Georgia Tech Spring Football Depth Chart Projections: Safeties
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Safety was a position last season that saw two players step up when called upon and it is going to be beneficial for the 2023 season.
Jaylon King and Derrik Allen were the starting safeties at the beginning of last season, but LaMiles Brooks and Clayton Powell-Lee were the starters by the end of the season. King suffered a leg injury after starting the first five games of the season and was replaced by Powell-Lee, who was a true freshman last season, and Allen was in a position battle with Brooks and lost his starting job early in the season. Allen transferred to North Carolina and King is back for his last season on The Flats.
In my opinion, this is the strongest position on the entire team. Brooks finished as the highest-graded player on Georgia Tech according to PFF (Pro Football Focus) and Powell-Lee finished No. 5. With two of the top graded players in the secondary returning, this is going to be the strength of the entire defense and perhaps the entire team.
Clayton Powell-Lee was one of the best freshmen in the ACC in 2022
Brooks finished the season with 52 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions. His best performance came in a loss to Virginia when he finished with nine tackles and a pick-six. Brooks was the best player on the field that night and I expect more performances like that from Brooks in the future.
When a true freshman steps into a starting role, there can be a lot of ups and downs that come with their play, but on a week-to-week basis, Powell-Lee stepped up in a big way and provided a consistent presence in the back of the defense. He finished the year with 46 tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception. He played well in the win against Virginia Tech, totaling six tackles and an interception in the game and he was named the ACC defensive back of the week after that performance.
Georgia Tech finished the season with the sixth-ranked pass defense in the ACC and sixth in interceptions. There is plenty of room for improvement on those numbers and with Brooks and Powell-Lee heading into their second season as starters, I expect improvement in those numbers.
With King returning for his last season, I think he is going to be part of the rotation and be a top backup. King had 32 tackles and one interception before he went down with his injury.
Khari Gee was listed as the backup safety behind Powell-Lee during the season and also started a game at nickel. I think Gee is going to be challenging for the backup spot this spring and will also be a top special teams contributor.
Jaylin Marshall was a true freshman last season and I am interested to see if he can make a push to be a backup or see the field in a special teams capacity. Kaleb Edwards had 11 tackles last season and I expect him to be involved in the competition to be a backup and special teams contributor.
Projected Georgia Tech Safety Depth Chart For Spring
Georgia Tech has a talented group of safeties for the 2023 season
Safety
1. LaMiles Brooks (Starter)
2. Clayton Powell-Lee (Starter)
3. Jaylon King (Backup)
4. Khari Gee (Backup)
Brooks and Powell-Lee are safe bets to be starters and with King back, he is the top option as a backup for the Yellow Jackets. Gee was a backup safety last season and while I think he could get snaps at nickel, I think he is the favorite to be one of the backups and be a key special teams player. Georgia Tech has the top safety duo in the ACC in my opinion and the spring will be about those guys taking their game to another level and figuring out the backup rotation.
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