Georgia Tech heads into its Week 7 matchup with Virginia Tech carrying another injury list that reaches into both sides of the ball, and the biggest question sits right at running back.
Haynes remains the name to watch. He was the Yellow Jackets’ major offseason addition and, even with shaky offensive line play for most of the season, he has still managed to be one of the offense’s most important pieces. With Malachi Hosley out for another game, Georgia Tech would be looking at Trelain Maddox as the top option if Haynes can’t go Saturday, with Chad Alexander next in line.
That would be a bigger ask, but Maddox just showed he can handle it. In last weekend’s upset of Duke, he rushed for 80 yards on 10 carries, punched in a 60-yard touchdown and finished with three scores.
Georgia Tech is in better shape at receiver and tight end, but the offensive line still has some holes to plug. Ethan Mackenny is set to miss another game, which means Jordan Floyd is slated for another start on Alberto Mendoza’s blind side. Markell Samuel will also sit again, though center Jameson Riggs is not on the injury report and should be back in the lineup.
On defense, Jordan Walker will miss another game, while Noah Carter is off the report and expected to return against the Hokies. Starting cornerback Daiquan White is also out again, but Georgia Tech does not have any other starters in the secondary sidelined.
Kyle Efford was listed as out as well, and he announced Tuesday that he is medically retiring from football because of injuries.
Georgia Tech has already shown it can get through a depleted week, thanks to the win over Duke. The question now is whether it can do it again against Virginia Tech.
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Rahkeem Smith has quietly become one of Georgia Techs more intriguing pieces this season, and special teams is where he has made his first real mark. After transferring from Bowling Green and sitting out last year in a redshirt season, Smith has settled into a role that has already included a kickoff return touchdown against Colorado, a reminder that one clean touch can change field position and momentum in a hurry.
As the Yellow Jackets head to Virginia Tech, Smith said he is focused on the same basic approach he uses on every return, while also doing whatever else the staff asks of him. That kind of flexibility matters for a team trying to find edge plays on the road, especially with a game plan that has to account for a hostile setting and a defense that figures to make every yard difficult to earn. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Must Answer One Big Question After Duke Win
After getting past Duke, Georgia Tech turns quickly to a Week 7 trip to Virginia Tech with the sort of matchup that usually tells a team a lot about itself. The Yellow Jackets are still searching for consistency, and this one figures to test how well they can carry over the energy from a recent win into a tougher road setting against a Hokies team that has not exactly looked dominant but is still being treated as the favorite.
What makes the challenge sharper is the state of Georgia Techs defense and the leadership it has leaned on. Kyle Effords absence leaves a noticeable void for a unit that has already had to adjust, and the Jackets will need the next group to step up and play as one if they want to stay competitive. Against a familiar ACC opponent, the margin for error is slim, and this game may come down to whether Georgia Tech can keep its collective footing long enough to make things interesting late. [Read more 🡒]