The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will be completely starting over this year after a decade of running Paul Johnson’s triple option. Geoff Collins is the perfect coach to rebuild excitement and energy around the team, especially in Atlanta. However, transitioning out of the triple will take some time, so don’t expect much this year.
Prestige Ranking: 3*
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have only missed a bowl twice in the last 11 years. They even managed to win the Coastal several times and the ACC once in that span.
Last Year’s Record: 7-6 (5-3)
Tech started 2018 with losses to good teams: first half of the season USF(not to be confused with second half 0-6 USF), division winners Pitt and national champions Clemson. From there they rattled off some wins, but finished with two bad losses to Georgia and Minnesota.
Projected Returning Starters
Offense: 4
- WR Jalen Camp
- LT Zach Quinney
- C Kenny Cooper
- RG Connor Hansen
Projecting an offense moving out of the triple option feels almost impossible. Having returning experience on the line is obviously better than nothing, but with a new scheme that will require totally different types of athletes, this offense still will really struggle.
Defense: 3
- LB David Curry
- CB Tre Swilling
- S Tariq Carpenter
Swilling and Carpenter will lead the defense from the backfield, but the Yellow Jackets will be almost completely starting over on the line. Defense is Collins’ speciality and while it may take a minute, with his previous success and the already improved recruiting, this won’t be the side of the ball to worry about.
Specialists: 3
- K Wesley Wells
- P Pressley Harvin III
- Returner Junayeh Thomas
Thomas returned a couple of kicks for touchdowns last year, averaged 25.3 yards per return and looks to be one of the best returners in the conference.
Key Losses
QB TaQuon Marshall lead the team in passing and rushing a year ago and will be missed. Tobias Oliver, Marshall’s likely replacement, showed he was a capable runner (important), but struggled as a passer(much more important).
On defense, the front seven is almost completely starting over. Nearly everyone who recorded a sack is gone, but they will especially miss Anree Saint-Amour’s 12 TFLs and 4 sacks.
Key Newcomer on Offense: Tyler Davis
Davis is a tight end grad transfer from UConn. Johnson didn’t use tight ends in his offense, but Collins’ more pro style offense will surely rely on the position significantly more. Davis isn’t just the most experienced player at the position, he’s the only experienced player at the position.
Key Newcomer on Defense: Jaquan Henderson
Henderson has the mix of talent as a high 3-star recruit and experience as a third year player to potentially breakout. He can be successful for GT as either an outside linebacker or a defensive end, both positions where they lack returning starters.
Win the Conference if:
The ACC Coastal is maybe the most even division in the country and there have been six different winners the last six years. Georgia Tech’s best chance is multiple teams tie for the division and they get lucky on weird tiebreakers. Then 12-0 Clemson rests their starters thinking a playoff spot is already locked up and Tech sneaks by the backups? Honestly, Clemson still might win that game.
Circle this game: Georgia
There’s only one goal when your team isn’t going to be good: be petty and ruin everything for your rival. This game will be at home on November 30th and a potential loss could knock UGA out of playoff contention. (Bonus game to circle: at Temple – a homecoming game for Geoff Collins – on September 28th).
2019 Outlook:
This season is gonna be bad. But this really might have been the best hire this offseason. This is a year zero for Collins and he really shouldn’t be judged on the team’s performance this year.