Georgia Tech’s preseason FPI slot doesn’t match the team that just came out of last season with the most wins of the Brent Key era.
The Yellow Jackets landed at No. 48 overall and No. 10 in the ACC, a placement that looks especially strange when stacked against Florida State and North Carolina. Georgia Tech also drew 11 Power 4 opponents, but that hasn’t scared this program off before. The argument here is simple: the schedule may be tough, but it should also sharpen a team that is built to handle it.
The biggest reason for the skepticism around the ranking is that Georgia Tech looks better than the number suggests, especially on defense. The unit has more depth, more bodies that can make an impact, and a stronger ability to rotate players without losing much. That kind of flexibility changes everything for a defense.
Defensive ends/outside linebackers coach Kyle Pope called it “a good problem to have.” He said the competition inside the room has changed because the group is no longer short on experience or numbers.
“It's a good problem to have. The biggest thing that I love about it is it gives guys no choice but to compete every day.
I think going into it last year, it's like, oh man, it's an inexperienced group with small numbers like that. But now, I mean, you miss a rep, then that may be a spot.
If you miss a play, that may be a spot. If you miss a practice, that may be a spot.
They understand that they're not just competing with the guys around them, but also with themselves. Because right now, like you said, the complete room is different,” said Pope.
“When it's different also the expectation is different. They understand what it is that I want, what it is that I'm looking for.
They gotta realize that we're gonna be a deep room, but everybody can be on the field at the same time. So who's gonna produce, who's gonna show up, and who's gonna separate themselves?
At the end of the day, I need guys to play meaningful football for Georgia Tech. We're gonna find the guys that can do that for sure.”
Georgia Tech also made real progress on the back end. The additions of Jaylen Mbakwe and Jonas Duclona help round out the room, while players already in the program are expected to take a step forward as well. Daiquan White, Elgin Sessions, and Zach Tobe are names to keep an eye on, and the safety group has its own punch with Tae Harris and Fenix Felton leading the way.
Then there’s the coaching staff, which may end up being the biggest reason this projection gets blown up. George Godsey, Jason Semore, Vinnie Sunseri, and Jimmy Smith all bring different kinds of value, and all four are tied to success at a high level. Some have NFL experience, some have worked under Nick Saban, and others have built their own track record.
That mix matters. Georgia Tech has more talent, more depth, and more coaching firepower than the ranking seems to account for. If those pieces come together the way the Yellow Jackets believe they can, the preseason number will look a lot too low by the time 2026 rolls around.
In Other News...
Georgia Tech May Be Gaining Ground With A Coveted In-State Lineman
Terrence Brandon Jr. is becoming a name to watch for Georgia Tech on the recruiting trail. The three-star offensive lineman in the 2028 class has picked up nearly 15 offers, but the Yellow Jackets have kept themselves firmly in the mix thanks to the kind of relationship that can matter most this early in the process. Brandon has made it clear he feels a strong connection with Georgia Techs coaching staff, and that has helped the program stay in the conversation for one of the states more sought-after linemen.
Brandon plans to get back to campus twice this fall, giving Georgia Tech another chance to make its case in person as his recruitment continues to build. He is also looking ahead to a bigger role at Douglas County this season, which should give him more chances to show why so many programs are circling. With interest still growing and his decision nowhere near settled, the Jackets have positioned themselves as a serious contender to keep an in-state talent close to home. [Read more 🡒]