Three Position Battles To Watch This Spring For Georgia Tech
Spring football season is in full effect and Georgia Tech is going to be one of the more interesting teams to watch in the ACC this spring. It is going to be the first spring practice under head coach Brent Key and his new coaching staff and there are not a lot of positions on this team where there are going to be starters entrenched.
So what are the positions that are going to be the ones to watch this spring for the Yellow Jackets? Let's break it down
3. Cornerback
Will Kenan Johnson start at corner for Georgia Tech in 2023?
A few months ago, this position would not have been on this list, as Myles Sims and Zamari Walton was back for another season in Atlanta. Sims is still here, but Walton transferred to Ole Miss. That means that Georgia Tech is going to have a competition to see who is starting opposite of Sims and there are a few players that are going to be in the mix this spring.
There are a number of candidates that I think are going to compete for the spot opposite of Sims. Kenan Johnson, Kenyatta Watson Jr, and Ahmari Harvey were listed as the backups last season on the depth chart and I think they will get the first crack at the job.
Out of the three players, Johnson played the most snaps last season by a considerable amount. According to PFF (Pro Football Focus), Johnson played 161 total snaps for the Yellow Jackets and finished with a 69.9 grade overall, which is solid. Johnson finished the season with 12 tackles and one pass deflection.
Watson played 67 snaps last season and finished with a 51.7 grade on PFF. He totaled seven tackles last season.
Harvey only played 12 snaps after transferring in from Auburn.
Sims has a chance to be an All-ACC player, but there are still questions about who starts opposite of him.
2. Defensive End
Who will start at defensive end for Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech had a potential first-round pick to rely on last year in Keion White on the edge, but he is now gone. There are experienced players that are coming back to Tech, but they have not produced yet.
Another thing to think about is that linebackers Ace Eley and Charlie Thomas accounted for 5.5 sacks. Tech is losing 13 sacks between Eley, Thomas, and White, so that means someone is going to have to step up on the edge.
In terms of edge players, Sylvain Yondjouen was third on the team in sacks with 2.5 and I think that his experience is going to be key for this group. He is a favorite to start on one end and started one game against Pitt last season.
Kyle Kennard is another veteran player for the Yellow Jackets and started eight games for Tech last season. He had two sacks last season and has 6.5 for his career. He might be the most talented edge player for Georgia Tech.
The other players that were on the depth chart and in the rotation last season are Noah Collins, Josh Robinson, and Kevin Harris. None of these players had a sack this season, but they are going to be counted on in this rotation.
One guy that I am interested to see this spring is former UCLA transfer, Christian Burkhalter. Burkhalter was a talented player in high school but has not found his stride yet in his college career. While the other edge players might have more experience, Burkhalter has a chance to get more playing time this season.
1. Quarterback
Will Haynes King win the starting QB job at Georgia Tech?
This was an easy choice for number one. It is the most important position on the field and for Georgia Tech to make a run at a bowl game this season, they are going to need steady quarterback play. The team is bringing back redshirt freshman Zach Pyron, Texas A&M transfer Haynes King, and Zach Gibson.
In my opinion, there will not be a declared winner in the spring and I think this is likely to carry into the summer and the fall.
The good thing is that all three quarterbacks are experienced. King has started games in the SEC, Pyron got to play toward the end of last season and played well, and Gibson also started last season and has experience from his days at Akron.
King is a former four-star recruit for the Aggies and won the starting job twice. His 2021 season was cut short after being injured early in the season. He started this season off as the starter but was benched after Texas A&M was upset by App State. He did return as the starter and had his best game on the road against Alabama, a game in which he threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns.
King's strengths are his mobility and his arm strength and I anticipate more passing in Faulkner's offense.
Pyron was a true freshman last season and played well in his limited action. He was not expected to see the field, but he got his first chance in the game against Florida State last season. Pyron then got his first start the next week against Virginia Tech and led the Yellow Jackets to a comeback victory. He was then hurt in the second half against Miami the week and was out for the last two games against North Carolina and Georgia.
Pyron threw for 565 yards and three touchdowns and completed 60% of his passes.
Gibson got his first game experience as a Yellow Jacket against Virginia, filling in for an injured Sims. He would start the next game against Florida State, but only played the first couple of series. After the injury to Pyron, Gibson came in and finished the game against Miami and then led Georgia Tech to its upset of No. 13 North Carolina. He would start the season finale against Georgia and played well considering the opponent.
Gibson finished the season with 589 passing yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions, as well as a 59.8 completion percentage.
This is the position battle that is most important for Georgia Tech this spring. Hopefully, one of these guys will emerge as the leader in the room and be ready to help elevate this offense in the fall.
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