Jaylon King and the Georgia Tech secondary are working hard to be one of the nation's best

King is battling back from an injury to be a key member of the secondary for Georgia Tech

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Updated:
Aug 16, 2023 6:23 PM EDT
Original:
Aug 16, 2023

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Georgia Tech is going to return an experienced secondary in 2023 that I and others expect to be among the best in the ACC. One of the key pieces of that secondary is going to be Jaylon King who is one of the veterans of the team and he is coming off a leg injury that cut his season short in 2022.

King is competing with talented safeties LaMiles Brooks and Clayton Powell-Lee for the starting safety spot. On Wednesday when he was asked about the talent that this position has and if it can be one of the best in the ACC, King did not hesitate with his response:

"We talk about that every day. Not just being one of the best units in the conference, but being one of the best units in the country. We try to go out there and practice like that every day. We try to go out there with that mindset because if you are not going out there and trying to be the best then why go out there."

King is going to be a vital part of that group not just on the field, but as a leader. On Wednesday, defensive backs coach Travares Tillman couldn't say enough good things about King when asked about his impact on the DB's room:

"Oh my God he is having a great camp right now and he is respected in that room and he does not even have to say much, he can go out and practice the way he is and it says a lot. I am going to dance at that kids wedding whenever he gets married man because that is the type of player that he is and he is always working. He takes every day so serious and it is just a good example for those younger guys in that room to learn from him."

Georgia Tech Defensive Back Jaylon King — Jaylon King will be a vital member of the Georgia Tech secondary in 2023
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

This preseason, the secondary for Georgia Tech has gotten some love, even nationally.

Lindy's Sports ranked the Yellow Jackets' secondary as not only one of the best in the ACC but one of the best in the country.

In their National College Football preview, Lindy's ranked the top ten defensive back units in the country and Georgia Tech came in at No. 9.

Here is what they had to say about the Yellow Jackets' secondary this season:

"The Yellow Jackets have a lot of weaknesses, but the secondary is not one of them. LaMiles Brooks helps create a dependable back line of defense that gives Tech a fighting chance this season. Georgia Tech frustrated and contained Drake Maye and UNC and put the clamps on some talented receivers."

I think Brooks has a chance to be the first Yellow Jacket selected in the first round since 2010.

One of the reasons for the improvement was the emergence of the safety duo of Brooks and freshman Clayton Powell-Lee. Brooks finished as the highest-graded player on Georgia Tech according to PFF (Pro Football Focus) and Powell-Lee was No. 5.

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 the conference in interceptions. There is plenty of room for improvement on those numbers and with Brooks, Powell-Lee, and King back, I expect improvement in those numbers.

Cornerback Myles Sims is set for a nice season and if the competition for the other cornerback spot is solved, this group has a chance to be very good.

Georgia Tech kicks off its 2023 season against Louisville on Sept. 1st at 7:30 on ESPN.

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