Georgia Tech Spring Football Depth Chart Projections: Defensive Tackle
The strength of the 2023 defensive line for Georgia Tech might be on the interior. Both D'Quan Douse and Makius Scott are going to be back and both players improved a good deal last season. Douse was tied for second on the team in sacks with 3.5 and you could see him get better in each game, especially his performance against Virginia Tech, where he had 2.5 sacks and earned a high grade on PFF for his performance.
Scott had 1.5 sacks last season and 22 tackles as well. I think there are some holes on this football team where I can't definitely project the starters, but defensive tackle is where I think it is safe to pencil in Douse and Scott as the two starters.
But who will provide depth?
I think Clemson transfer Etinosa Reuben is going to be used along the defensive line at both edge and interior and it would not surprise me if he plays more snaps at defensive tackle.
Can Etinosa Reuben become a difference maker for Georgia Tech?
Reuben is a former three-star recruit and top 500 player from Park Hill South High School in Missouri and during his time with the Clemson Tigers, Reuben tallied 19 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Here is what 247Sports national recruiting analyst Brian Dohn had to say about Reuben when he was coming out of high school:
"Interesting frame because of length and shoulder width. A bit of a tweener between defensive end/defensive tackle. Can play defensive end or add weight and move to defensive tackle. Good get-off at snap. Quick, violent hands makes it hard for blockers to engage. Strong and powerful when firing off ball. Can re-direct down line of scrimmage. Has some twitch. Covers ground well in first three steps. Good body control. Needs to add flexibility to bend. Developing technique and combining moves important to taking next step as player. Lower body strength development needed. Speed chasing down plays must improve. Multi-year contributor with starting ability at elite program if off-field development continues. Late round NFL draft pick or free agent.
With T.K. Chimedza deciding not to finish his playing career, I think there are going to be three key backups for Georgia Tech along the interior.
Akelo Stone, Zeek Biggers, and Jason Moore each took small steps forward last season but will need to continue that trend to make this a better unit. Moore had two sacks, Stone one, and Biggers had 32 tackles and given his size, he should be a run-stopping force inside.
Two other guys to keep a close eye on are redshirt freshmen K.J. Miles and Horace Lockett. Both are two of the highest-rated recruits in the 2022 class but did not see the field last season. I am interested to see if either player can push for playing time this fall.
Projected Georgia Tech Interior Defensive Tackle Depth Chart For Spring
D'Quan Douse is going to be a leader for Georgia Tech in 2023
1. D'Quan Douse
2. Makius Scott
3. Etinosa Reuben
4. Zeek Biggers
This is just a two-deep depth chart, but I think that Stone, Lockett, Miles, and Moore are going to be major factors in the rotation and for the defense. There is potential for this to be a deep group, but there is going to need to be an improvement from everyone for that to happen. Reuben has a chance to be the highest-impact transfer on either side of the ball.
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