Lindy's Sports Ranks Georgia Tech's Secondary As 9th Best In The Country

Georgia Tech will have one of the best secondaries in the ACC in 2023

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Updated:
Aug 16, 2023 6:18 PM EDT
Original:
Jun 6, 2023

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I think that Georgia Tech is going to have one of the ACC's best defensive back groups in 2023 and I am not alone in that. 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.

Georgia Tech defensive backs Myles Sims and LaMiles Brooks — How good can Georgia Tech's secondary be in 2023?
Georgia Tech Athletics

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 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.

The back of the defense is also going to get a boost from Jaylon King returning from his leg injury last season.

One thing that is notable about the Georgia Tech defense going into next season is the guys that won't be back. Keion White, the Yellow Jacket's top pass rusher, and both Charlie Thomas and Ace Eley, the team's two leading tacklers last season, are all gone. Until some other guys step up at those positions and take over, the secondary is going to be the strength of this team, and even if there is not a drop-off in production, this unit is going to be one that the Yellow Jackets should be able to count on

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