Georgia Tech is 0-2 for the first time since 1989, and the early part of Brent Key’s fourth season has already turned into a grind. Saturday’s 45-24 loss to Tennessee brought a few flashes, but the Yellow Jackets missed enough chances to keep it from ever becoming a real game.
There were still some individual performances worth tracking, though. A handful of players came out of Week 2 looking better, while others left with more questions than answers.
One of the clearest risers was Roche Jr., who has been building momentum since spring. After a strong spring and a solid fall camp, he’s already become one of Alberto Mendoza’s preferred targets, and he delivered his best game yet against Tennessee.
Roche finished with six catches for 66 yards, including a key 22-yard grab on a third down early in the game. He also had a good opener against Colorado, when he contributed on a blocked field goal attempt, and he looks like a player who may just be getting started.
Mendoza’s night went in the opposite direction for much of the game. The Georgia Tech quarterback finished 26-for-40 for 221 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown in the first half.
He did settle in after halftime, going 14-for-17 for 132 yards and two scores, but the overall performance was still rough. He’s still chasing his first win as a starter.
Haynes also moved his stock up with a more productive outing than he had in Week 1 against Colorado. It wasn’t perfect, but he made his presence felt both as a runner and as a receiver.
He led Georgia Tech on the ground again, carrying 14 times for 81 yards and averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He also caught six passes for 36 yards and scored his first pair of touchdowns in a Georgia Tech uniform.
For a player who arrived with plenty of hype, Saturday was a useful bounce-back of sorts, even in defeat.
Another bright spot was Penson, who continued to be one of Mendoza’s trusted options. He caught six passes for 58 yards on seven targets, though he’s still waiting for the big play that turns into a touchdown. Even so, his move from cornerback has looked smooth, and he appears comfortable at his new spot.
The fallers were harder to miss, starting with Georgia Tech’s offensive line. Tennessee’s defense spent the night in the backfield, finishing with four sacks and seven tackles for loss while holding the Yellow Jackets to 4.4 yards per carry and just five yards per play.
Georgia Tech also lost Ethan Mackenny, Jameson Riggs, and Malachi Carney to injuries. It has been a rough opening stretch for the front five, and the group needs to sharpen up fast.
The front seven had its own problems. Tennessee piled up 299 rushing yards, one week after Colorado nearly reached 200, and Georgia Tech managed only one sack on first-year quarterback Faizon Brandon while adding four tackles for loss. Tennessee was more talented than any ACC offense the Yellow Jackets will face this season, but the 6.6 yards per carry allowed - including DeSean Bishop’s 147-yard day - made the numbers look even worse.
Mercer offers a chance for that unit to catch its breath, but the need for improvement is already obvious.
In Other News...
Former Alabama Player Jaylen Mbakwe Was At Center Of A Scary Scene
A frightening moment overshadowed part of Georgia Techs game against Tennessee when Jaylen Mbakwe and Jordan Walker both went down after Mbakwes helmet collided with Walkers knee. Medical personnel rushed in quickly, and both Yellow Jackets needed assistance to leave the field, turning a routine play into a scene that quieted the stadium in a hurry.
Mbakwe was eventually transported by stretcher to an ambulance after being taken off on a cart, but he offered a thumbs-up to teammates and coaches as he was escorted away, a reassuring sign that he was conscious. For Georgia Tech, the immediate concern shifted far beyond the scoreboard, with the health of two players suddenly the only thing that mattered. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Just Got Pulled Into A Brutal Week 2 Debate
Georgia Techs early-season buzz has given way to an uncomfortable reality after the first two games, and the latest Week 2 conversation only made that louder. The Yellow Jackets were grouped with some of the weeks biggest disappointments after a rough start that has raised fresh questions about how quickly this team can find its footing and whether last seasons momentum can be carried over in any meaningful way.
The broader issue is bigger than one bad Saturday or one ugly stat line. With the offense still searching for answers and the spotlight now drifting toward Brent Keys staff and personnel decisions, Georgia Tech has been pulled into a debate about whether the pieces on hand are enough to recreate the success the program showed a year ago. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Has One Bright Spot In A Loss That Raised Bigger Concerns
Georgia Techs home loss to Tennessee left a familiar kind of frustration: one bright moment, then a long stretch of problems that were hard to ignore. The Yellow Jackets were outplayed on both sides of the ball in a 45-24 defeat, managing only two offensive touchdowns while their defense spent much of the afternoon chasing Tennessees ground game. Special teams briefly gave the home crowd something to cheer about, but it was not enough to change the tone of a game that raised more questions than answers.
The larger concern came from how easily Tennessee controlled the line of scrimmage and how little Georgia Tech could do to slow it down. Alberto Mendozas interceptions added to the strain, and the Yellow Jackets never found much rhythm after their early spark. The one encouraging sequence mattered because it showed a unit capable of creating a big play in a tough spot, but for Georgia Tech the bigger issue now is whether that was a one-off highlight or the start of something more dependable. [Read more 🡒]