ATLANTA - Geoff Collins' first signing class at Georgia Tech includes two players who initially committed to other schools.
Collins had 17 signees Wednesday - the first day of the NCAA's early signing period for football, which will continue through Friday - less than two weeks after being named Tech's head coach. The former Temple coach was named the successor to outgoing coach Paul Johnson on Dec. 6.
Collins said the busy launch of his Yellow Jackets tenure has been a "whirlwind." Tech signed defensive back Jordan Huff, who previously committed to Michigan State, and tight end Dylan Deveney, who had announced plans to sign with Rutgers.
Deveney, from Medford, New Jersey, will help the transition from Johnson's option-based attack to a pro-style offense. He was also recruited by Collins at Temple, and Collins made Deveney an immediate emphasis with the Jackets.
"The very first home visit I took as the head coach at Georgia Tech, I flew up there the very first day I could," Collins said.
The Jackets' class includes dual-threat quarterbacks Jordan Yates, the nephew of former University of North Carolina and NFL quarterback T.J. Yates, and Demetrius Knight II, who could try another position.
"We're going to start him off at quarterback, but he's interested in helping however he can whether offense or defense," Collins said of Knight, who is from Locust Grove and played at Strong Rock Christian.
With Collins in attendance at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Jordan Yates led Milton to Georgia's AAAAAAA state championship last week.
Collins signed three defensive linemen as he plans to move the Jackets to a base four-man defensive front: Jamal Camp - the younger brother of Tech wide receiver Jalen Camp - D'Quon Douse and Sylvain Yondjouen, a native of Belgium. Collins said Douse has a background at tight end and could be used in short-yardage situations on offense.
Johnson will step down after coaching the Jackets against Minnesota at the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit next Wednesday.