Georgia Tech enters its Week 1 matchup with Colorado carrying plenty of new pieces, and the Yellow Jackets’ roster looks different enough that last year’s meeting won’t offer much help. The head coaches are still the same in Deion Sanders and Brent Key, but both teams have new starting quarterbacks, new coordinators and several additions that could shape the Sept. 3 rematch in Atlanta.
On Georgia Tech’s side, the biggest new names include quarterback Alberto Mendoza, running back Justice Haynes, former Colorado defensive tackle Tawfiq Thomas, and coordinators George Godsey on offense and Jason Semore on defense.
To get a better read on what Georgia Tech looks like heading into the season, we caught up with GoJackets.com’s Gavin Hart for a preseason Q&A.
Hart described the defensive line as a room the staff is “cautiously optimistic” about, with a blend of experience and young talent under Jess Simpson. He pointed to Thomas as a likely starter at nose tackle, while Rutgers transfer Jordan Walker and Alabama transfer Noah Carter should handle major roles on the outside.
The interior, though, is still a question mark in terms of game experience. Christian Garrett and Landen Marshall will need to grow fast, and Brent Key has also spoken positively about Christian Speakman.
Mendoza, Hart said, already stands out for more than just his limited game reps. He said the quarterback “operates and leads like a starter,” and added that people around the program praise his character and leadership.
The challenge now is the one every inexperienced college quarterback faces: handling the week-to-week swings. Hart said he will be watching how Mendoza responds “when the pressure is turned”
The offensive line is another area where Georgia Tech is trying to replace what it had. Hart said last year’s group will be tough to match in terms of “nastiness and physicality.”
Key wants that unit to be the most physical on the field, and this group still has work to do in fall camp. Ethan Mackenny is the only returning starter at left tackle, while Malachi Carney has shifted from right tackle to right guard.
Alabama transfer Joseph Ionata is expected to start at center, with Kevin Peay Jr. at right guard and Jameson Riggs at right tackle.
Hart also broke down what the new coordinators should change. Godsey brings NFL experience and, in Hart’s view, his play-calling should look very different from Buster Faulkner’s.
He expects Georgia Tech to show more variation based on the defense’s alignment. Semore, meanwhile, is expected to bring a much more physical edge.
Hart said he will pressure quarterbacks constantly through blitzes or by loading the box and forcing the passer to beat the defense through the air.
When it comes to potential difference-makers, Hart highlighted Justice Haynes and Kyle Efford. Haynes, the Michigan transfer, is expected to be the lead back in Jimmy Smith’s room and should be heavily involved as both a runner and receiver.
Hart said Haynes’ versatility and home run ability could lead to plenty of touches as the season progresses. Efford, a redshirt senior linebacker, has already established himself as one of the team’s top leaders, and with Semore now in charge of the defense, Hart expects him to become the centerpiece of that unit.
He should be asked to make plays as a blitzer and in coverage.
The one group Hart is still watching closely is wide receiver. He doesn’t sound alarmed, but he is definitely in wait-and-see mode after the departures of Malik Rutherford, Eric Rivers, Dean Patterson, Bailey Stockton, and others.
Jordan Allen is the only returning receiver who has caught a pass in a Georgia Tech uniform, though Hart said Elon transfer Isaiah Fuhrmann should see a lot of action after being one of the better FCS receivers last season. The question is whether that production carries over to the Power 4 level.
There is also upside in younger receivers Dalen Penson and Debron Gatling, and Hart said this group needs to keep making progress through fall camp and into Sept. 3.
In Other News...
Colorado Fall Camp Opens With A Coaching Change Fans Cant Ignore
Colorados fall camp opened with a staffing wrinkle that did not go unnoticed, as the Buffaloes official coaching directory no longer lists receivers coach Jason Phillips and he was not part of the teams fall camp introductions. For a program trying to settle into its next phase, any change on the staff page tends to draw a little extra scrutiny, especially when it involves a position group as central to the offense as the receivers.
Rashad Davis, who had previously worked as an inside receivers coach, appeared to be handling Phillipss role as camp got underway. The Buffaloes have not officially confirmed what happened or offered an explanation, leaving the move to speak for itself while fans and observers try to read between the lines about how the offensive staff is being shaped. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Enters Fall Camp With Colorado Facing Early Pressure
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Colorado also enters camp with an unexpected personnel note, as the program announced Jason Phillips is no longer with the team so he can attend to a family matter. It adds another layer to a week that is already about evaluation and urgency, because every early absence changes how the depth chart is shaped and how much flexibility the staff has as it sorts out the pieces before the real pressure starts. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados New OC Just Raised The Stakes For This Offense
Colorados offseason reset brought a clear message on offense, with the program turning to Brennan Marion to run the attack after its 2025 season. Marion arrives from Sacramento State, where he served as head coach, and he is expected to install his up-tempo go-go system while Chris Marve takes over as defensive coordinator. For a Buffaloes team trying to sharpen its identity, the staff changes point to a more aggressive look on both sides of the ball.
The timing makes the quarterback situation especially worth watching, because redshirt freshman Julian Lewis is projected to open the year as the starter against Georgia Tech. That is a lot to ask of a young passer in a new system, but it also gives Colorado a chance to find out quickly how fast Marions offense can take hold. The real intrigue is whether the scheme and the QB can mesh quickly enough to make the Buffaloes dangerous right away. [Read more 🡒]