In front of family, teammates, and coaches at Pike Road High School on Wednesday, Dec. 3 — the opening day of the early signing period for the 2026 college football recruiting class — four Patriots made their college choices official.
Coach Granger Shook framed the ceremony as a program-wide celebration. “It’s a day for Pike Road. I know it’s a day of relief,” he said. “This day is about them, and I can’t say enough about the ambassadors they are for Pike Road, both on and off the field.”
Shook noted the academic credentials of the group, saying, “Every single one of these guys has a GPA no lower than 3.5, and they are the epitome of student-athletes.”
He added, “These guys have won a lot of football games, but more than that, they were great leaders for us. There are a lot of people, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, coaches, and trainers, who have invested into these young men to help make them who they are. I can’t wait to watch them continue their career at a very high level.
The quartet, all ranked among Alabama’s top prospects by 247Sports and Rivals, included linebacker Braylon Outlaw (Georgia Tech), running back Ja’Michael Jones (Ole Miss), linebacker Miles Khatri (West Virginia) and two-way standout Jordan Holmes (Kennesaw State).
Braylon Outlaw — Georgia Tech
Outlaw, the state’s No. 25-ranked recruit, signed with Georgia Tech and will move into the ACC, where the Yellow Jackets rose to No. 23 this season under Brent Key. A two-way contributor for Pike Road with linebacker as his primary spot, Outlaw posted 81 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks and three interceptions in 2025. He suffered a season-ending injury in the first-round playoff game against McGill-Toolen but is expected to be ready for college workouts. Originally committed to Tennessee, Outlaw flipped to Georgia Tech, citing the academic fit.
Ja’Michael Jones — Ole Miss
Jones battled injury issues but appeared in all 13 games, piling up 773 rushing yards and six touchdowns while also stepping in at linebacker after Outlaw’s injury. The No. 31 recruit in the state, Jones brings a bell-cow profile to Ole Miss — a physical, between-the-tackles runner with the strength to finish through contact — as the Rebels transition following the recent departure of coach Lane Kiffin.
Miles Khatri — West Virginia
A textbook linebacker for Pike Road in 2025, Khatri led the Patriots with 93 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, seven sacks and an interception. His closing speed and technique made him a reliable eraser in space, and he also took snaps at running back late in the season. Ranked No. 79 in the state, Khatri heads to West Virginia looking to help the Mountaineers change their recent fortunes.
Jordan Holmes — Kennesaw State
Holmes set the tone with three interceptions in the season opener and never stopped impacting the game in all phases. The versatile senior finished with 1,273 yards of total offense and 13 touchdowns while also grabbing five interceptions on defense. He sustained a season-ending injury in the first-round playoff game against McGill-Toolen but hopes to be close to full speed by the time his college career begins. Holmes is ranked No. 92 in the state and gives Kennesaw State flexibility on either side of the ball.
The four signees with strong résumés will have an impact as they move on to collegiate football. Each of these students will leave Pike Road early to enroll in their prospective universities to begin training and working out with their collegiate teams.
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