How a Single Phone Call Helped Shape Georgia Tech Tight End Kevin Roche

Georgia Tech tight end Kevin Roche’s rise from a 215-pound recruit to a 6-foot-9, 270-pound playmaker can be traced back to one unlikely source: a phone call from a Yellow Jackets alumnus working in New York City.

Chris Leone, who works at UBS, first encountered Roche when the future tight end stood around 5-foot-9. Recognizing raw athletic potential, Leone left a message with Georgia Tech’s athletic department encouraging staff to take a look at the promising young player. According to Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, that message set Roche’s college career in motion.

An Origin Story Kept Quiet

Remarkably, Roche himself only recently learned the full story. Head coach Brent Key reportedly informed him within the past couple of weeks that the referral had come through Leone. Roche acknowledged he had known the department and someone had spoken, but said he did not grasp the details until the coach shared them.

The path from discovery to commitment moved quickly. Roche, who described traveling to camps across the country during his recruitment, said his Georgia Tech visit stood out immediately. He received an offer the same day and committed soon after.

Physical Transformation Through the Weight Room

The most visible change has been Roche’s frame. Arriving on campus as a wiry 215-pound prospect, he has added significant mass through dedicated strength work and now measures 6-foot-9 and 270 pounds. Roche says his movement is more efficient now than it was in high school, a notable claim given his size.

Coach Key pointed to Roche’s reliability as a defining trait, noting that whether the assignment was scout team duty or blocking kicks, the tight end showed up every time. That consistency, rather than any single moment, has built the foundation for his current role.

Locker Room Culture and Size-16 Cleats

The story has also become a point of pride for the program. Key has suggested the referral reflects the broader Georgia Tech network and the relationships within it. Tight ends coach Nathan Brock, meanwhile, has joked in the locker room about placing a wager on whether Roche will block a kick in any given practice.

Roche now takes the field in size-16 cleats from Under Armour, the Baltimore-based performance apparel company. Under Armour, Inc. (NYSE: UAA) trades at $4.88, down 1.21% from its previous close of $4.94, with a market capitalization of roughly $2.25 billion. The company competes in the consumer cyclical sector as an apparel and footwear manufacturer.

What to watch

• Roche’s continued development and role in Georgia Tech’s offense as the season progresses.
• Under Armour’s upcoming quarterly earnings report and any updates on its collegiate footwear and apparel partnerships.
• Further coverage from Georgia Tech’s athletics communications on the program’s recruiting pipeline.

Source: original release