eight sacks as a junior . . . Chosen for the CaliFlorida Bowl, an all-star game between the top players in California and Florida . . . Gerris Vernard Bowers-Wilkinson . . . Son of Greggory Wilkinson and Denise Bowers . . . Born April 5, 1983.

James Butler
DB 6-3, 190 Bainbridge, Ga. (Bainbridge)
One of the Top 50 players in Georgia according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . Named to Max Emfinger’s Super 75 in Georgia . . . Tabbed to the Border Wars Top 100 prospects in the South . . . Class AAAAA honorable mention all-state selection by the AJC and the Augusta Chronicle . . . First-team all-region and all-South Georgia . . . Had 69 tackles and two interceptions as a senior, following 54 tackles and four interceptions as a junior . . . Also punted for three years and averaged almost 36 yards per kick . . . State champion in the triple jump as a sophomore . . . Full name is James Oscar Butler, Jr. . . . Parents are James and Nadine Butler . . . Born September 7, 1982.

Dennis Davis
DB 6-0, 180 Atco, N.J. (Edgewood)
All-state cornerback who was named South Jersey Defensive Player of the Year by the Newark Star Ledger and the Philadelphia Inquirer . . . Two-time all-South Jersey and three-time all-conference selection . . . The No. 14 cornerback prospect in the nation, according to rivals.com . . . Rated one of the nation’s Top 25 receivers by Tom Lemming . . . One of the SuperPreps’ Top 285 prospects in the nation . . . Led South Jersey and was fifth in the state in scoring with 24 touchdowns (17 rushing and seven receiving) . . . Totalled 1,400 all-purpose yards as a running back, wide receiver and kick returner . . . Recorded six interceptions and six pass breakups on defense . . . Coached by Derryk Sellers at Edgewood Regional High . . . 1999 state champion in the 100 meters . . . Anchored the top U.S. 4×100-meter relay team at the 2000 Penn Relays . . . Two-time South Jersey Sprinter of the Year . . . Full name is Dennis Lamont Davis, Jr. . . . Son of Dennis, Sr., and Carolyn Davis . . . Born November 24, 1982.

Nat Dorsey
OL 6-6, 325 New Orleans, La. (St. Augustine)
Massive offensive lineman who was rated the No. 21 prospect in Louisiana by SuperPrep . . . First-team all- state by Louisiana Football Magazine . . . Ranked among the Louisiana Top 30 by the New Orleans Times Picayune . . . Named to Max Emfinger’s Louisiana Elite 85 . . . All-district, all-Orleans Parish, all-metro and all-Catholic Elite League . . . Recorded 71 pancake blocks as a senior and 57 as a junior . . . Only allowed two sacks over two seasons . . . Full name is Nathaniel Willie Dorsey, III . . . Parents are Nathaniel and Arjell Dorsey . . . Born September 9, 1983.

Garren Findlay
OL 6-5, 290 North Logan, Utah (Sky View/ Snow College)
First-team all-conference and all-region selection at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah . . . The No. 55 junior college prospect in the nation by Max Emfinger . . . Helped Snow to a 7-3 record last fall . . . Began his career at Snow in 1996, when the Badgers finished as the No. 4 team in the NJCAA with a 10-1 record . . . Served a religious mission before returning to Snow in 2000 . . . All-state performer at Sky View High School . . . Enrolled at Georgia Tech for the current semester and will participate in spring practice . . . Has two seasons of eligibility . . . Full name is Mark Garren Findlay . . . Born May 11, 1978 . . . Parents are Mark and Susan Findlay . . . Plans to major in chemical engineering.

Anthony Hargrove
LB 6-4, 235 Port Charlotte, Fla. (Port Charlotte)
Played safety and quarterback at Port Charlotte High . . . Passed for 900 yards while rushing for 800 yards . . . Honorable mention all-state selection (Class 4A) by the Florida Sportswriters Association .

