Tech picks up big defensive commitment from 2026 edge Carbin

2026 edge target Chris Carbin has felt very confident about where he was going to choose to continue his football career on the college level, but on Friday the Hillgrove (Ga.) standout made it official by committing to Georgia Tech.

Carbin made the public commitment in front of a gathering of family, friends and supporters at his home Friday afternoon and chose the Jackets over his other final school Mississippi State, but he had his mind all but made up when he left the Georgia Tech campus following his official visit on June 8th. He told JOL on Thursday that everything the Jackets’ program had to offer just felt like the perfect fit for him.

“I chose Georgia Tech because I love the program, culture and the future it gives young men around my age playing the game of football,” said Carbin. “Coach (Brent) Key, (Kyle) Pope and BG (Blake Gideon) are the realest coaches I have ever met in my life. They love me and my game, and told me I’m a high priority for them and I can tell I am. They want me to spend my next four years here, and that’s what I plan on doing!”

Carbin is Tech’s 19th overall commit in the 2026 class and seventh on the defensive side of the ball. He is Tech’s second defensive line/edge commit after defensive end Alex Willis pledged to the Jackets back on June 16th.

Carbin said he can see that Georgia Tech is moving in the right direction as a program and expects to be a part of a lot of success in the next few years on The Flats.

“I am very excited about the program,” said Carbin. “I can see the players getting better and better each day by the way the coaches are feeding them and coaching them hard every single day, and that’s something I want to be a part of.”

Carbin had double-digit offers to play college football from schools all over the country, but after narrowing things down and taking his official visits to Mississippi State and Georgia Tech, he canceled his other scheduled OV to Baylor and focused on those two. In the end, Key’s program was the one he couldn’t pass up an opportunity to join.

Carbin said Georgia Tech fans should expect to get everything he has over the next few years as he works to help the Jackets have success any way he can.

“The fans should expect a hard-working person with also a respectful attitude on and off the field,” said Carbin. “Yes, I have manners and will treat everyone correctly, and you will get everything I have in me on that field, 150 percent! Expect a dog because that’s what y’all are going to get!”