Georgia Tech caught its biggest fish on the offensive line.
Douglas County (Ga.) offensive lineman Joshua Sam-Epelle committed to Georgia Tech over Georgia, Tennessee and others, he tells 247Sports. He's been silently committed to the Yellow Jackets since a private workout with Brent Key & Co. two weeks ago.
Sam-Epelle broke down the decision with 247Sports.
"Honestly, just seeing how they can coach me up 1-on-1 firsthand. That was my first time watching them in live action coaching me, so seeing how quickly I could pick up the information they were putting out to me, the techniques, the way they wanted it done. I could just envision myself doing that there," Sam-Epelle told 247Sports about the Georgia Tech decision. "Coach Key played a big part. Being able to play for a head coach like that, that fires me up. He was under Saban for years, his knowledge of the game, the first-rounders he's put out, that's definitely something I want to be a part of."
Georgia Tech might not have been as early as some of the other contenders in his recruitment, but Sam-Epelle said they proved their prioritization of him throughout the spring.
Whether it was spring practice visits or coaches coming by the school to see him, Sam-Epelle named Key and Georgia Tech offensive line coach Allen Mogridge as the two coaches who coveted him the most.
"They came in a lot later than a lot of these schools, but since they came in in January, they never stopped," Sam-Epelle told 247Sports. "Coach Mo has been harping on my phone for months. He came and watched me multiple times at practice. I've been multiple times to watch them practice. They dedicated their recruitment to me, and that was definitely something that was different for them was the aggressiveness and how they really approached it. That's what I like."
Sam-Epelle's commitment continues a hot June for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are now up to 25 commitments in the 2027 recruiting class. Georgia Tech lands at No. 23 in the 247Sports team rankings with a 220.23 composite score.
Sam-Epelle is the highest-ranked commitment in the Georgia Tech class. The 6-foot-9, 310-pound offensive tackle is a 4-star prospect and the No. 112 overall player in the class. He's the No. 16-ranked offensive tackle in the nation and No. 8 player in Georgia.
247Sports scouting report from national analyst Hudson Standish
- Gargantuan offensive tackle with the frame and length to protect the corner at the sport's highest level.
- Verified around 6083, 310 pounds with 3638 arm length and a 7-foot-1 wingspan at the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl.
- Rare size and length work for him in pass protection, but against him in the run game.
- Possesses some dancing bear flashes as he can recover from false steps and showcase some eye-opening movement patterns climbing levels.
- Recovered from a knee injury that cut his sophomore campaign short, and reshaped his body heading into his senior season. 146-9 personal best in the discus as a junior reflects the better-than-expected mobility and strength.
- Could see substantial body transformation and strength gained with time and commitment in a collegiate strength and conditioning program.
- Limited area of effectiveness as a run blocker. Must improve lateral quickness off the snap and hand placement on down blocks.
- Physical traits and comfort level working in a vertical set offer legitimate NFL Draft upside as a pass protector.
- Should be viewed as a potential bookend tackle for a conference title contender.
Player comparison: Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Jalen Travis