Georgia Tech heads into camp with real momentum from its best season since 2016, but the roster picture is a lot messier than the record suggests. Brent Key’s program has moved forward, yet the Yellow Jackets are still staring at major turnover, a reshuffled staff, and a schedule that never gives much back in the ACC. The question now is simple: where did Georgia Tech actually get better this offseason, and where is it still waiting on answers?
Quarterback is the clearest place where the uncertainty starts. King had been Georgia Tech’s starter for the past three seasons, but he is now headed to the NFL.
Aaron Philo, who spent two seasons behind him, transferred to Florida after former offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner followed him to Gainesville. That left the Yellow Jackets to go get Indiana transfer Alberto Mendoza, who backed up the Hoosiers during their national championship run last season and will now get his first shot to start.
The problem is depth: none of the other quarterbacks have made a start or logged much game experience. There is talent in the room, but until the ball is actually snapped, it is tough to say this group is better than what Georgia Tech had with King.
The backfield, though, looks loaded. Jamal Haynes mattered a lot to the program over the last three seasons, but Justice Haynes brings a different level of upside.
Before a foot injury last season, he was averaging more than seven yards per carry and was on track for First Team All Big-Ten honors. He now leads what should be one of the ACC’s most talented running back rooms, and maybe one of the best in the country.
For Georgia Tech, he is one of the most important transfers in the conference.
At receiver, the turnover has been heavy. A lot of the production from last season is gone, whether to the NFL or through the portal, and even many of the newcomers have not produced at the collegiate level yet.
That means Georgia Tech is going to need players to emerge quickly. Jordan Allen is still there and should be the top target, while Fuhrmann is expected to be a major contributor.
Beyond that, the possibilities are wide open. One name to watch is former Top 100 recruit Dalen Penson, who is moving over from cornerback.
The talent is obvious, but like quarterback, this is still an unproven group.
Tight end might be the spot where the Yellow Jackets quietly made their best upgrade. Gavin Harris, Chris Corbo, and Spencer Mermans all look like players who can make an impact, even if none has done it yet at the power four level.
The two freshmen probably won’t see much action this season, but they fit the mold Georgia Tech wants at the position. The talent coming in is enough to buy into, and this group should be more versatile than the ones the Yellow Jackets have rolled out in recent years.
Up front, replacing Rutledge is a major task. He became the first Yellow Jacket taken in the first round since 2010, and Georgia Tech is not going to find a clean replacement for that kind of player.
Still, Key has built this team on the offensive line, and there is enough trust in the staff to believe the unit will remain one of the ACC’s better groups. Ionata looks like the newcomer who will matter most right away, taking over at center, while Samuel is in the mix for another spot along the line.
It is hard to say the line is better right now with its best player gone, but there is a path for that to change as the season goes on.
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets are trying to upgrade through a mix of transfers, development, and scheme. The defensive line has not been a feared unit in the ACC for a long time, but the additions should help.
Losing van den Berg will sting, yet the pieces Georgia Tech brought in seem to fit together well. That does not make them Miami or Ohio State overnight, but it does point to a better unit than last year.
Linebacker is a different story. Georgia Tech is not adding veteran help there and is leaning on the returners to take a step forward, with some freshman assistance possibly in the mix.
Losing Butler hurts, but the staff does not view him as irreplaceable, and Outlaw has drawn strong reviews so far. Of all the defensive spots, this one has seen the least turnover, and the belief is that the new scheme and coaching alone should help it improve.
The secondary is where the biggest concern sits. Georgia Tech lost its top three cornerbacks from last season, and replacing that kind of production is never easy.
The Yellow Jackets are banking on the upside of transfers Jaylen Mbakwe and Jonas Duclona to support the returners. Mbakwe brings speed and athleticism, while Duclona was a proven playmaker at the G5 level.
Terry and Stevenson could also see the field as freshmen, though they look more like developmental pieces for now. The talent is intriguing, but this group has not improved yet in a way that can be taken for granted.
Safety may be the most worrisome spot of all. Georgia Tech did not add any transfer help there, and the starters from last season are gone.
Tae Harris, Fenix Felton, and Savion Riley are the likely top three returners, but the depth is young and inexperienced. The Yellow Jackets are going to need some freshmen to grow up fast and play meaningful snaps.
So Georgia Tech enters the season with a few clear wins from the offseason - especially at running back and tight end - but also with real questions at quarterback, receiver, cornerback, and safety. That is the tradeoff of roster movement in a program still trying to push higher under Key.
The Yellow Jackets have talent. Now they have to prove how much of it is ready right away.
In Other News...
Georgia Techs Biggest Fall Camp Question Starts Up Front
Brent Key has spent his first two seasons making Georgia Techs offensive line the foundation of the program, and that approach is about to get another real test as fall camp opens. Even with some turnover, the Yellow Jackets should still have a group that looks the part up front, with returnees and newcomers all pushing for roles in a battle that will shape how far the offense can go this season.
Ethan Mackenny and Malachi Carney are part of the mix, and Carneys move to right guard gives the staff another piece to sort through as the line gets settled. Add in Joseph Ionata, the freshmen and the transfers, and the competition has the feel of a position group where the depth chart may not be clear for long, even if the expectation remains that Georgia Tech can keep its strength in the trenches intact. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech's Transfer Overhaul Puts Several Crucial Jobs In The Spotlight
Georgia Techs offseason makeover is about more than simply replacing departures. With so many starters gone, the Yellow Jackets have leaned heavily on transfers to stabilize both sides of the ball, and the result is a roster that looks very different from the one that finished last season. The newcomers are not being asked to wait around and develop slowly either. They are being counted on to fill important roles right away, from the backfield and the passing game to the defensive line.
Mendoza gives the offense a fresh starting point at quarterback, while Haynes, Fuhrmann and Gavin Harris all arrive with chances to become immediate pieces in the skill group rotation. On defense, Ionata, Carter, Walker and Thomas add more new faces to the mix as Georgia Tech tries to rebuild its front with proven help. There is still plenty to sort out before the season opens, but the sheer volume of transfer traffic says a lot about how much turnover this program is managing and how many jobs are still up for grabs. [Read more 🡒]