Week two of Georgia Tech’s fall camp brought a little more clarity, a first scrimmage, and a reminder that this roster is still taking shape with Colorado looming less than three weeks away.
The Yellow Jackets finished their second week yesterday and will get back to work Monday for week three. The biggest themes coming out of camp are pretty clear: Georgia Tech is leaning on a young receiver room, it’s still sorting through some offensive line questions, and the defensive front is trying to turn depth into a real edge.
The wideout group is the one that jumps out first. Georgia Tech is working with one of the least experienced receiver rooms around, and that means production is going to have to come from players who either haven’t done it before or haven’t done it at the power four level. Jordan Allen and Isaiah Fuhrmann are expected to be the top two targets, and both have drawn good reviews through camp.
Wide receivers coach Jafar Williams said Fuhrmann is adjusting well even with his lack of ACC experience, and he was equally upbeat about Allen’s approach and leadership. Williams described Allen as a player who leads by example, stays on top of the details, and handles himself like a pro. He also pointed to D-Hop’s role in helping some of the younger receivers learn how professionals are supposed to eat daily.
The offensive line is another area where Georgia Tech is still piecing things together, even if the staff has a decent sense of the starting five. Ethan Mackenny and Malachi Carney are back up front, and Alabama transfer Joseph Ionata is set to take over at center. There’s still a battle at right guard and right tackle, but the bigger issue is the same one every team faces: depth.
Allen Mogridge didn’t sugarcoat that reality. His point was simple - expecting five linemen to survive an entire season without missing time is wishful thinking, and if the Jackets don’t build depth, it will show. The work now is about developing enough trust beyond the first five so the position doesn’t fall apart when injuries hit.
On the defensive side, there’s been more buzz about the line and the edge group, and that carried into this week as well. Defensive coordinator Jason Semore had already said earlier in camp that the edge group was three deep at both spots, and defensive ends coach Kyle Pope singled out Amontrae Bradford and Jordan Boyd as players he wants to see take another step.
Pope made it clear that Bradford has already gained valuable experience after starting multiple games last year, and he wants him to bring more than just presence into the room and onto the field. He also praised Boyd’s versatility and effort, saying he can help Georgia Tech on special teams or defense and has earned his role by staying committed to the program.
The larger message from camp is that Georgia Tech wants more from that defensive front than just pass rush. The Jackets need the edge to become a genuine strength, not just a part of the defense that flashes. That’s where the pressure lies as the third week of camp begins.
In Other News...
Georgia Tech Faces Key Depth Chart Battles Before Colorado Opener
Georgia Tech finished its first fall camp scrimmage without any major shakeup to the projected starting offense, a sign the Yellow Jackets have at least one part of the lineup taking shape as the opener against Colorado gets closer. The rosters strength appears to be in the trenches and in the backfield, where the team has depth at running back and defensive line, giving the staff some flexibility as camp moves into its final stretch.
The bigger questions are still scattered across the rest of the roster, with competition ongoing at wide receiver, offensive line and in the secondary. Even with a clearer picture on the front end of the offense, Georgia Tech still has some sorting to do before it gets to Boulder, and the next few practices should help determine how much of the two-deep is settled and how much remains fluid. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Freshmen Are Pushing For Real Roles Before Colorado
Georgia Tech is spending the first full stretch of fall camp getting a close look at four true freshman wide receivers who could make an early case for playing time. Darnell Collins, Coi Jean-Noel, J.J. Winston and Kentrell Davis have all been part of the evaluation as the Yellow Jackets work through their first camp sessions and sort out which young pass catchers might be ready to help once the season starts.
Receivers coach Jafar Williams and returner Debron Gatling have both pointed to the groups progress and day-to-day effort, and the development has been happening with help from coaching guidance that includes former NFL receiver DeAndre Hopkins. With the first scrimmage coming up and Colorado on the schedule in less than three weeks, the freshman receivers are pushing to turn their camp momentum into something more than just promising practice buzz. [Read more 🡒]