If you’re not 100 percent committed to Georgia Tech, then Paul Johnson doesn’t want any part of your John Kerry, flip-flopping ways.
Such was the case with former recruit, defensive tackle Tre Jackson, who had verbally committed to GT back in October. In recent weeks, however, Jackson gained interest from Florida State and three-star prospect decided to take an official visit to Tallahassee.
It was at that point that Johnson decided to pull Jackson’s scholarship offer.
“If you say you’re committed to Georgia Tech and you’re still visiting people, then in my mind, you’re not committed to Georgia Tech,” Johnson told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “Now that also clarifies the other aspect of it. If people who are committed to other schools are visiting here, then in my mind they really aren’t committed to other schools.”
Prior to taking back the offer, Johnson was unable to get a hold of Jackson to discuss the situation and both Johnson and Jackson’s high school coaches mutually agreed to go in another direction.
Johnson has a history of revoking scholarship offers to players who appear to waver in their commitments. In 2009, a recruit by the name of Dontae Aycock had verbally committed to the Yellow Jackets, but later took a trip to Auburn. Johnson then rescinded his offer to Aycock.
Johnson’s point of view is understandable. If a recruit isn’t fully committed to a school, then ideally, they shouldn’t say they are. But, a verbal commitment is non-binding, and taking a visit to another school doesn’t necessarily equate to a recruit changing their mind.
It’s certainly not worthy of getting an offer revoked.