Georgia Tech College Football Preview 2024: Key Players, Game Schedule, Season Predictions

Georgia Tech College Football Preview 2024

How much fun has Georgia Tech been so far under Brent Key?

No one’s asking for the Yellow Jackets to become an ACC superpower, win a national championship, or deal with the pressure of other programs, but they can certainly be in the mix to play in the conference championship - if Louisville can do it … - and should once again be a problem for everyone on the schedule.

And they should once again do it with a lot of energy along the way.

The win over Miami last season was a miracle, and the North Carolina victory was amazing - they both could’ve and should’ve gone the other way, and there would’ve been a very different narrative right now coming off a 4-8 season - but that’s sort of the deal.

When you have a coach dictating a program with an attitude to keep on pressing, you get those close wins once in a while when all hope should’ve been lost.

But now it’s time to start expecting more out of Georgia Tech after the first winning season since 2018. This year’s team has experience, talent, and depth now. It took a while to get here, but there’s the right mix of good veterans, a few decent transfers - but not enough to be threatening to the established parts - and a slew of nice young options.

There’s also the potential to do so much more. Yeah, the Miami and UNC games were thrilling nail-biters, but Georgia Tech also got rocked at home by Bowling Green and lost in Atlanta to Boston College by 15.

This year’s schedule is BRUTAL, but for this bunch, the challenge should be part of the fun.

Georgia Tech Football Preview 2024: Offense

- The offense almost doubled its point total from 2022, coming up with over 300 for the first time since 2018 and almost hitting 400. The biggest difference was a passing attack that had its best year in decades - remember, the Paul Johnson era was more run-oriented.

Haynes King is back after throwing for close to 2,900 yards with 27 touchdowns, and ran for 737 yards and ten scores, but he threw 16 picks. Zach Pyron got in plenty of work over the last two seasons, but this is King’s gig.

- The receiving corps doesn’t have any superstars, but it has a solid, deep group for King to spread the ball around. Eric Singleton and Malik Rutherford were 1-2 in receptions, respectively, TE Brent Seither caught four touchdown passes, and the backups should mostly be upperclassmen.

- The Yellow Jackets led the ACC in rushing and sacks allowed, and the line should be one of the team’s biggest strengths with four starters back. Middle Tennessee transfer Keylan Rutledge should be the new part at one of the guard spots, but the other four spots are terrific around Joe Fusile at one guard and Jordan Williams at right tackle.

They're paving the way for Jamal Haynes, a good back who averaged over six yards per carry rushing for 1,059 yards and seven scores. Trey Cooley is a smallish, quick back who catch passes, too.

Georgia Tech Football Preview 2024: Defense

- The defense has to be better against the run, the pass rush has to come from somewhere, and it was the worst in the ACC in third down stops. On the plus side, the Yellow Jackets have as much returning production on D as anyone in the ACC.

It starts with the pass rush. Losing top sacker Kyle Kennard to South Carolina doesn’t help, and staring DT D’Quan Douse took off for Michigan State. In all, 17 of the 21 sacks from last year have to be replaced.

This is one area that’s missing the developed depth and the top stars, but Zeek Biggers is a huge presence on the inside and 291-pound Makius Scott is a big 291-pound end.

- The linebacking corps is getting help from the transfer portal. The bulk isn’t there, but these guys can move and get into the backfield. Kyle Efford led the team with 81 stops, Trenilyas Tatum made 38 tackles from the Money position, and Jackson Hamilton (Louisville) and EJ Lightsey (Georgia) should rotated in.

- The Georgia Tech safeties are terrific. Clayton Powell-Lee was second on the team in tackles, and LaMiles Brooks is a tough playmaking strong safety with 120 stops and 13 broken up passes over the last two years. The corners should once again be okay, starting with veteran Ahmari Harvey coming off a three-pick season.

Key To The Georgia Tech Football Season

Stop with all of the turnovers.
This might be a better Georgia Tech team than the 2023 version, but the margin of error will be razor-thin against a tough schedule.

