Analyst predicts Georgia Tech will be worse off with Haynes King than they were with Jeff Sims

Haynes King was named the starter at Georgia Tech yesterday

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Publish date:
Aug 23, 2023 6:22 PM EDT

In this story:

Georgia Tech has had a close quarterback battle since the spring between Texas A&M transfer Haynes King, Zach Pyron, and Zach Gibson, and yesterday, Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key named King the starting quarterback.

Georgia Tech had to play three quarterbacks last season and the hope is that King can step in and be the guy without shuffling around too much. Jeff Sims (now at Nebraska), Pyron, and Gibson each played last year, each having some highs and lows and the hope for Georgia Tech is that King can come in and be consistent and raise the level of quarterback play in Atlanta.

One analyst however thinks that Georgia Tech has gotten worse with King as the quarterback.

247Sports analyst Clint Brewster wrote about teams that are replacing their starter with a transfer quarterback this season and if the team is better off or worse with the new starter.

Here is what he had to say about Georgia Tech going from King to Sims:

"Georgia Tech brought in King, the former Texas A&M transfer signal-caller, with new head coach Brent Key now at the helm. Last year, the Yellow Jackets started Sims at quarterback. He, at times, showed remarkable talent and upside but couldn't quite put it all together. King was a highly recruited quarterback out of Texas. He ran a verified 4.5-second 40-yard dash.

King struggled as a passer at Texas A&M, and many wondered if he would fit better in a different offense. Texas A&M ended up with two different starters by the end of the season and King decided to leave.

Sims didn't light the world on fire at Georgia Tech and also struggled at times to consistently make throws. Although it was just a spring game, Sims looked outstanding for Nebraska in that game and could have his best year yet."

Verdict: Georgia Tech got worse

Haynes King at spring game — Haynes King was named the starting quarterback at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Athletics

I would disagree with this analysis and the main reason is that I don't think King was running an offense suited to what he does best at Texas A&M and he could be much better in Buster Faulkner's system. He has athleticism and I don't think Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher utilized that as much as he should have.

Last season, King played 327 snaps according to PFF (Pro Football Focus), and finished with a grade of 53.4, a 48.6 passing grade, and a 71.6 rushing grade. He is an athletic player with a strong arm and it is a fair question to wonder if Texas A&M's offense was holding King back the last couple of seasons.

King is a former four-star recruit for the Aggies and won the starting job twice. His 2021 season was cut short after being injured early in the season. He started this season off as the starter but was benched after Texas A&M was upset by App State. He did return as the starter and had his best game on the road against Alabama, a game in which he threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns.

King's strengths are his mobility and his arm strength and I anticipate more passing in Faulkner's offense.

King will have to keep this job now that he has won it. His first test is going to come against a Louisville team that is replacing several stars on defense.

Georgia Tech vs. Louisville will kick off next Friday from Mercedes Benz Stadium at 7:30 on ESPN.

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