A Way Too Early Look At Georgia Tech's 2026 Roster

The 2025 season is behind us, and now the preparation for the 2026 season officially begins. Georgia Tech underwent major changes to the coaching staff and the roster already this offseason. However, they did a good job of attacking the portal and bringing in players who can contribute. Now, keep in mind this takes into account the transfer portal, last year’s roster and incoming freshmen. We tried to be as accurate as we could with the redshirts based on playing time. There may be a few we miss.

Now, let’s take a look at the projected roster for the 2026 season for the Yellow Jackets.

Quarterbacks

Alberto Mendoza- Redshirt Sophomore
Graham Knowles- Redshirt Sophomore
Grady Adamson- Redshirt Freshman
Cole Bergeron- True Freshman (2026 signee)

How good will the quarterback position be after ACC Offensive Player of the Year and ACC Player Of The Year Haynes King departs? It will not be easy replacing him. However, Alberto Mendoza will come in and try to win the position for the Yellow Jackets as he and Graham Knowles battle for the QB1 spot. A very important position the Yellow Jackets must get right in 2026.

Running Backs

Malachi Hosley- Senior
Justice Haynes- Senior
Chad Alexander- Senior
Shane Marshall- Sophomore
Trelain Maddox- Redshirt Sophomore
J.P. Powell- Sophomore

Running backs are easily the best unit on the team and will be a major strength. The Yellow Jackets hit on Justice Haynes, who is one of the best running backs in the country. Haynes and Malachi Hosley will be the best duo in football and a major thorn in the side of opponents. It is a deep room for the Yellow Jackets that should be highly productive in 2026.

Wide Receivers

Jordan Allen- Sophomore
Jaylen Mbakwe- Junior
Isaiah Fuhrmann- Junior
Jaiven Plummer- Redshirt Junior
Debron Gatling- Redshirt Sophomore
Joseph Moseley- Redshirt Sophomore
Cal Faulkner- Redshirt Freshman
Evan Haynes- Redshirt Freshman
Darnell Collins- True Freshman (2026 signee)
Jeffar Jean-Noel- True Freshman (2026 signee)
Kentrell Davis- True Freshman (2026 signee)
Jeremy Winston- True Freshman (2026 signee)
Isaac Obrokta- True Freshman (2026 signee)

Jordan Allen is the lone returning player with production on the field from 2025. He is fast, explosive, and dynamic with the ball in his hands. Good luck trying to slow him down when he gets a head of steam. Jaylen Mbakwe is extremely talented and will finally have an ample opportunity to prove himself. Isaiah Fuhrmann and Jaiven Plummer are big body targets that should help aid redzone woes for the Yellow Jackets. Can the 2026 unit be productive next fall?

Tight Ends

Chris Corbo- Graduate Transfer
Spencer Mermans- Senior
Gavin Harris- Senior
Kevin Roche- Sophomore
Blake Ragsdale- Redshirt Sophmore
Connor Roush- Redshirt Freshman
Nathan Agyemang- True Freshman (2026 Signee)
Jack Richerson- True Freshman (2026 Signee)

A very intriguing position group to watch for the Yellow Jackets, who love their tight ends. Chris Corbo is probably the most intriguing to watch. Nathan Agymang is a physical specimen and a receiving threat. Can he see the field in year 1? A lot of options for head coach Brent Key here.

Offensive Line

Markell Samuell- Graduate Transfer
Joseph Ionata- Redshirt Sophomore
Favour Edwin- Redshirt Sophomore
Kevin Peay Jr- Redshirt Freshman
Jimmy Bryson- Redshirt Freshman
Xavier Canales- Redshirt Freshman
Jacob Benjamin- Redshirt Junior
Ryan Purves- Reshirt Senior
Josh Petty- Sophomore
Jameson Riggs- Redshirt Sophomore
Malachi Carney- Redshirt Senior
Andrew Rosinski- Redshirt Sopomore
Ethan MacKenny- Redshirt Junior
Jordan Floyd- Redshirt Sophomore
Courtlin Heard- True Freshman (2026 Signee)
Courtney Heard- True Freshman (2026 Signee)
Krew Moledor- True Freshman (2026 Signee)

Another year for the Yellow Jackets, going through massive change on the offensive line. Can former five-star Josh Petty become a starter for the Yellow Jackets in 2026? Georgia Tech gets both tackles back in Malachi Carney and Ethan MacKenny, which provides stability to the room. The biggest questions are on the interior of the offensive line. The Yellow Jackets will have a new offensive line coach after Geep Wade left for Nebraska. Allen Mogridge will have the reins now. Will Georgia Tech still be a physical unit in the trenches?

