Georgia Tech Spring Depth Chart Projections: Wide Receiver

Wide receiver will be one of the most important positions for Georgia Tech

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Publish date:
Feb 10, 2023 2:00 PM EST

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Wide receiver is going to be one of the most important positions for Georgia Tech this upcoming season and there are going to be plenty of new faces this spring. The Yellow Jackets are welcoming in three new transfers and four new 2023 signees this fall.

There are a couple of reasons that this is such an important position for the Yellow Jackets. The top three leading receivers for Georgia Tech (Nate McCollum, Malachi Carter, and EJ Jenkins) are gone, as are Ryan King and Kalani Norris. McCollum, King, and Norris transferred, while Jenkins and Carter ran out of eligibility.

Out of the three transfers, only two are going to be participating as early enrollees this spring. One high school player enrolled early.

The wide receivers also have a new position coach now. Josh Crawford is coming over from Western Kentucky and has experience coaching receivers and recruiting in the state of Georgia. I think Crawford was one of the best additions to the coaching staff.

So let's break down the wide receivers for the spring.

The top returning receiver for the Yellow Jackets is slot receiver Malik Rutherford. Rutherford finished the 2022 season with 23 catches for 225 yards and zero touchdowns. He averaged 9.8 yards per catch and with his speed, I hope that number is going to be much higher this season.

I think the two early enrollee transfers are going to have a chance to make a big impact this spring and into the fall.

Abdul Janneh (Duquesne) is one of the early enrollees and I think he is going to be lining up on the outside for the Yellow Jackets' offense.

Janneh is a 6'3 180 LBS wide receiver that has received plenty of interest from other schools since entering the transfer portal. Janneh has received offers from NC State, Washington State, Virginia Tech, Marshall, App State, Georgia State, Charlotte, Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina, Old Dominion, Toledo, and Utah State.

Janneh is projected to be an outside receiver with his size and ball skills and I think that is the thing that stands out the most when watching him play. Last season, he caught 43 passes for 579 yards and was very good at catching the ball in traffic and winning his matchups.

The other early enrollee transfer is Christian Leary, who is coming in from Alabama. Leary was originally committed to UCF after entering the portal, but Brent Key pulled off an impressive flip and got Leary to commit to the Yellow Jackets.

Leary is a former top 100 recruit from the class of 2021 and signed with Alabama. During his two seasons with the Crimson Tide, Leary only tallied three catches for 10 yards, but he still has potential. The 5'10 175 LBS wide receiver should compete for playing time immediately.

The rest of the options for Georgia Tech in the spring are inexperienced, but the Yellow Jackets are going to need a few of these guys to step up.

Leo Blackburn caught five passes for 81 yards and one touchdown last season and during the game against Duke, showed what he is capable of doing when healthy. Blackburn is going to contend for one of the outside receiver spots and I think he has a chance to start this season.

D.J. Moore, Avery Boyd, Juju Lewis, James Blackstrain, and 2023 signee Zion Taylor (Norcross, GA) are the other guys that are going to be fighting for playing time this spring. This group of players is very important because Georgia Tech needs receivers to step not just as starters, but as depth.

There are going to be reinforcements coming in the summer. Chase Lane (Texas A&M), Bryce Dopson (Brookwood, GA), Eric Singleton Jr (Alexander, GA), and Bailey Stockton (Prince Avenue Christian, GA) are going to be arriving later. Lane has the experience and will likely compete for a starting job right away, while Dopson and Singleton could emerge later.

This depth chart projection is just for the guys participating in spring practice.

Projected Georgia Tech Wide Receiver Depth Chart For Spring

Georgia Tech Wide Receiver Leo Blackburn — Can Leo Blackburn emerge as a starter for Georgia Tech?
Georgia Tech Athletics

X Receiver

1. Abdul Janneh

2. D.J. Moore

Slot Receiver

1. Christian Leary

2. Malik Rutherford

Z Receiver

1. Leo Blackburn

2. James Blackstrain

This unit has more speed and I think that Leary and Rutherford are going to be used on the field at the same time in some formations. With the new coaching staff and offense, I think there will be more four or five wide receiver sets this spring and fall.

Keep a close eye on this position in the spring. It will be vital for the success of this offense this season.

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