Haynes King isn’t the type to check out early - not in a game, not in a season, and certainly not in a bowl.
As Georgia Tech gears up for their matchup against BYU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, King is locked in and ready to go. In an era when player opt-outs are practically routine - especially for those with NFL aspirations - King is taking a different route.
He’s suiting up. One more game.
One more chance to lead his team, just like he has all year.
“Throughout this year, we put our blood, sweat and tears into this team,” King said earlier this week. “I’m not one to quit and be selfish. I always finish what I start.”
That mindset has been the throughline of King’s journey - from his early days at Texas A&M to his breakout season with the Yellow Jackets. And this year? He’s been nothing short of electric.
King finished 10th in Heisman Trophy voting and took home ACC Player of the Year honors - a testament to his dual-threat dominance and leadership. He passed for 2,697 yards and 12 touchdowns, while adding 922 rushing yards and 15 more scores on the ground. Those numbers don’t just jump off the stat sheet - they define the identity of Georgia Tech’s offense.
And when you zoom out, the full scope of his college career is even more impressive. Across his time at Texas A&M and Georgia Tech, King has amassed 9,232 passing yards, 63 touchdown passes, 2,396 rushing yards, and 37 rushing touchdowns. That’s not just production - that’s a legacy.
Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl gives King one final shot to add to that legacy. One more game to put a stamp on a season - and a career - that’s been about grit, growth, and finishing what you start.
For Georgia Tech, having King under center one last time is more than just a boost on the field. It’s a statement.
In a college football landscape where the business side of the game often overshadows the team-first mentality, King is showing that commitment still matters. And for the Yellow Jackets, that kind of leadership is as valuable as any stat line.