Eric Henderson
DE 6-3, 255 New Orleans, La. (Edna Karr)
All-state, all-district and all-Metro . . . Named to Max Emfinger’s Louisiana Elite 85 . . . Made 131 tackles and 13 sacks as a senior . . . Had two sacks for safeties and a fumble recovery for a touchdown . . . Credited with 132 tackles and 12 sacks as a junior, when he returned a fumble 98 yards for a score . . . Broke the school record with 16 sacks as a sophomore and also had 101 tackles and six fumble recoveries . . . Full name is Eric Charles Henderson . . .Born January 8, 1983.

Brad Honeycutt
OL 6-4, 290 Mesquite, Texas (Mesquite)
Offensive line prospect who was rated the No. 83 player and the No. 19 offensive lineman in Texas by SuperPrep . . . Member of Prep Star’s all-region team . . . Second-team all-state selection . . . First-team all-area and all-district . . . Team captain for coach Steve Halpin at Mesquite High . . . Graded 91 percent for his senior season . . . Helped team to state semifinals as a junior . . . Full name is Bradley Truett Honeycutt . . . Born July 29, 1983 . . . Parents are Truett and Kathy Honeycutt.

Reuben Houston
DB 6-0, 200 Peachtree City (Starr’s Mill)
Georgia AAAAA Offensive Player of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . Member of the AJC’s Marvelous Metro 11, Super Southern 100 and Top 50 in Georgia . . . Also named Class AAAAA Player of the Year by the Augusta Chronicle . . . Tabbed to Max Emfinger’s Super 20 in Georgia . . . Named to the Border Wars Top 100 prospects in the South . . . Atlanta Touchdown Club Offensive Back of the Year . . . Outstanding two-way player who gained 2,138 all-purpose yards and made 68 tackles and two interceptions . . . Rushed 145 times for 1,401 yards (10.4 average) and 14 touchdowns . . . Caught 21 passes for 428 yards and five scores . . . State champion in the triple jump as a sophomore . . . Coached by Mike Earwood . . . Full name is Reuben James Houston . . . Parents are Luther and Patricia Houston . . . Born October 30, 1982.

Brian Johnson
RB 6-3, 240 Evans, Ga. (Lakeside-Evans)
One of the Top 50 players in Georgia according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . Class AAAAA first-team all-state selection by the AJC . . . Also played defensive line, earning first-team all-Metro, second-team all-area and honorable mention AAAA all-state honors by the Augusta Chronicle . . .

Rahshan Johnson
QB 6-1, 190 Middleburg Heights, Ohio (Midpark)
All-state, all-conference and all-region . . . Named one of the Top 50 student-athletes in Ohio . . . Passed for 1,7000 yards and and 18 touchdowns as a senior while rushing for 500 yards and 10 more scores . . . Had 800 yards passing and 300 yards rushing as a junior despite playing in only five games . . . Broke nine school records at Midpark High . . . Team MVP for coach Steve Bosko . . . Also lettered three years in basketball . . . Rahshon Q. Johnson . . . Born March 23, 1983 . . . Son of Ramona Anderson and former Cleveland Browns linebacker Eddie Johnson.

E.J. Kuale
LB 6-2, 210 Daytona Beach, Fla. (Mainland)
First-team selection to the 5A all-state team by the Florida Sportswriters Association . . . . Tabbed to Max Emfinger’s Florida Hot 100 . . . Played defensive end as a senior and recorded 120 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks . . . Also had seven quarterback hurries and seven forced fumbles . . . Led Mainland to a 10-2 record and the District 4-5A title . . . Coached by John Maronto . . . Last named pronounced kuh-WAL-ee.

Dawan Landry
QB 6-2, 200 Ama, La. (Hahnville)
Left-handed signal caller with excellent athletic ability . . . Rated the No. 24 quarterback in the nation by rivals.com . . . Named to the All-Southern team by the Orlando Sentinel . . . Tabbed to Max Emfinger’s Louisiana Super Elite 18 . . . Rated the No. 3 athletic quarterback in the nation by Emfinger . . . Passed for 1,291 yards and rushed for 1,575 yards . . . Accounted for 25 touchdowns, including 15 rushing and 10 passing, with only two interceptions . . . All-state honorable mention . . . All-Metro and All-River Parishes MVP . . . Led Hahnville High to an 11-0 regular season before falling in the second round of the playoffs . . . Added 1,950 yards passing and 795 yards rushing as a junior . . . Three-year letterman for coach Lou Valdin . . . Also a standout basketball player . . . Full name is Dawan Frank Landry . . . Parents are Frank and Rhonda Landry . . . Born December 30, 1982.