How did the Yellow Jackets lose to Bowling Green? Three turnovers. How did they get rocked at home by Boston College? Three picks.

On the year they went 7-3 - the three losses to Georgia, at Ole Miss, and Louisville - when turning it over two times or more, and 0-3 when giving it up at least three times.

Georgia Tech Key Player

Kevin Harris, EDGE Sr.
It’s all there. He’s 6-4, 245 pounds, and he can fly - there’s a reason he was a great recruit for Alabama. This is his fourth year at Georgia Tech, and he’s coming off his first season as a major contributor with 27 tackles with a sack.

Georgia Tech Football Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: Romello Height, EDGE Jr.
He's a bulked-up linebacker with the athleticism of a safety. Despite his potential, he struggled to make an impact at Auburn, but last year he showed promise at USC, recording four sacks and 20 stops in his second season. With his talent and speed, he is well-positioned to fill the pass-rushing gap on the Georgia Tech front.

Top Transfer Out: Kyle Kennard, EDGE Sr.
A steady producer for the Yellow Jackets over the last four years, he made 115 tackles with 21.5 tackles for loss, including 12.5 sacks, culminating in his best season yet last year. Now, he's off to join the South Carolina pass-rushing rotation.

Georgia Tech Key Game

Florida State (in Dublin), Aug. 24
Since losing the ACC Championship in 2014 in a 37-35 thriller, Georgia Tech has won two of the last three games against FSU but got whacked in their last meeting in 2022.

If the Yellow Jackets have any shot at pulling off a shocker against the loaded Noles, doing it in Dublin in the first game of the season would be the time.

They have beaten one FBS team in a season opener since 2016, and it was Florida State in 2020. The season-opening win before that was against Boston College - in Ireland.

10 Best Georgia Tech Football Players

1. Haynes King, QB Jr.
2. Jamal Haynes, RB Jr.
3. LaMiles Brooks, SS Sr.
4. Jordan Williams, OT Sr.
5. Zeek Biggers, DT Sr.
6. Eric Singleton. WR Soph.
7. Joe Fusile, OG Jr.
8. Malik Rutherford, WR Jr.
9. Clayton Powell-Lee, S Jr.
10. Trenilyas Tatum, LB Sr.

Georgia Tech 2023 Fun Stats

- Onside Kicks: Georgia Tech 0-for-6, Opponents 0-for-1

- Fumbles: Opponents 19 (lost 11), Georgia Tech 10 (lost 4)

- Georgia Tech Scoring: 1st Quarter 69, 2nd Quarter 136

Georgia Tech Football 2024 Win Total Prediction: What to Expect This Season

The team will be better, the fan base is excited, and the expectations will be there to do more after what feels like a breakthrough season.

Florida State to start the regular season in Ireland, Georgia to end it, and Notre Dame in the middle - none of that is good.

Road dates at Louisville, North Carolina, and this year, Virginia Tech and Syracuse will all be dangerous, and Miami, Duke, and NC State at home aren’t easy.

So what’s left? Georgia State and VMI.

The Yellow Jackets will win those two, battle to put together four wins, pull off a big upset somewhere, and after the bowl game it’ll be two straight winning seasons for the first time since 2013 and 2014.

But it will NOT be easy.

Set The Georgia Tech Win Total At … 6

Likely Wins: Georgia State, VMI

50/50 Games: Duke, at Louisville, Miami, NC State, at North Carolina, at Syracuse, at Virginia Tech

Likely Losses: Florida State (in Dublin), at Georgia, Notre Dame

2024 Georgia Tech Football Schedule

Aug 24 vs Florida State (in Dublin)
Aug 31 Georgia State
Sept 7 at Syracuse
Sept 14 VMI
Sept 21 at Louisville
Sept 28 OPEN DATE
Oct 5 Duke
Oct 12 at North Carolina
Oct 19 Notre Dame
Oct 26 at Virginia Tech
Nov 2 OPEN DATE
Nov 9 Miami
Nov 16 OPEN DATE
Nov 21 NC State
Nov 30 at Georgia

Missing: Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Virginia, Wake Forest