Defensive Tackles

Tawfiq Thomas- Graduate Transfer
Vincent Caroll-Jackson- Junior
Tim Griffin- Redshirt Freshman
Derry Norris Jr- Redshirt Freshman
Christian Garrett- Redshirt Freshman
Shymeik Jones- Redshirt Junior
Landen Marshall- Redshirt Sophomore
Alex Willis- True Freshman (2026 Signee)
Christian Speakman- True Freshman (2026 Signee)
Amier Clarke- True Freshman (2026 Signee)

Will Georgia Tech be a better unit at defending the run in 2026? It was a bottom-ranked unit, but having some versatility and talent in the room should help it out a lot. Tim Griffin and Christian Garrett will be names to watch.

Defensive Ends

Jordan Boyd- Junior
Noah Carter- Redshirt Freshman
Brayden Manley- Senior
Jordan Walker- Graduate Transfer
Taje McCoy- Junior
Amontrae Bradford- Junior
AJ Hoffler- Senior
Drew Cohen- Redshirt Sophomore
Andre Fuller- Sophomore
Carrington Coombs- Redshirt Freshman
Jordan Woods- True Freshman (2026 Signee)

Noah Carter catches your eye instantly, who transferred from Alabama. The growth of Andre Fuller Jr. and Amontrae Bradford will be something to watch in this group. If both live up to their full potential, then the Yellow Jackets will be a formidable challenge for opponents. Jordan Walker and Taje McCoy provide veteran presences and players they can lean on.

Linebackers

E.J Lightsey- Senior
Kyle Efford- Senior
Cayman Spaulding- Senior
Melvin Jordan- Redshirt Senior
Lawson Pritchett- Redshirt Sophomore
Myles Forristall- Redshirt Junior
Chuma Okoye- Redshirt Junior
Braylon Outlaw- True Freshman (2026 Signee)
CJ Gamble- True Freshman (2026 Signee)
Kymani Morales- True Freshman (2026 Signee)

The most veteran led group of any position for the Yellow Jackets that will have familiar faces and players playing their final seasons. All four linebackers return from a season ago and are seniors. Kyle Efford and E.J. Lightsey should be starters. Cayman Spaulding's athleticism makes him a scintillating player to watch in 2026. Melvin Jordan IV provides the stability. Don’t sleep on the young guys and true freshmen. All are talented.

Cornerbacks

Zachary Tobe- Senior
Kelvin Hill- Junior
Dalen Penson- Sophomore
Elgin Sessions- Sophomore
Jon Mitchell- Redshirt Sophomore
Daiquan White- Senior
Jonas Duclona- Senior
Ladarrious Crumity- True Freshman (2026 Signee)
Jaedyn Terry- True Freshman (2026 signee)
Traeviss Stevenson- True Freshman (2026 signee)

Will Kiker

The cornerbacks will be so intriguing to watch with a couple of positions up for grabs. Will it be veteran cornerbacks who occupy CB2 and CB3, or will the true freshmen Jaedyn Terry and Treaeviss Stevenson have something to say about it? It will be something to watch.

Safeties

Tae Harris- Sophomore
Fenix Felton- Redshirt Freshman
Ben Hollerbach- Redshirt Senior
Jayden Barr- Redshirt Freshman
A.J. Cheeks- Redshirt Junior
Bayler Duncan- Redshirt Sophomore
Kealon Jones- True Freshman (2026 signee)
Chris Hewitt Jr- True Freshman (2026 signee)

Savion Riley- Senior

The safety room should have two new starters in Tae Harris and Fenix Felton for the 2026 season after really good freshman campaigns. Expect for Will Kiker and Jayden Barr to be special teams aces but also key roles in the secondary. True Freshman Kealon Jones will be one to watch to see if he can crack the rotation.

Specialists

Aidan Birr- Senior
Landon Shaffer- Redshirt Freshman
Alex Bacchetta- Senior
Ronnie Thomas- Redshirt Senior
Joshua Taylor- Redshirt Junior
Jonathan Genty- True Freshman (2026 Signee)

Georgia Tech brings back its record-setting place kicker in 2026, who is elite for the Yellow Jackets, including a couple of game-winning field goals. After graduating Marshall Nichols, Georgia Tech will have a new kicker in Alex Bacchetta, who comes over from Richmond