Tennessee’s trip to face Georgia Tech on Saturday has plenty of eyes on it, and Najeh Wilkins laid out the matchups and names he thinks will matter most.
The biggest spotlight, he said, falls on Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King after what he showed in Week 1. Wilkins pointed to King going 17-for-23 and earning the highest PFF grade on the Yellow Jackets at 85.5.
Even with the run game lagging, Wilkins said King kept the offense moving with throws down the field and plays that put Georgia Tech in position to win. He also described King as a perfectionist who arrives early, stays late, and puts a premium on doing things the right way.
In Wilkins’ view, King is “very calculated in the risks that he takes, and he is a very accurate quarterback who doesn't get talked about enough.”
On the other side of the backfield, Wilkins wants to see how Georgia Tech running back Jamal Haynes handles Tennessee’s linebacker group. He said Haynes did not have the game he wanted, but added that the offensive line did not help him much.
Wilkins also noted Coach Key’s description of him as “team bully-disciplined.” That sets up a key test against Arion Carter, Amare Campbell, and Jadon Perlotte, with Wilkins curious to see whether Haynes can get rolling as the featured back.
Georgia Tech’s passing game has another name to keep in mind: Dalen Pinson. Wilkins said the former freshman cornerback, now a wide receiver, flashed when he got touches and finished with 73 yards. His track background and speed make him dangerous, and Wilkins said he is the kind of player who can score any time the ball gets in his hands.
Wilkins also highlighted Georgia Tech tight end Josh Beetham. At 6-foot-9 and 265 pounds, he sees Beetham as a big sophomore with real upside, especially as a red-zone target. He also praised his catch radius and blocking ability, calling him a player with “a lot of potential.”
Defensively, Wilkins is watching Jordan Walker. He said Walker was named a team captain this year and had a strong fall camp before recording one sack against Colorado.
With freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon making his first road start, Wilkins said Georgia Tech’s retooled defensive line has to take a step forward. He called that front a lingering issue for the Yellow Jackets and said Walker is someone he wants to see emerge.
Wilkins also circled the atmosphere itself. He said Georgia Tech’s stadium is underrated and wants to see how Brandon handles his first career start on the road in that setting. He acknowledged it is not Neyland Stadium, but said it is still “next level” and not an easy place to play.
The trenches, though, may decide everything. Wilkins said Xavier Gilliam had three sacks last week on the interior and that Georgia Tech’s offensive line had trouble generating any push.
That creates a major question against Tennessee’s run game, with Justice Haynes and a deep group of backs that includes Daune Morris, DeSean Bishop, Justin Baker, and Javin Gordon. He noted Tennessee carved up Furman for around 300 yards on the ground and said if Georgia Tech cannot hold up again, it could be a long afternoon.
On the outside, Wilkins sees a speed test between Georgia Tech’s new receiver room and Tennessee’s secondary. He singled out Kayin Lee and Ty Redmond, while noting that Jordan Allen is the only returning wideout and was barely used there last season. The question, as Wilkins framed it, is whether Pinson, Allen, and the rest can threaten Tennessee’s defensive backs vertically.
As for how it plays out, Wilkins went with Tennessee, 35-24. He expects Georgia Tech to stay in it through the third quarter, but thinks a couple of major plays on offense or defense will tilt the game.
From there, he believes Tennessee pulls away late for a 2-0 finish. He also pointed out that Georgia Tech and Brent Key tend to perform well against the spread and as underdogs, but said that unless Saturday brings something different, Tennessee should finish strong in the fourth quarter.
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