Georgia Tech Spring Depth Chart Projections: Quarterback
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One of the biggest questions coming into the spring is going to be the quarterback battle that is going to be going on and may last until the fall.
The contenders are going to be Zach Pyron, Zach Gibson, and the newcomer, Texas A&M transfer Haynes King. The quarterbacks are still going to be coached by Chris Weinke (who is now the co-offensive coordinator as well), but there is going to be a new play-caller on The Flats this season.
Brent Key made the decision to move on from Chip Long as the offensive coordinator and Buster Faulkner is now the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach for the Yellow Jackets. Faulkner has been a quality control analyst at the University of Georgia for the past two seasons but has previous coordinator experience at Southern Miss, Middle Tennessee, and Arkansas State. I think that Faulkner is an upgrade over Long and I expect the quarterback play to reflect it.
Georgia Tech is hoping to have continuity at the position in 2023. The Yellow Jackets used up to four quarterbacks last season (Jeff Sims and Taisun Phommachanh have since transferred), but with a little bit of injury luck, Georgia Tech hopes to have just one quarterback this season.
Zach Pyron will contend for the Georgia Tech starting quarterback job this spring
So who could have the upper hand in this quarterback battle?
The good thing is that all three quarterbacks are experienced. King has started games in the SEC, Pyron got to play toward the end of last season and played well, and Gibson also started last season and has experience from his days at Akron.
Let's talk about the new face in the room.
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.
Pyron was a true freshman last season and played well in his limited action. He was not expected to see the field, but he got his first chance in the game against Florida State last season. Pyron then got his first start the next week against Virginia Tech and led the Yellow Jackets to a comeback victory. He was then hurt in the second half against Miami the week and was out for the last two games against North Carolina and Georgia.
Pyron threw for 565 yards and three touchdowns and completed 60% of his passes.
Zach Gibson is an experienced quarterback for Georgia Tech
Gibson got his first game experience as a Yellow Jacket against Virginia, filling in for an injured Sims. He would start the next game against Florida State, but only played the first couple of series. After the injury to Pyron, Gibson came in and finished the game against Miami and then led Georgia Tech to its upset of No. 13 North Carolina. He would start the season finale against Georgia and played well considering the opponent.
Gibson finished the season with 589 passing yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions, as well as a 59.8 completion percentage.
Projected Georgia Tech Quarterback Depth Chart For Spring
1. Haynes King
2. Zach Pyron
3. Zach Gibson
I anticipate this battle is going to last beyond the spring. Whoever can pick up Faulkner's offense the quickest might have the upper hand and because King is slightly more experienced, I will give the edge to the Texas A&M transfer. His experience in big games against teams such as Alabama will be valuable as well.
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