Head coach Brent Key and the Yellow Jackets surprised almost everyone in college football last fall as they finished 7-6 overall and 5-3 in the ACC, which was good enough to finish 4th in the conference. Those five wins included thrilling wins over No. 17 North Carolina and No. 17 Miami.
Now, for the first time in what feels like a very long time, there are some serious expectations in Atlanta for the Yellow Jackets football program. The Yellow Jackets’ schedule is a bit of a gauntlet, and there’s some roster turnover to navigate. So, what are some of the biggest questions Key will face during ACC Media Days?
Three Most Significant Questions for Brent Key at ACC Media Days
1) How Can the Yellow Jacket Run Defense Make Major Improvements in 2024?
All eyes are on defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci. The Yellow Jackets’ rushing defense was the worst in the Power Five last season, ranking 130th nationally and allowing 5.38 yards per attempt. They also ranked 105th in third-down conversion percentage allowed, 53rd in passing yards allowed, 90th in red zone defense, 109th in sacks, and 120th in total defense.
Georgia Tech allowed 2.75 yards before contact on rushing attempts, placing them 128th nationally. On tape, the Yellow Jackets just flat-out got pushed around in the trenches. They struggled to get any push-up front, and their linebackers were often left on islands to make one-on-one tackles as massive running lanes were created.
MORE: 2024 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Depth Chart
Key and the Jackets had a solid transfer window, and they’re hoping new additions can help strengthen their defensive front. Defensive tackle transfer Ayo Tifase from Florida State and linebacker EJ Lightsey from Georgia will be heavily relied on to change the attitude of the middle of the Yellow Jacket defense.
If the Georgia Tech defense can make significant improvements in 2024, they will prove to be a tough test for any opponent in the ACC this season.
2) Can the Yellow Jacket Offense Take Better Care of the Football?
It’s no secret that Georgia Tech’s offense vastly improved from 2022 to 2023 as they went from having one of the most anemic to one of the most prolific offenses in the ACC. But one glaring issue remained — the turnover.
Quarterback Haynes King led the ACC in interceptions. When he turned the ball over, he did it in bunches. King threw 11 combined interceptions in games against Clemson, Bowling Green, Boston College, and Miami, where the team went 1-3.
Fewer turnovers against Bowling Green and Boston College could have resulted in wins for Georgia Tech, as both were narrow losses. Despite King’s impressive overall performance, reducing his interceptions is crucial for the Yellow Jackets to navigate their challenging schedule and make a push for the postseason.
3) Are the Yellow Jackets Prepared for One of Their Most Difficult Schedules in Recent Memory?
Most college football coaches will tell you that they don’t think about the schedule, and all they can do is prepare their squad for the games ahead. But it’s hard to imagine a program on the rise, such as Georgia Tech, not looking at its schedule and realizing just how challenging it will be.
CFN’s College Football Analyst Cam Mellor ranked Georgia Tech as having the second toughest schedule in the nation in the CFN’s annual Strength of Schedule Rankings. Here is how he ranked the Jackets’ schedule:
- Toughest Game: @ Georgia
- Easiest Game: vs. VMI
- S.O.S. Score: 24.79 (-0.63)
One of the most intriguing aspects of Georgia Tech’s schedule is opening the season overseas. The Yellow Jackets will face defending ACC champion Florida State in Dublin, Ireland, adding an international flavor to their campaign.
Another highlight is their clash with Notre Dame at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 19. This renews an old rivalry at an iconic neutral site.
The last six weeks for Georgia Tech look like an absolute gauntlet: at North Carolina, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Miami, NC State, and Georgia. 11 of the 12 opponents on the Georgia Tech schedule played in a 2023 bowl game. They also got a bit unlucky as they won’t get an opportunity to face any of the new ACC additions Cal, SMU, and Stanford.
With 2024 bringing some serious expectations to the Yellow Jacket program, they sure have a doozy of a schedule to navigate.
ACC Media Days Schedule: Brent Key, Georgia Tech Head Coach
- Date: Monday, July 22
- Time: Noon ET
- How to Watch: ACC Network
Georgia Tech is a legitimate wildcard in the ACC in 2024. No one expected them to be a top-four ACC squad in 2023. And now, there are expectations in Atlanta for the foreseeable future. But will the schedule prove too challenging? It is one of the most difficult in the nation, with a bevy of top-25 matchups awaiting the Yellow Jackets.
Can the offense continue this upward trend? Can they limit the turnovers? Can quarterback Haynes King continue to improve and lead this offense into another tier? And can the defense finally match the offense’s output and begin to slow down some of the best offenses in the ACC?
There is no doubt that head coach Brent Key has some big-time questions to answer heading into 2024. But if the Yellow Jackets continue on this trajectory, we may be looking at one of the biggest Power Five sleepers in the nation.
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