Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech Football News: Draft Scout Player News

Draft Scout College Football Player News

12/02/25 - OG Keylan Rutledge, Sr/2026, Georgia Tech, (DS#6 OG)

2025 BRIAN PICCOLO AWARD WINNER: Boston College's Bryce Steele and Georgia Tech's Keylan Rutledge were named the recipients of the Atlantic Coast Conference's 2025 Brian Piccolo Award, the league announced on Monday. Rutledge, a 2025 Lombardi Award semifinalist and All-America candidate, made an extraordinary comeback following a life-and career-threatening accident. On December 10, 2023, near his hometown of Royston, Georgia, Rutledge's car was pushed into a concrete construction barricade on I-85, flipping twice into a ditch. He escaped the heavily damaged vehicle and began walking barefoot up the embankment for help, severely injuring his left big toe. Rutledge was transported to a local hospital, where surgeons reattached the toe using multiple pins. Upon arriving at Georgia Tech in January 2024, Rutledge's injury was further complicated by a severe infection, likely caused by walking through motor oil and gasoline. He was treated with aggressive intravenous antibiotics via a PICC line for six weeks, followed by a second surgery to re-break and reset the toe bones and a skin graft to promote proper healing.

He spent about seven months in intensive wound care and rehabilitation, relearning proper toe function before returning to football conditioning in late June 2024. Rutledge played his first snap on July 24, 2024, just over eight months after the accident, and has started all 24 games over the last two seasons. In 2025, he anchors an offensive line that ranks in the top 20 nationally in total offense, rushing offense, red zone offense and fewest sacks allowed, earning recognition from Pro Football Focus as one of the nation's top 15 guards in overall, run and pass blocking. Rutledge's recovery and performance stand as a testament to his resilience, determination and leadership. Rutledge becomes the fifth Georgia Tech student-athlete to receive the ACC Brian Piccolo Award and the first since running back Robert Godhigh in 2013. - ACC Football

(DS#6 OG) Sr/2026