Haynes King's Georgia Tech Legacy: Records, Resurgence, and a Lasting Impact
ORLANDO - The scoreboard may have shown a 25-21 loss to No. 12 BYU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, but for Haynes King, Saturday night marked the end of a chapter that’s about a whole lot more than one game. Georgia Tech’s quarterback didn’t just close out his college career - he left behind a legacy that reshaped the Yellow Jackets’ trajectory.
King accounted for 301 yards of total offense in his final outing - 270 through the air and 31 on the ground - and tossed two touchdowns in a performance that was vintage Haynes King: gritty, productive, and poised. It was a fitting finale for a player who, in just two seasons in Atlanta, rewrote the Georgia Tech record books and helped lift the program back into national relevance.
Let’s talk numbers first, because King’s name is now etched all over the Georgia Tech record books. He departs as the program’s all-time leader in career completions (674), career completion percentage (.676), and single-season total offense (3,920 yards). That last number is especially eye-popping: nearly 3,000 passing yards and 953 rushing yards - a dual-threat stat line that speaks to his versatility and command of the offense.
He also finishes second in career total offense with 10,200 yards, trailing only Tech legend Joe Hamilton (10,640). And in terms of single-season passing, King’s 2,967 yards rank third in school history, behind only George Godsey (3,085 in 2001) and Hamilton (3,060 in 1999). In short: King didn’t just play quarterback - he elevated the position at Georgia Tech.
But beyond the stats, it’s the leadership and culture shift that really define King’s impact. Head coach Brent Key didn’t mince words after the game.
“The way he affects others around him is like nothing I’ve ever seen,” Key said. “He’s a guy that wants the ball.
He loves playing football. He’s infectious in the way that he does things, and he affects every single member of our football team.”
That kind of praise isn’t handed out lightly. King didn’t just rack up yards - he built relationships, set the tone, and helped reestablish a winning culture in Atlanta.
The Yellow Jackets finished the season 9-4 - their best record since 2016 and tied for the tenth-most wins in a single season in program history. And while the team stumbled down the stretch, losing four of its last five, the foundation laid during the year can’t be ignored. This was a team that started hot, played with edge, and proved it could hang with top-tier competition.
Now, with King headed for the next chapter - including a spot in the East-West Shrine Bowl on January 27 - Georgia Tech faces some big questions. Backup quarterback Aaron Philo is in the transfer portal.
Several offensive staffers are reportedly on the move. And the program is in the market for a new offensive coordinator.
The next few weeks will be critical in shaping what comes next.
But if you ask King, the culture is in place. The identity has been built. And that’s something that doesn’t leave when a quarterback graduates.
“Football is a continuous cycle,” Key said. “The identity and culture of your team - that’s established early on.
That was established by these seniors and these guys. The identity and the culture, when you have that set the right way… the guys remaining carry it on.”
King echoed that sentiment, pointing to the people around him as the reason he chose Georgia Tech in the first place.
“When I entered the portal, I wanted to surround myself with great people that were like-minded and wired the right way,” King said. “That’s what I did and what I found here.”
His journey started at Texas A&M, where things didn’t pan out the way he hoped. But the transfer to Georgia Tech gave him a fresh start - and he made the most of it.
“It’s everything - [Coach Key] is the one who gave me this opportunity. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here,” King said. “Georgia Tech has just turned my life totally around.”
Saturday night in Orlando was the last time King suited up in the white and gold. But his fingerprints are all over this program - in the record books, in the locker room, and in the standard he helped set.
The next quarterback will have big shoes to fill. But thanks to Haynes King, they’ll also have a blueprint to follow.