Alumni On The Roster: Georgia Tech Players Utilize Extra Eligibility
By: Eric Butterman | Categories: Alumni Achievements
Georgia Tech was like a ghost town. When running or hitting the weights after football practice, the players felt like it was just them on campus.
The first summer of 2020 was an unusual time for the Yellow Jackets football team, but it also offered an unexpected opportunity: one more year of football. Because of that unusual extra year of eligibility, Georgia Tech’s football team this season included eight student-athletes who had already graduated from Tech.
Getting to play football past graduation wasn’t unheard of before Covid-19. There are two common ways a player can continue to play after graduating: First is to “redshirt,” giving up the rest of your playing time for a season early on or even before you play at all, to get another season of eligibility later. One reason a player might choose this option is a lack of playing time. A second way that a player can gain an extra year is a medical redshirt for being unable to play due to a medical issue. But Covid-19 added an unusual extra year of eligibility for everyone who played during that time. “Basically, it didn’t matter whether you competed in all games or didn’t compete in any, you knew you received another year of eligibility from the NCAA rule,” explains Brandon Pottebaum, assistant athletic director of academics for Georgia Tech.
Sharing Knowledge
Being football players who have graduated doesn’t just benefit those players, it also benefits the others who learn from them. “It’s the leadership they provide to the younger players,” Assistant Athletic Director of Academics Pottebaum says.
“They have seen a lot and have been through good times and hard times and have shown what it takes in terms of putting in the work. Their perseverance, finishing something like a prestigious Tech degree, it shows the younger guys what can be accomplished. Being older, they can guide and look after those players. They can bring them back down to earth and be good role models.”
For Williams, he says that his time at Georgia Tech has been about having goals and taking the steps to achieve them. As we talk midway through the fall season, the Yellow Jackets have a tough schedule ahead, including games against the University of Notre Dame, the University of Miami, and the University of Georgia. “You always want to go up against the best. It’s all about preparation and being focused,” Williams says. “I’ve found it’s the same way with school.”
Alumni on the Roster
Jordan Williams, BA 24, an offensive tackle who was First Team All State his junior and senior years at Gainesville High School in Georgia, the rule took some of the concern of his first year of school and playing off the table.
“I learned about it first through news reports and then it became very clear that this extra year would happen,” says Williams, who received his business administration degree in May and is now pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in economics. “I’ve lost games to injuries, and to be able to have one more year with the O-line means a lot. I would love to be first-team ACC... I’m taking in every moment of college football before the next step.”
LaMiles Brooks, BA 24, a three-year starter, received his degree in May 2024. As a safety, he pursues receivers, but he is using his extra year of eligibility to not only enjoy football but pursue a second bachelor’s degree in economics.
Being a long snapper is appropriate for three-year starter Henry Freer, ChBE 23, who is taking a longer route when it comes to pursuing his education. Already coming into college with more than 30 hours under his academic belt, Freer graduated with a chemical and biomolecular engineering degree in May 2023 and enrolled directly in the PhD program. Freer is the first known football student-athlete to ever be enrolled in a PhD program while still playing Georgia Tech football. Freer redshirted his first year and gained another year from the Covid year, Pottebaum says.
Kevin Harris II, BA 23, defensive end, brought a champion’s mentality, transferring from the University of Alabama in 2020. Graduating with a business administration degree in December 2023, this starter is pursuing his second bachelor’s degree in economics.
Jason Moore, BA 23, defensive tackle, who graduated with a business administration degree in December 2023, actually began his college football days at Georgia Tech as a walk-on, then left for Temple University after graduating, but decided to return to the Yellow Jackets in further pursuit of football and education. He is now working on a master’s degree in analytics.
Will Scissum, CE 23, offensive lineman, received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in December 2023 and now is pursuing a master’s degree in the same subject. “He did the supply chain dual BS/MS program, and that’s pretty tough to pull off and still play football,” Pottebaum says. “This is a very sharp guy.”
David Shanahan, BA 24, is believed to be the first Ireland native to receive a full scholarship to play American college football. This four-year starter as punter didn’t punt on the opportunity to grow his education, graduating with a degree in business finance in the summer of 2023, and he now is enrolled in the master’s of analytics program. He even returned to Ireland with Tech to pull off a shocking win over Florida State to open the 2024 season, a team then ranked 10th in the AP Poll.
Belgium-native Sylvain Yondjouen, BA 22, a defensive end, is pursuing a master’s degree in international security after receiving his business administration degree in the fall of 2022.
