Three Position Battles to Watch for When Georgia Tech Opens Spring Practice Next Week
Only one more week until Georgia Tech Football begins spring practice.
It is going to be the most anticipated spring in quite some time on The Flats. Georgia Tech is coming off its first winnings season since 2018, its first bowl win since 2016, and they return the majority of starters from one of the top offenses in the ACC. Georgia Tech is going to have some of the ACC's best at certain positions, but there are going to be battles and some uncertainty at others.
Where are those battles going to be?
1. Defensive end
Defense is without a doubt the side of the ball that has to improve the most. Georgia Tech had the worst defense in the ACC and one of the worst in the country in most major categories, other than forcing turnovers. Georgia Tech is bringing in a brand-new defensive staff that is hoping to improve that side of the ball and get this team to another bowl game.
This is a position that was hit pretty hard by the transfer portal and Georgia Tech's top returning pass rusher is Kevin Harris, who had one sack last season.
Kyle Kennard, Noah Collins, Etinosa Reuben, Malcolm Pugh, and Ezra Odinjor all entered the transfer portal and while some of those players were freshman and did not play last season, they could have provided depth and developed into solid players. Nonetheless, Georgia Tech will be without them and will have to find other guys to develop. I am also interested to see any schematic changes that the coaches bring and if some guys could be moved around. This will also be the first spring under new defensive line coach Jess Simpson, who was hired this offseason.
There is nobody that you can automatically pencil in for a starting spot on the edge for the Yellow Jackets, which makes this position so intriguing in the spring. Sylvain Yondjouen is still working his way back from injury while Kevin Harris, Josh Robinson, Eddie Kelly, and newcomers Jordan Boyd (freshman) and Jack Barton (Furman transfer) are all going to be in the mix for starting positions in my opinion. Let's see if any of these guys can separate this spring.
2. Linebacker
Sticking with the defense, there is going to be a ton of competition at linebacker.
I think it is safe to say that Kyle Efford is going to claim a starting spot, but what about the others? Efford took over a starting spot in the final seven games last season and finished with 81 tackles, one sack, and an interception. Efford finished as the 7th highest-graded player on the defense per PFF (Pro Football Focus), totaling 375 snaps and finishing with a solid 69.2 grade. The way Efford came on down the stretch for Georgia Tech should give fans optimism that this position will be better in 2024.
Trenilyas Tatum entered the transfer portal but opted to return to Georgia Tech instead. Tatum has plenty of experience but has had up-and-down play during his time in Atlanta.
Jacob Cruz and Nacari Ashley are two young players to keep an eye on. Cruz got plenty of special teams opportunities last season while it was a redshirt season for Ashley.
Georgia Tech also brought in two transfers at linebacker. E.J. Lightsey (Georgia) and Jackson Hamilton (Louisville) are going to be right in the mix for starting spots this spring and into the fall and have a chance to be instant impact transfers.
Georgia Tech linebacker Kyle Efford making a tackle vs Syracuse
3. Tight end
Just so I don't choose defensive battles for all three spots, I will go with tight end as the other position battle to watch for Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech is losing two tight ends from last year's team and is going to need to find a way to replace their production and leadership. This spring is going to be the first opportunity to do that.
Dylan Leonard and Luke Benson's stats won't blow you away when you look at them, but if you heard head coach Brent Key talk about the other stuff that they did, particularly Leonard, you would know what they meant to the program:
"I know you are talking about progression in terms of catching the football but anyone that has watched Dylan Leonard play football this season would be blown away, No. 2 is playing as well as any tight end in the country right now when it comes to the way he blocks, blocks core, blocks moving, blocks on the perimeter, I could not be more proud of that kid and what he is doing for this football team. You want to talk about someone that bleeds Georgia Tech and bleeds White and Gold and is all about this place, then watch the way he plays for 50, 60, 65 plays in a game. He is Georgia Tech, the gritness, the toughness, that is the intelligence, that is what this program is about is the way he is playing the game. If he gets catches, that is a bonus in what he is doing for this football team. That entire position is playing as good of football as I have seen out of a tight end position I have seen in my entire career."
Brett Seither is the player that is returning with the most production from last season. Seither found a way to make an impact in some games, mostly by catching the football. Seither caught a touchdown in the first game of the year against Louisville, had a 35-yard touchdown in the upset win over North Carolina, and had a 28-yard catch against Georgia. Georgia Tech has a lot of depth at wide receiver and they use a lot of multiple wide receiver sets so Seither does not get a lot of opportunity to make plays, but he took advantage of the times that he did. He finished with seven catches for 101 yards and seven touchdowns.
Jackson Long is going to be an interesting player to watch this spring. He did not play last season after transferring over from South Florida, but he is going to have a chance this spring to make a move up the depth chart.
Georgia Tech also went to the transfer portal to try and find some help at tight end. Former Mississippi State and Georgia tight end Ryland Goede and former Yale tight end Jackson Hawes.
I think it will be similar to last season. You won't have one tight end taking up all the snaps and all of these guys are going to fill different roles. Let's see what those roles are this spring.
