Justice Dingle wanted a college that checked a couple of boxes: close to family, academically challenging, top-shelf competition and a quick connection with teammates.

The Bowling Green senior linebacker believes he’s found that place at Georgia Tech.

Dingle announced via Twitter on Tuesday his commitment to continue his collegiate career in Atlanta at Georgia Institute of Technology in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Dingle, rated a three-star prospect by 247sports and a four-star recruit by Rivals, told the Daily News last week his top two choices came down to Georgia Tech and Purdue.

“I get the best of both worlds with academics and good football,” Dingle said after Bowling Green’s practice Tuesday. “Now I have the chance to compete early. It came down to being closer to family. … Tons of weight off my shoulders now. I’m glad I got it over with before the season and I’m just thankful to be in that position where I can choose early.”

Dingle also had offers from Tennessee, Louisville, Kentucky, Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker is rated the second-best prospect in Kentucky by Rivals.

Dingle arrived at Bowling Green last season after transferring from Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

He recorded 68 tackles and an interception in his first season with the state champion Purples and was recently named to the Dick Butkus Award high school preseason watch list, which recognizes the nation’s best linebacker.

Dingle is also an early nominee for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Dingle chose Georgia Tech over Purdue, which recruited him when former Western Kentucky coach Jeff Brohm’s staff took over in West Lafayette, Ind., in the winter. Dingle said last week he had daily conversations with defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Nick Holt, who coached the Hilltoppers’ defense for four seasons.

“It has weighed on him because he’s so conscientious on how he handles things and living up to his word that I just think the process has been really difficult on him and it got tougher on him as he got down to the last two,” Bowling Green coach Kevin Wallace said. “I’m happy for him because he had a great opportunity either way.”

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Georgia Tech safeties coach and recruiting coordinator Andy McCollum established an early relationship with Dingle that carried over to the Yellow Jackets extending an official scholarship offer in May.

Born in South Carolina, Dingle said family can attend games with a short drive to Atlanta or other schools in the ACC. Dingle noted the school’s academic standards and said he wants to study computer technology.

Dingle also felt comfortable with other commits and players currently on the roster. He’ll reunite with former Oakland teammate Kaleb Oliver and Murfreesboro native Gentry Bonds, who will both be freshmen.

Dingle will join Ensworth (Tenn.) senior Jaylon King in the 2019 signing class, who Dingle said is a friend from middle Tennessee he works out with in the summer.

Dingle is the 13th commit for Georgia Tech’s 2019 class and is the second linebacker beside JaQuez Jackson of Peach County, Ga.

“Last weekend I went to visit and it just felt like home to me,” Dingle said.

Georgia Tech went 9-4 last season and defeated Kentucky in the TaxSlayer Bowl. Dingle said coaches are recruiting him as an inside linebacker, but will move him outside as an edge rusher in nickel packages.

Dingle is getting plenty of work doing both since transferring to Bowling Green. He spent most of last season as an outside linebacker, but has moved to the middle this fall and said he is “getting adjusted to it. It’s a good transition for me.”{&end}