Jordan van den Berg is not your typical college football player. Most 310-pound defensive tackles spend their NIL money on high-end cars or designer jewelry. Not Jordan. He bought a laundromat on Campbellton Road in Atlanta.
Honestly, it’s the most Georgia Tech thing ever.
While he’s busy stuffing run gaps and chasing down ACC quarterbacks, he’s also checking the books at Always Fresh Laundromat. He’s a redshirt senior who has taken the long road—literally from Johannesburg to Iowa to State College and back home to Atlanta. If you haven't been paying attention to the middle of the Yellow Jackets' defensive line, you’ve been missing one of the most interesting stories in the game.
Why Jordan van den Berg Georgia Tech Success Was No Accident
Coming out of Providence Christian Academy in Lilburn, Georgia, van den Berg was a tackling machine. We are talking 157 tackles in a single season as a high school linebacker. But the big-time offers didn't just flood in. He had to go the JUCO route, landing at Iowa Western Community College.
He didn't just play there; he transformed.
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Van den Berg packed on 40 pounds of lean muscle to move from linebacker to the defensive line. It worked. He became a first-team NJCAA All-American in just six games. That’s where Penn State noticed the motor that never stops. He spent three seasons in Happy Valley, appearing in 28 games and becoming a "Freaks List" regular thanks to a 655-pound squat.
But something was missing.
He wanted to be home. When he entered the transfer portal in early 2024, he didn't mess around. He committed to Georgia Tech almost immediately. "I'm coming home," he posted on X. It wasn't just a slogan; it was a mission to anchor a defense that had struggled to stop the run for years.
The Stats and That Miami Fumble
If you look at the 2024 season, van den Berg’s impact went way beyond the box score, though the numbers were plenty respectable. He finished that year with 23 tackles and five tackles for loss. But the moment everyone remembers happened on November 9th.
The Yellow Jackets were facing a fourth-ranked, undefeated Miami team.
The Hurricanes were driving late. The tension in Bobby Dodd Stadium was thick enough to cut with a knife. Then, van den Berg came up with the play of the game—recovering a fumble by Cam Ward with 1:36 left on the clock. It sealed the 28-23 upset and basically cemented his status as a fan favorite.
By 2025, he had leveled up.
- 42 total tackles.
- 11 tackles for loss (leading all interior defensive tackles in the country at one point).
- 3 sacks.
- First-Team All-ACC honors.
He isn't just a "space eater." He’s a disruptor. Pro Football Focus (PFF) consistently graded him in the 80s for run defense, which is elite territory for a guy playing the three-technique or nose.
Business on the Side
Let's talk about the laundromat again because it's genuinely fascinating. Van den Berg realized early on that "NFL" often stands for "Not For Long." Instead of blowing his NIL checks, he watched YouTube tutorials on investing and economics. He didn't even take an econ class at Penn State—he just taught himself.
He finalized the purchase of Always Fresh Laundromat in October 2025.
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While teammates were resting on Mondays, he was often at the shop, networking with other West Side business owners or planning community days to donate food and sign autographs. He’s pursuing a master’s in international affairs, science, and technology at Tech. Most of us struggle to balance a gym schedule and a job; he’s balancing a master's degree, a starting spot in the ACC, and a small business.
The "Freak" Factor and the Future
What makes him so hard to block? It’s the combination of South African rugby toughness and raw power. He grew up playing rugby in Johannesburg before moving to the States at age 10. You can see that lateral agility when he's chasing down screens.
His grandfather was a competitive bodybuilder. His grandmother was a record-holding swimmer. The DNA is there.
But the "Freaks List" designation from Bruce Feldman is what usually catches the eyes of NFL scouts. When you can bench 455 pounds and move like a linebacker, people notice. As he finishes his career at Georgia Tech, he’s projected as a late-round draft pick or a high-priority undrafted free agent. Teams love a high-motor interior guy who can also provide leadership in the locker room.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Athletes
If you're following van den Berg’s career or looking to replicate his path, keep these things in mind:
- The Transfer Portal is a Tool: He used it to find a scheme that fit his aggressive style and to get back to his support system in Atlanta.
- Diversify Early: His move into small business ownership is a blueprint for how athletes can use NIL to create generational wealth rather than temporary luxury.
- Physical Versatility Wins: His transition from a 200-pound linebacker to a 310-pound defensive tackle shows that "positionless" defenders are the future.
Jordan van den Berg helped change the culture of the Georgia Tech defense. He brought a blue-collar, "do your job" mentality that was desperately needed. Whether he's under the lights at Bobby Dodd or under the fluorescent lights of his laundromat, he's a reminder that the modern college athlete can be a whole lot more than just a jersey number.
Keep an eye on his Pro Day numbers; if he hits that 655-pound squat mark again, his draft stock is going to fly.