LeRon Lee
DL 6-2, 265 Ft. Pierce, Fla. (St. Lucie West (Centennial)
Second-team all-state (Class 4A) by the Florida Sportswriters Association . . . Tabbed to Max Emfinger’s Florida Hot 100 . . . Named to the Palm Beach Post Super 11 . . . Totalled 206 tackles, including 135 solo hits, and 13 sacks his junior and senior seasons . . . Selected for the Treasure Coast Outback All-Star Game . . . Led St. Lucie West Centennial High to a 10-0 record in 2000 . . . Two-time all-area selection . . . Team captain for coach Jim O’Neal . . . LeRon Lee (Pronounced luh-RON) . . . Parents are Kenneth Pollard and Aurienne Lee-Pollard . . . Born September 10, 1982.

Travis Parker
DE 6-3, 240 Hacienda Heights, Calif. (Los Altos)
First-team all-league and all-Valley . . . Collected 120 tackles and 22 quarterback sacks as a senior . . . Team MVP for coach Greg Gano at Los Altos High . . . Travis A. Parker . . . Son of Virginia Parker . . . Born January 9, 1983.

Gavin Tarquinio
OL 6-3, 265 Marietta, Ga. (Wheeler)
One of the Top 50 players in Georgia according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . All-county, all-region and Cobb Super 11 honoree . . . Honored as Atlanta Touchdown Club Player of the Week . . . All-America by Prep Star . . . Team captain for coach Mike Donnalley at Wheeler High . . . Received the Golden Helmet Award as team MVP . . . Enrolled at Georgia Tech for the current semester and will participate in spring practice . . . Full name is Gavin Cleveland Tarquinio . . . Born October 24, 1983 . . . Parents are Tom and Susan Tarquinio.

Andy Tidwell-Neal
OL 6-4, 280 Plymouth, Minn. (Wayzata)
All-state selection by the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Associated Press as well as an all-Metro honoree by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune . . . Two-time all-conference selection . . . Averaged six pancake blocks per game . . . Team captain for coach Brad Anderson . . . Helped Wayzata High capture conference and section titles . . . Standout wrestler who is currently 28-0 with 23 pins . . . Full name is Andrew Charles Tidwell-Neal . . . Parents are James Neal and Carol Tidwell . . . Born October 4, 1982.

Levon Thomas
WR 6-0, 180 College Park, Ga. (Banneker)
One of the Top 50 players in Georgia according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . Named to Max Emfinger’s Super 70 in Georgia and Border Wars Top 100 in the South . . . Played quarterback at Banneker High . . . Accounted for 1,300 yards and 20 touchdowns rushing and passing . . . Prounounced luh-VON.

Kyle Wallace
OL 6-5, 280 Suwanee, Ga. (Collins Hill)
Member of the Super Southern 100 and Top 50 in Georgia by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . Named to Max Emfinger’s Super 75 in Georgia . . . Class AAAAA first-team all-state selection by the AJC and the Augusta Chronicle . . . Named Offensive Lineman of the Year by the Atlanta Touchdown Club . . . Average grade of 92 percent per game as a senior . . . Team captain for coach Alan Fahring at Collins Hill High . . . Full name is Kyle Patrick Wallace . . . Born March 3, 1093 . . . Parents are Kieran and Pam Wallace.

Scott Wolf
DE 6-4, 240 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Named to the Florida Prep Football Top Dog and All-Academic Teams . . . First-team all-state (Class 4A) by the Florida Sportswriters Association . . . Had 112 tackles and 17 sacks as a senior . . . Also had an interception and six fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown . . . Three-year starter for one of the state’s top programs . . . Tabbed to Max Emfinger’s Florida Hot 100 . . . Team captain for coach George Smith at St. Thomas Aquinas High . . . Scott M. Wolf . . . Parents are Bud and Cindy Wolf . . . Born February 3, 1983.