How do the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets look ahead of the 2023 college football campaign, and will their 2024 NFL Draft class have a chance at producing an early-round pick, like their 2023 class did? Let’s take a closer look.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Roster and Depth Chart Changes
2023 will be a season of change for Georgia Tech. Brent Key, the replacement for Geoff Collins midway through the 2022 season, is now the full-time head coach and has brought in a new staff. Jeff Sims, the team’s leading passer from 2022, transferred to Nebraska. And the team lost its best player — defensive lineman Keion White — to the 2023 NFL Draft.
Past those over-arching storylines, there are plenty of arcs to watch for the Yellow Jackets. Who will win the QB battle between Zach Pyron, Haynes King, and Zach Gibson, and will the team have consistency throughout the year? How will Georgia Tech’s young, developing offensive line fare? And what will the abundance of talent on defense amount to under a new coaching staff?
Those are all questions that the Yellow Jackets themselves will be eager to answer as they seek to find a foothold in the ACC once again.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets NFL Draft Prospects
Dontae Smith, RB
Jahmyr Gibbs got his start at Georgia Tech, and for better or worse, that draws residual eyes to the Yellow Jackets’ RB position for the years to come. Georgia Tech doesn’t have another Gibbs, but they do have a potential sleeper in the 2024 NFL Draft class in Dontae Smith.
Smith was a fairly efficient runner in 2022, and at 5’11”, 203 pounds, he has solid contact balance. He lacks an instant turbo button, but Smith does have nice lateral freedom.
Dominick Blaylock, WR
After spending four years with the Georgia Bulldogs, Dominick Blaylock will attempt to embark on a career renaissance in-state with Georgia Tech. Blaylock never exceeded his freshman season totals of 18 catches, 310 yards, and five scores, but he might have untapped upside for the Yellow Jackets to unleash.
At 6’1″, 205 pounds, play strength is Blaylock’s best attribute. He’s not a natural sinker, but he fares well in tight situations.
Abdul Janneh, WR
If the Yellow Jackets can find consistency at QB, don’t be surprised if Duquesne transfer WR Abdul Janneh takes advantage early. The 6’3″, 180-pounder racked up 43 catches for 579 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022 and leveraged that production into a chance at Georgia Tech.
Janneh brings terrific catching instincts with his size, but he also has the explosiveness to press into stems, and he’s quietly a smart vertical manipulator against DBs.
Leo Blackburn, WR
Entering his junior season, Leo Blackburn has barely any production to his name. But in a short five-catch, 81-yard, and one-touchdown window in 2022, he gave a glimpse of what kind of big-play ability he could provide in a new-look Georgia Tech offense.
Size and athleticism alone don’t make a prospect, but those two traits can give prospects a leg up in the draft process. At 6’5″, 220 pounds, Blackburn has the physical makeup to set himself apart.
D’Quan Douse, DT
One of Georgia Tech’s top producers on the defensive line in 2022, D’Quan Douse gives the Yellow Jackets valuable stability in 2023. As an NFL Draft prospect, his ceiling is relatively capped.
Even at an undersized 6’2″, 282 pounds, Douse is not overly explosive. But he’s a compact rusher with good lateral twitch and the willingness to fight through contact for second and third-effort attempts. His production shows he’s able to finish reps.
Zeek Biggers, DT
Zeek Biggers’ name is pleasantly ironic because there’s almost no one who’s bigger than Zeek. At 6’6″, 341 pounds, Biggers is a massive spectacle who can clog gaps with his presence alone. In 2022, his size helped him account for 32 tackles and a tackle for loss, but he shows glimpses of extra ability beyond space-eating. Biggers has a decent first step on passing downs and can use his powerful lower body to plow blockers upfield.
Jason Moore, DT
Jason Moore likely won’t declare in the 2024 NFL Draft cycle unless he has a standout season, but he’s a player to watch alongside Douse and Biggers.
At 6’2″, 291 pounds, Moore has a similarly stout and dense frame to Douse, and he took a big step up in limited viewings in 2022, putting up two sacks and 2.5 TFLs. Moore doesn’t carry overwhelming momentum off the snap, but his ability to get under blockers can cause trouble.
Etinosa Reuben, DT
Clemson’s football program has long been a treasure trove when it comes to interior DL scouting and development, with names such as Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins, and Bryan Bresee to boast. With four-year Clemson veteran and transfer addition Etinosa Reuben, the Yellow Jackets are dipping into that well.
