Georgia Tech got its first real look at fall camp on Monday, and one of the biggest updates out of Brent Key’s first day of work was about Josh Petty.
The offensive line has been one of the calling cards of Key’s tenure, but this group is starting from a different spot in 2026. Three new starters are in the mix, and with the Yellow Jackets less than a month from opening against Colorado, plenty still has to be sorted out. Petty, though, won’t be part of that competition right now.
The former five-star prospect missed spring because of an injury, and Key said after practice that the young lineman is moving in the right direction. He is not ready to return to the field yet, but the coach made clear the progress has been better than expected:
"The guys that have been out, we've got Josh (Petty). Josh is way ahead of schedule, but with those things, we are not going to push that thing sooner than it is.
Probably that mid-October. the time with him, you know, early October, mid-October. I think it's four weeks from practicing, full go, and four weeks from playing, something like that.
Don't quote me on it, but somewhere in that time frame. He's way ahead of schedule.
You know, you've got a really superior athlete like him. It's going to always appear to be a lot quicker than some others. So he's been able to do that, so I'm really happy with his progression."
That’s a meaningful development for Georgia Tech, even if Petty is still on the sideline for now. He entered the program with major buzz after the Yellow Jackets beat out Ohio State, Oregon, and others in the 2025 recruiting cycle, and the expectation was always that development would be part of the process.
The bigger picture is simple: getting him back this season matters. Even if Petty does not end up in a starting role, just having him back in practice and collecting reps is valuable for a young offensive lineman.
And there is at least a path to playing time if things shake out that way. Georgia Tech is expected to roll with Ethan Mackenny at left tackle and Joseph Ionata at center, while one of Malachi Carney or Markell Samuel is projected at right guard. That leaves left guard and right tackle as the spots still open, though Samuel or third-year player Jameson Riggs could be in line to handle one of those jobs.
If the new starters stumble, Petty could push his way into the conversation.
For now, the important part is that his recovery is trending the right way. Georgia Tech still has time before the season opener, and Key’s update suggests Petty should be back on the field before long. His talent has never been in doubt, and Atlanta still looks like a place where his future can be a bright one.
In Other News...
Georgia Tech Offense Is Taking Shape Faster Than Fans Expected
Georgia Tech has only just gotten through its second practice of fall camp, but the early tone around the offense already sounds more settled than some might have expected. Running back Trelain Maddox and left tackle Ethan Mackenny both met with the media after the session, and their comments painted a picture of a group still in the installation phase but already leaning into the details of Coach Godseys scheme. The emphasis, from both players, was on versatility and the kind of confidence that usually comes from repetition, even in the first days of August.
Mackenny and Maddox also made clear that the competition inside the room is pushing everyone to sharpen up early. The conversation around the offense was not just about assignments and alignment, but about leadership developing naturally as players get more comfortable with the system and with one another. For a team looking to make progress quickly, that kind of early buy-in matters, and it is part of why the offense feels like it is coming together faster than the usual fall-camp timeline. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Techs Colorado Rematch Already Carries More Pressure Than Last Year
Colorado has opened fall camp in Colorado Springs with a clear emphasis on resetting the tone after last seasons 3-9 finish, and Deion Sanders has spent the early days pushing the idea of a fresh start. The Buffaloes have plenty of turnover to manage, from departures of key players to new faces trying to settle in, while optimism lingers around quarterback Julian Lewis and a defense that will be shaped in part by transfers such as Boo Carter under coordinator Chris Marve.
For Georgia Tech, the rematch on Sept. 3 feels different because both sides are walking into it with altered rosters and different expectations than they had a year ago. Colorado is trying to prove the program can leave last season behind, and the Yellow Jackets will see a team that is still being rebuilt but also carrying the urgency that comes with needing an immediate response. [Read more 🡒]