Before Jimmy Bryson had even left Atlanta to return home he knew his mind was made up.
Baylor School’s rising senior offensive linemen made a verbal commitment to the Georgia Tech football staff during an official visit to the campus this past weekend, then announced he was shutting down his recruitment.
“Pretty much as soon as I stepped on campus I had a feeling that this was it for me,” said Bryson, who spent three days in Atlanta before returning home Sunday evening. “What Georgia Tech can do outside of football is more than what most colleges can match, so that was a big factor. I plan to major in pre-med, so the academic side was a big factor since Georgia Tech is such a great school.
“Their football program is on the come-up for sure. The staff has stability, and I believe in and want to be a part of what they’re building. Once I made my decision, I just felt like there was no need to take any more visits.”
Bryson had offers from 25 other programs and was originally planning to visit Duke, Indiana, Memphis and Virginia, but he has since canceled those plans.
“It’s a crazy feeling to know that I’m finished with the recruiting process, and now I can just concentrate on getting ready for my senior season,” Bryson said. “It’s nice, honestly. The past year of my life has been about recruiting and trying to decide where I would go. That gets distracting, no matter who you are, so I’m glad to have that behind me.”
Staff photo by Olivia Ross / Baylor School offensive lineman Jimmy Bryson has committed to play for Georgia Tech.Bryson’s lead recruiter from the Yellow Jackets staff was former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga player and coach Geep Wade, who has been on Georgia Tech’s staff for two years. Wade was an offensive lineman for the Mocs from 1999-2001 and returned to coach the offensive line and work as UTC’s recruiting coordinator for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
“Coach Wade really helped me,” Bryson said. “I’ve always had a good relationship with him, and knowing he isn’t going anywhere was a big deal for me.”
The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder helped pave the way for a Red Raiders offense that compiled 4,960 total yards and averaged 6.1 yards per rush last season in making a second straight trip to the Division II-AAA BlueCross Bowl state championship game.
He ended last season weighing around 255 but has added 30 pounds during the offseason to better prepare himself to be an enforcer along the line, where Baylor’s staff is moving him inside to play center.
“I’ve lived in the weight room to get ready,” Bryson said. “I pride myself on being known as sort of a meathead. The coaches who were recruiting me have commented on my added size. I was a smaller lineman compared to a lot of others, but I make up for it with my strength.
“I absolutely love the move to center. I’m looking forward to it because now no one can run from me.”
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Baylor players storm onto the field before the start of their game against Lipscomb Academy at Baylor School on Friday, September 8, 2023.