Georgia Tech’s defense is walking into fall camp with something it hasn’t had much of lately: real optimism, at least from the people coaching it.
That still comes with a catch. The Yellow Jackets have spent the last few seasons trying to piece things together on that side of the ball under Brent Key, and now they’re on their fourth defensive coordinator in as many years.
So yes, there’s buzz about the new look. But as everyone around the program knows, the talking has to turn into production once the games start.
The biggest reason for that buzz is up front. Key said the staff believes it can roll out three groups across the defensive line, and that the rotation may change from day to day depending on how they want to line up the reps. He pointed to the way the unit is being mixed and matched in practice, with different groups getting work against top offensive competition.
“Yeah, that's a discussion we've had a lot in the last few weeks, really coming out of spring and then through the last couple of weeks. Because we are.
I mean, you've got guys that might roll out there with a third group at some point, you know, one day. You know, it's A, B, C, and the next day it might be B, C, A, how we've got to roll these guys.
So not only are they getting reps, but also getting reps versus the best competition on the other side of the ball, okay? And you've got guys that roll out there with the, you know, the threes at times that are starting guys.
I mean, guys that might be as good as anybody had in the last, you know, five, six years or whatnot.”
Jason Semore was even more direct about the depth he sees at defensive end. In his view, Georgia Tech may be four deep on both sides.
“We're pretty deep right now at the defensive end position. I would say guys that have the talent and measurables and stuff to play in the game, we're probably four deep both sides.
So I've never been anywhere where we'd have as much length and depth in guys that can play from a talent standpoint. Now it's just a competition to see who can learn the most scheme and become the most dependable and all those kinds of things.”
That depth is only part of the equation, though. Georgia Tech has to prove it on the field, and the hope is that this group can become the best the program has had in a while.
The run defense is a major piece of that puzzle. Two years ago, under Tyler Santucci, Georgia Tech had one of the ACC’s better run-stopping units.
Last season, it slipped badly. The difference between those two seasons wasn’t just schematic; it was also tied to the play of the linebackers, where Kyle Efford and E.J.
Lightsey were the constants in the starting lineup.
Both players were not as effective last season as they were in 2024, but the Yellow Jackets are counting on Semore to get them back to that level - and maybe beyond it.
Still, this isn’t just about the linebackers. Georgia Tech is banking on a better defensive line and growth from the whole linebacker room, including freshman Braylon Outlaw, to help turn the run defense into something more dependable. If that doesn’t happen, making a push toward an ACC Championship appearance gets a lot harder.
There’s also real youth in the secondary, especially at safety. Georgia Tech’s room is heavy on true freshmen, which makes the experience it does have stand out even more.
Tae Harris played more than 200 snaps as a true freshman. Fenix Felton logged over 80.
Savion Riley has nearly 180 snaps across the last three seasons, including 139 in 2023 at Vanderbilt.
Beyond those names, though, the group is largely untested in games.
Semore said the talent is there and has shown up early in camp, but he also made clear that safety asks for more than raw ability.
“From a talent standpoint, I feel really good about the depth. I mean, those dudes are good players.
That position requires things just beyond talent and technique. We adjust two ways.
We adjust in the secondary and in the core. Obviously, in the secondary.
That requires a lot of schematic football knowledge and confidence in what you're doing as a communicator. We're still growing there.”
That’s the theme for Georgia Tech’s defense right now: the ingredients are intriguing, but the real test is still ahead.
In Other News...
Georgia Tech Offense Is Giving Fans A Reason To Believe Early
The first week of Georgia Tech fall camp has done more than get the Yellow Jackets back on the field. It has started to offer a clearer picture of an offense that needed signs of stability, with head coach Brent Key pointing to noticeable progress up front and at quarterback. The offensive line has produced seven players who have stood out, while Alberto Mendoza has settled into the role of starting quarterback as the staff begins to sort out what this unit can be.
There is also reason to like what has shown up in the backfield, where Justice Haynes and Malachi Hosley have helped give the running back group a deeper look and a strong work ethic through camp. For a team trying to build confidence early, that combination matters because it suggests the offense is not leaning on one area alone. The next questions are more about how quickly those pieces turn into something dependable once the pads stay on and the schedule pressure starts to rise. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Camp Is Already Spotlighting One Big Team Strength
Georgia Tech has made it through the first week of fall camp with a noticeably fresh look on both sides of the ball, thanks to new coordinators George Godsey on offense and Jason Semore on defense. Brent Key and several players have already highlighted the way the staff is teaching and the way the team is responding, and theres a steady tone to camp that suggests the Jackets are trying to build on more than just scheme this August.
One group in particular is standing out early: the running backs. Its a deep, talented room, and the competition inside it is already pushing everyone involved to raise their level. For a Tech team looking to establish depth and keep the offense moving under a new coordinator, having multiple backs fighting for carries could become one of the more useful strengths of camp. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech's Backfield Battle Is Bringing Out Something Chad Alexander Loves
Georgia Techs running back room has turned fall camp into a true proving ground, and Chad Alexander sounds like a player who is enjoying every bit of it. After practice, the Yellow Jackets back described a group that is deep, competitive and pushing each other every day, the kind of environment that can sharpen everybody involved if the room stays locked in. He also said he is open to doing whatever the staff asks of him, a useful trait for a backfield where versatility can quickly become a separator.
Alexanders perspective also reflects how much trust the Jackets are putting in the process after his recovery from injury. He spoke highly of running backs coach Jimmy Smith, pointing to the way Smith coaches and supports his players on and off the field, and said the teams focus remains on getting a little better each day while preparing for whoever is next on the schedule. For a position group that is still sorting out roles, that kind of attitude can matter just as much as the reps themselves. [Read more 🡒]