Coach Speak: Hillgrove (Ga.) head coach DeShon talks Carbin's commitment to GT

Georgia Tech picked up its 19th commitment of the 2026 class and seventh the defensive side on Friday when 3-star edge Chris Carbin made his commitment to the Jackets public over other finalist Mississippi State.

Recently, JOL caught up with Carbin’s head coach at Hillgrove High in Powder, Georgia, Justin DeShon, to discuss his standout edge’s commitment, what kind of player Georgia Tech fans should expect, how his skills translate to the college level and more.

Here’s what he had to say:

JOL: How excited are you for Chris to make his commitment to Georgia Tech and to have a little bit of that recruiting stress off of him early?

DESHON: “For elite guys like him the recruiting process is really starting the middle of their sophomore year if they have some tape. So it’s been a long process for him and his family, going a lot of places, and I’m just happy for him that it’s over. He’s been really comfortable with (Georgia Tech OLB/DE) coach (Kyle) Pope and Georgia Tech for a long time. Even though they switched defensive coordinators, (head) coach (Brent) Key has really been fantastic with him. And it’s a great fit. I’m glad it’s close to home, and I’m happy for him that it’s done.”

JOL: What do you think about how Tech recruited Chris or what makes Tech the right fit for him?

DESHON: “Their location, No. 1…him being able to get up on their campus a lot and them being able to come to our campus has helped. Coach Pope has been fantastic in the relationship and coaching that edge position specifically, Chris’s hybrid nature, and being able to relate to him, showing him drills, bringing him on campus to show him how they are going to use him, looking at his film, being able to relate how we used him. So I think that has been a massive part of it. Since the end of his sophomore year, they’ve been recruiting him, and he’s been on their campus a lot so they’ve been consistent.”

JOL: What should Georgia Tech fans expect from Chris as a player and a person for those that might not have seen him play or know about him yet?

DESHON: “His natural ability is to go get the quarterback, and that hybrid position he’ll play, he’ll be able to do both…being able to drop and cover is something that he’s developed in the last probably 15 months. Last year on his junior film he was 210. Right now he’s 235 so just that strength in the offseason in his hands, in his chest, in his shoulders and his lower half, his senior film will pop more than anything on his junior film. So I truly think Georgia Tech is getting a high-level recruit that’s added weight and strength, and I think he’s going to be a force on the college football field.”

JOL: What do you feel about Chris’s skillset and mindset translates well to the college level and do you see him being an impact player early on at Georgia Tech next year?

DESHON: “I do (think he has that mindset to make a quick transition to the college level). CC is very mature, and the one thing that he will definitely do is take care of himself. The second thing that will stick out to their coaching staff is he is a guy that wants feedback, and he wants to be coached. If you don’t coach him every play, that’s when he tends to get a little bit frustrated. I think he will thrive in a college environment with the demand because he wants to be challenged. I think he’s going to do fantastic things (at Georgia Tech).”