Fall camp is almost here for Georgia Tech, and the biggest spotlight in Atlanta is pointed straight at quarterback.
The Yellow Jackets head toward the 2026 season with a new face at the position after Haynes King (NFL) and Aaron Philo (transfer portal) moved on. Georgia Tech answered by bringing in former Indiana backup Alberto Mendoza, and he won the job in the spring. Mendoza is set to open the year as the starter.
That makes him the central figure in the first weeks of camp. Georgia Tech has not entered a season with a new starting quarterback since 2023, and the program is banking on Mendoza to keep the offense moving after King’s run.
There is no pretending Mendoza is walking into an easy setup. He will be working with a new offensive coordinator, a receiver group that lacks experience, and an offensive line with three new starters. That is a lot of turnover to sort through, and Georgia Tech needs him ready when Colorado shows up in game one.
Mendoza has never started a game, but he is still the most experienced quarterback on the roster. Behind him are Grady Adamson, Graham Knowles, and Cole Bergeron, and none of them have started either. Adamson and Bergeron have not played in a game at all.
That leaves Georgia Tech with a clear hope and a real concern. The hope is that Mendoza settles in, stays healthy, and gives the offense stability.
The concern is what happens if he does not. If he struggles or gets hurt, would the Yellow Jackets be comfortable handing the offense to one of those other three?
That uncertainty is one of the biggest questions hanging over camp.
There is also the larger issue of how Mendoza stacks up against King. It is not fair to expect the same level of production, but Georgia Tech still has to figure out how steep the dropoff might be. King was one of the ACC’s top quarterbacks and delivered steady play week after week.
Mendoza does have help around him. Georgia Tech believes it will have two high-level running backs behind him, and the defense is expected to be much improved. If those pieces come together, he may not need to carry the whole load.
But if they do not, the Yellow Jackets may need him to do more than just manage the offense. That is the real test waiting for Mendoza as fall camp begins.
In Other News...
Kyle Efford Is Setting The Tone For Georgia Tech's Defense
As Georgia Tech closes out summer workouts and turns toward preseason practice, Kyle Efford has settled into the kind of role the Yellow Jackets need from a veteran linebacker. The redshirt senior is one of the defensive voices helping set the standard as the team gets ready for its home opener against Colorado, with the staff keeping a close eye on playing weights and the broader push to sharpen the unit before the season begins.
Effords presence matters because the Jackets are looking for more consistency across the defense, and that starts with leadership in the middle of it. Brent Key has also pushed the defensive front to become bigger and quicker, and Efford has seen that work take shape as the team tries to carry summer progress into preseason practice. The next step is still ahead, but the tone around the defense is already being set. [Read more 🡒]