Georgia Tech’s defense is shaping up to be a lot more crowded, and that’s exactly how the staff wants it.
Up front, the big change is depth. Coach Kyle Pope has enough bodies to feel good about rolling four deep on each side of the line, and that gives the defense more flexibility than it had before.
The names at the front of the line include Jordan Walker, Noah Carter, Amontrae Bradford and AJ Hoffler, with Taje McCoy also in the mix. Behind them, Jordan Boyd, Brayden Manley and Andre Fuller are getting reps too.
The defensive front won’t be locked into one look either. Coach Jason Semore is expected to use multiple fronts, and Christian Garrett could be an important piece because of what he brings to those packages.
At tackle, Tawfiq Thomas and Vincent Carroll-Jackson appear to be lined up for Jess Simpson, while Shymeik Jones is continuing to develop as a backup. First-year tackle Christian Speakman should also see work in the rotation.
Linebacker is the cleanest part of the depth chart. There are no surprises there, with fifth-year players Kyle Efford and EJ Lightsey back as the two leading tacklers from the 2025 season.
Senior Cayman Spaulding returns as a primary backup, and first-year linebacker Braylon Outlaw has quickly turned into one of the playmakers at the position. Melvin Jordan is another experienced returner who should stay in the rotation.
The biggest turnover is in the secondary, where Georgia Tech will have four new starters after Ahmari Harvey, Rodney Shelley, Clayton Powell-Lee and Omar Daniels played their last games last season.
At cornerback, the key offseason addition is Jaylen Mbakwe from the portal, and he has already secured one of the starting jobs. Veteran Daiquan White is expected to line up on the other side after starting several games last season.
Zachary Tobe also logged significant reps a year ago and should keep a steady role. Jon Mitchell is pushing into backup territory, and Coach Kobie Jones is high on freshman Jaedyn Terry.
Safety brings a mix of experience, recovery and uncertainty. Second-year safety Tae Harris, who was a primary backup last season, is now one of the starters.
He’ll be paired with a healthy Savion Riley, while second-year safety Fenix Felton is waiting in the wings if Riley can’t hold up. Transfer Jonas Duclona is the wildcard after starting at corner last season for USF; he has been working with the safeties and in nickel and dime packages.
Freshmen Chris Hewitt and Kealan Jones are two more names to keep an eye on as the season goes on.
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Colorados Rebuilt Defense May Have An Unexpected Edge Vs Georgia Tech
Colorados first real test of the season comes with a familiar challenge for any defense trying to get ready for Georgia Tech: a run-heavy offense that wants to pound away and control the game. Linebacker Liona Lefau, one of the recent transfers into the Buffaloes program, said the weeks work has been shaped by that matchup, with Colorado leaning on its own tempo and physicality in practice to sharpen the defense before the opener.
The added wrinkle is that Colorados offense may be helping its defense more than usual. The Buffaloes Go-Go attack gives the defensive side a steady dose of the kind of pace and movement it will see from Georgia Tech, a useful edge for a group that struggled against the run last season and brought in Chris Marve as defensive coordinator to clean that up. How much of that preparation carries over once the game starts is still the real question. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Is Quietly Trusting Nathan Brock With More Than Ever
Nathan Brocks role in Georgia Techs offense is growing in ways that go beyond the usual tight ends coach title. Brent Key has made clear he trusts Brock, and that trust has shown up in recent scrimmages, where Brock has been given play-calling duties as a way to sharpen his coaching profile and expand his influence inside the program.
The timing matters because Brock is also working with a more explosive tight end group this season, giving him a chance to prove he can do more than just guide a position room. If that unit takes another step forward, it would only strengthen the case for Brock as one of the staffs rising offensive minds and a name to watch for bigger responsibilities down the line. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Freshmen Are Already Forcing A 2026 Roster Conversation
Fall camp has already turned into an early glimpse at Georgia Techs next wave, with several freshmen making enough noise to force their way into the conversation before the season even begins. Jean-Noel, Stevenson, Outlaw and Gamble have all drawn positive attention from the coaching staff, and the early impressions suggest the Yellow Jackets may have more young talent ready to compete than expected.
Even so, the path to meaningful snaps is not simple. Some of those freshmen are battling established players at their positions, and the staff knows the adjustment to the college game can take time. Still, when first-year players are drawing this kind of notice in August, it is hard not to start thinking ahead to what the roster could look like in 2026. [Read more 🡒]