Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets College Football Preview 2023: Keys To The Season, Top Players, What Will Happen
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Key To The Season
© Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Georgia Tech Preview, Offense, Defense
- Georgia Tech Schedule, Picking Each Game
Find that running game again. No, not the Paul Johnson era option, but a ground attack that can consistently pound out over four yards per carry. No one was worried about the downfield passing game, and too much of the attack relied on former QB Jeff Sims taking off and doing something amazing. Now with a veteran line and a few good looking backs, it’s time to bash.
Georgia Tech was 5-0 when running for more than 150 yards, 0-7 when it didn’t. But it gets weirder than that. September 3rd, 2016 vs Boston College. That was the last time Georgia Tech won a game when running for fewer than 150 yards, going 0-25 ever since when it can’t get there. Oh, you want to get funky, do you? Georgia Tech is 1-36 vs FBS teams since 2006 when failing to get to 150 rushing yards.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Top Transfer, Biggest Loss
LB Braelen Oliver in from Minnesota, QB Jeff Sims off to Nebraska. Yeah, it didn’t quite work like everyone had hoped for with Sims, and for what the offense needs it’ll probably be better with Zach Pyron or Haynes King, but Nebraska is about to get a whale of an all-around playmaker who might rip it up in Lincoln. On the defensive side, Georgia Tech needed linebacking help, and Oliver is a big veteran for the middle. He made 79 tackles in three years for the Gophers. He should at least get that this year.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Key Player
Zach Pyron, QB, RFr. And/or Haynes King. It’s not like Texas A&M didn’t try to make King the star of the offense. He was thrown into the mix a few different times, threw for close to 1,600 yards and ten touchdowns with ten picks, and he ran a little here and there. Injuries and other options kept him from taking over, and now he’ll get a shot with the Yellow Jackets.
However, Pyron is the tough three-time Alabama state high school champion - at two different schools - and might be the bomber who finally gets the downfield attack working. And if King and Pyron can't get it done, don't forget about Zach Gibson, who stepped in late season and pulled off the win over North Carolina.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Key Game
Louisville, Sept. 1. Georgia Tech hasn’t won the first game of the year since 2020 and had to play Clemson in three of the last four ACC openers. This year it gets a new look Louisville team coached by former Purdue head man Jeff Brohm, and not to be too dramatic for the season lid-lifter, but it might be win or else.
There will be a win over South Carolina State to follow, but three of the next four games are on the road and the next ACC home date isn’t until October 21st against Boston College.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 10 Best Players
1. LaMiles Brooks, S Jr.
2. Zach Pyron, QB RFr.
3. Haynes King, QB Jr.
4. D’Quan Douse, DT Jr.
5. Braelon Oliver, LB Sr.
6. Dontae Smith, RB Sr.
7. Dominick Blaylock, WR Sr.
8. Trey Cooley, RB Jr.
9. Christian Leary, WR Jr.
10. David Shanahan, P Jr.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 2022 Fun Stats
- 4th quarter scoring: Opponents 104 - Georgia Tech 59
- 4th down conversions: Opponents 14-of-22 (64%) - Georgia Tech 8-of-24 (33%)
- Fumbles: Opponents 22 (lost 13) - Georgia Tech 12 (lost 4)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
Set The Win Total At: 5.5
Is this it? Is this the year Georgia Tech comes up with a winning season again and starts a new run of success? The starting 22 should be the best it’s been in years, the transfer portal is helping with the depth, and there should be far more production overall.
Think of it this way. Georgia Tech won five games with one of the ACC’s worst offenses and a defense that couldn’t stop anything against the run. Both parts of that should be vastly improved.
Getting to six wins probably comes down to the opener against Louisville. South Carolina State, Bowling Green, Boston College - that’s coming after a week off - and Syracuse. Those four home games are must wins - at least three of them - to have any reasonable hope of going bowling. Beat Louisville and take down North Carolina at home, and there are the six wins.
Get by Virginia on the road and there’s a good chance of coming with a winning season. But the team has to be more consistent, it has to actually pull off those home victories, and it might have to come up with an upset or two. Get to a bowl, and it’ll be a huge step forward.
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Georgia Tech Preview, Offense, Defense
- Georgia Tech Schedule, Picking Each Game