Reuben is stocky at 6’3″, 295 pounds, but he has a uniquely wide reach and flashed potential with 2.5 sacks and 3.5 TFLs in 2021.
Sylvain Yondjouen, EDGE
The Yellow Jackets have several names worth vaulting in their DL room, but of the team’s edge rushers, Sylvain Yondjouen has perhaps the most palpable upside. Yondjouen, who stands at 6’4″, 257 pounds, and had five TFLs and 2.5 sacks in 2022, is an explosive, incredibly amped-up athlete at his size, with hyperactive lateral twitch. He’s still learning to play with more control and coordination, but a full pallet of tools is present.
Kyle Kennard, EDGE
For three seasons, Kyle Kennard has been an established part of Georgia Tech’s defensive line rotation, but little more than that. He peaked in 2022 with two sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss, but there’s still room for Kennard to keep developing. He’s a raw pass rusher who lacks much of a counter game, but at 6’5″, 240 pounds, Kennard has the gliding mobility, length, and flexible frame to hold up in run defense.
Kevin Harris, EDGE
Kevin Harris has yet to log a sack in his collegiate career to this point, but the 6’4″, 241-pound defender is still worth keeping on the radar. He’s a former four-star recruit and Alabama signee who put up 12.5 sacks as a senior in high school. Though his potential hasn’t yet translated to the CFB stage, Harris’ raw talent is clear on the field. He moves well out of his stance and has the quickness to supersede other athletes.
Andre White, LB
Andre White saw the field quickly for the Texas A&M Aggies and put up respectable numbers over his four-year career in College Station. In that span, White registered 139 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, a pick, and six deflections, before choosing to close out his career at Georgia Tech.
White is undoubtedly a sleeper in the 2024 NFL Draft, who could rise if he can build on his streamlined 6’3″, 235-pound frame and high-energy athleticism.
Braelen Oliver, LB
Braelen Oliver flashed as a freshman at Minnesota in 2019, racking up three sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss with his limited opportunities. Since then, however, he’s largely been a non-factor.
The 6’0″, 230-pound defender arrives at Georgia Tech hoping to resurrect his career. Oliver has some appeal as a run-and-chase LB or a designated pass rusher. He’s an explosive closer with a degree of bend, and that speed-rushing component can be valuable.
Myles Sims, CB
Georgia Tech returns its top cornerback from the 2022 campaign in Myles Sims, who’s been a mainstay for the team since 2019. Sims has never been overly productive as a turnover generator, but the 6’3″, 187-pounder has a very appealing mix of length and foot speed in close quarters, and flashes impressive fluidity for his size.
Sims doesn’t have the elite burst or long-strider pace to complement his size, and he can be more controlled, but he has talent.
K.J. Wallace, DB
After toiling in anonymity at Notre Dame for three years, K.J. Wallace transferred to Georgia Tech in 2022 and broke out as the team’s primary nickel defender.
Like Sims, the 5’11”, 184-pound Wallace isn’t very explosive in recovery, but he’s a fleet-footed cover man who moves with great energy. Wallace’s agility is a calling card of his game, as corroborated by his high school shuttle time, and he also brings stellar energy and willingness in run support.
LaMiles Brooks, S
LaMiles Brooks is one of the more intriguing potential 2024 NFL Draft prospects on Georgia Tech’s roster. The 6’2″, 192-pound safety shined as a first-year starter in 2022, amassing 52 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, three interceptions, and seven pass deflections.
Brooks is still far from perfect, as he can be prone to faulty pursuit angles, and he lacks quantifiably elite recovery speed and burst. But he has good range in both phases and is authoritative at the catch point.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Schedule
- Week 1
BYE - Week 2
Sept. 1: vs. Louisville Cardinals - Week 3
Sept. 9: vs. South Carolina State Bulldogs - Week 4
Sept. 16: at Ole Miss Rebels - Week 5
Sept. 23: at Wake Forest Demon Deacons - Week 6
Sept. 30: vs. Bowling Green Falcons - Week 7
Oct. 7: at Miami Hurricanes - Week 8
BYE - Week 9
Oct. 21: vs. Boston College Eagles - Week 10
Oct. 28: vs. North Carolina Tar Heels - Week 11
Nov. 4: at Virginia Cavaliers - Week 12
Nov. 11: at Clemson Tigers - Week 13
Nov. 18: vs. Syracuse Orange - Week 14
Nov. 25: vs. Georgia Bulldogs - Week 15
BYE
