14 | 2023 SOUTHERN FOOTBALL GUIDE
GEORGIA TECH Atlanta, GA
2022 RECORD: 5-7 (4-4) FOUNDED: 1885 STADIUM: Bobby Dodd (55,000)
HEAD COACH: Brent Key OC: Buster Faulkner DC: Andrew Thacker
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
Georgia’ Tech’s transition from a triple-option attack to a balanced offense hasn’t been without growing pains. The Yellow Jackets allowed the most tackles for loss in the ACC last season, and posted the worst third-down conversion rate. But those pains are a thing of the past and the Jackets are about to unleash a big-time passing offense. There is a spirited battle for snaps between Haynes King and Zach Pyron at quarterback. They both have shown a tremendous upside and King has the experience of starting at Texas A&M. They have two outstanding targets who found their way to Tech through the portal. Dominick Blaylock comes from Georgia and Christian Leary from Alabama. Blaylock had 15 receptions for 227 yards for Georgia last season. Veteran running back Dontae Smith is more than capable of carrying the load in the running game.
The Yellow Jackets defeated the three teams (North Carolina, Duke and Pitt) that finished ahead of them in the ACC Coastal Division last season, with the wins over UNC and Pitt coming on the road. Couple that with having to play Clemson and Florida State as crossover games, and the five wins are more impressive. The secondary should be solid if the front four can mount any kind of pass rush. D’Quan Douse usually occupies at least one blocker in the middle. Clemson transfer Etinosa Reuben should boost the depth and allow the Jackets to keep the defensive front fresh. LaMiles Brooks is an excellent safety and has become a tremendous leader on and off the field. The key to the defense getting past mediocrity is the play of the two new linebackers. Braelen Oliver from Minnesota and Andre White from Texas A&M must evolve from role players to studs.
DEPTH CHART
DEPTH CHART
NO 10 4 8 12 6 2 55 67 72 54 75
PLAYER Haynes King Dontae Smith Malik Rutherford Dominick Blaylock Christian Leary Dylan Leonard Corey Robinson II Joe Fusile Weston Franklin Jordan Williams Jakiah Leftwich
POS QB RB WR WR WR TE LT LG C RG RT
HT 6-3 5-11 5-9 6-1 5-10 6-5 6-5 6-6 6-4 6-6 6-6
WT 205 202 155 200 175 238 291 316 305 312 311
CLASS SO SR SO JR JR SR SO SO JR JR SO
NO 32 99 8 9 2 7 3 0 5 1 16
PLAYER POS Sylvain Yondjouen DE D’Quan Douse DT Makius Scott DT Kyle Kennard DE Andre White LB Trenilyas Tatum LB Kenyatta Watson II CB Myles Sims CB Clayton Powell-Lee S LaMiles Brooks S K.J. Wallace NB
HT 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-5 6-3 6-2 6-1 6-3 6-2 6-2 5-11
WT 257 282 300 235 230 208 185 185 175 192 184
CLASS SR JR JR JR SR JR JR SR SO JR JR
5 0 9 3 7 80 74 57 58 64 65
Zach Pyron Trey Cooley Avery Boyd D.J. Moore Chase Lane Brett Seither Tyler Gibson Paul Tchio Brandon Best Ryan Purves Connor Scaglione
QB RB WR WR WR TE LT LG C RG RT
6-3 5-10 6-2 6-1 6-0 6-5 6-5 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-4
210 200 232 187 193 228 301 310 313 297 303
FR JR JR FR JR JR FR SO FR FR SR
11 88 6 43 44 4 21 10 14 23 17
Kevin Harris Zeek Biggers Etinosa Reuben Noah Collins Kyle Efford Braelen Oliver Omar Daniels Kenan Johnson Jaylon King Khari Gee Rodney Shelley
6-4 6-6 6-3 6-5 6-2 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-2 5-11
245 341 290 245 227 230 178 185 188 202 165
JR JR JR JR FR SR SO JR SR SO SO
88 43
Gavin Stewart David Shanahan
181 201
JR JR
8 8
Malik Rutherford Malik Rutherford
155 155
SO SO
SPECIAL TEAMS K P
5-11 6-2
2023 SCHEDULE S.1 ............................Louisville
O.21 ............Boston College
S.9 ............................S.C. State
O.28 .............North Carolina
S.16 ......................at Ole Miss
N.4 ......................... at Virginia
S.23 .............. at Wake Forest
N.11 ....................at Clemson
S.30 ..............Bowling Green
N.18 .........................Syracuse
O.7 ............................at Miami
N.25 .......................... Georgia
DE DT DT DE LB LB CB CB S S NB
SPECIAL TEAMS KR PR
5-9 5-9
NEWCOMERS Braelen Oliver, LB — Oliver brings 38 games of experience at Minnesota with him. The Jackets expect him to be a tackling machine. Andre White, LB — The exciting playmaker has 10.5 tackles for loss in his career, including four last season in just seven games for Texas A&M. Evan Dickens, RB — Dickens played his senior season at IMG Academy and developed as a complete runner. He’ll see limited carries this season, but will be the feature back of the future.
