2024 Georgia Tech Spring Football Position Preview: Cornerback

How does the cornerback position look for the Yellow Jackets this spring?

Cornerback will be a position to watch for Georgia Tech after losing some players to the transfer portal and graduating some significant contributing pieces. Some of the pieces they lost include Myles Sims, Kenyatta Watson, Kenan Johnson, and KJ Wallace. Sims was a key piece on the for Georgia Tech. He saw action in 11 of the 12 regular season games and got better as the year went on. He ranked high various defensive back categories for the Yellow Jackets in 2023 including interceptions, passes defensed, and pass breakups. Wallace was a starter and a great nickel for the Yellow Jackets in 2023. He made several winning plays and now will be a UCLA. He finished 2023 with 42 tackles, seven pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and an interception. Watson was a reserve cornerback with a lot of experience for the Yellow Jackets  is now at Georgia State. Johnson was a big contributor for Georgia Tech at corner, and now will be at Utah after electing to use his grad transfer eligibility.

Georgia Tech will also have a new cornerbacks coach in Cory Peoples, who comes over from Georgia State where he spent four seasons. Georgia Tech gave up a lot of explosive plays and will look to shore that up in 2024.

Ahmari Harvey is one of the most intriguing names to watch on the defense,  as he flashed his potential in 2023, seeing action in ten games and starting five of them at cornerback. He finished second on the team in interceptions with two and only trailed Jaylon King’s four. Harvey also added 25 tackles, a PBU, and a forced fumble. It was a season of milestones for Harvey as he recorded his first career start in the season opener against Louisville, and his first career interception in Georgia Tech’s upset win against Miami.

Georgia Tech Cornerback Ahmari Harvey / Nathaniel Caudell

Warren Burrell is a great experience piece from Tennessee that Georgia Tech added the transfer portal. He has four years of experience from Tennessee. He played in 40 games and registered 22 starts. Over the course of his career, he has accumulated 89 total tackles, nine PBUs, one interception, and a fumble recovery.

Per his bio via Georgia Tech Athletics in 2023:

"Was targeted three times in 2023 but did not allow a reception in 23 snaps at corner in a homecoming win vs. UConn (Nov. 4) … Played 19 snaps at corner and tallied a pair of tackles in road win at Kentucky (Oct. 28) … Had one special teams tackle at No. 11/8 Alabama (Oct. 21) … Recorded his first-career interception to stop a fourth-quarter drive in win over UTSA (Sept. 23) … Did not allow a reception in 40 defensive snaps at corner in win over Austin Peay (Sept. 9), finishing with one tackle and a fumble recovery on a muffed punt in the first quarter that set up UT’s first points … Played 26 snaps at corner in season-opening win over Virginia (Sept. 2), recording one tackle."

Rodney Shelley saw action in 12 regular season games and made his first career start against UGA on November 1st. In 2023, he finished with 16 tackles, a PBU, and a blocked kick. Shelley saw more action as the season wore on and had an impressive game against Syracuse tallying five tackles in the bowl-clinching win.

DJ Moore went to local Archer High School here in Atlanta and was a wide receiver when he came to Georgia Tech. He redshirted as a freshman in 2022 and made the transition to defensive back in 2023. Moore recorded his first career tackle against Virginia on November 4th. He also saw action against Clemson and Syracuse.

Per his bio Georgia Tech Athletics:

"Rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN … Also ranked by ESPN as the No. 60 wide in the nation and the No. 38 overall prospect in the state of Georgia … Two-time all-region honoree … Caught 35 passes for 629 yards and six touchdowns while helping lead Archer 7-7A region championship with a perfect 6-0 record as a senior in 2021 … As a junior, caught a 31-yard touchdown pass with less than a minute to go in the game to lift Archer win over Gainesville round of 2020 Georgia 7A state playoffs … Coached at Archer by Andy Dyer."

Omar Daniels transferred from Kansas State in 2023. Last season he appeared in nine games for the Yellow Jackets as a reserve defensive back. He made his first tackle in the season opener vs Louisville. He finished with three tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass defensed.

Per his bio on Georgia Tech Athletics:

"Has three seasons of eligibility remaining after transferring from Kansas State … Played in 11 games over two seasons as a reserve cornerback at KSU … Made one tackle in his collegiate debut in the 2021 Texas Bowl vs. LSU … Played in 10 games as a redshirt freshman in 2022 … Had tackles against Missouri and in the Sugar Bowl vs. Alabama during redshirt freshman campaign."

"Rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN … Earned first-team all-region honors as a junior and senior … Helped lead Colquitt County to a combined 18-4 record over his final two seasons – 9-3 with a trip to the second round of the Georgia 7A state playoffs in 2019 and 9-1 in 2020 … Recorded 35 tackles, one tackle for loss, four pass breakups and two interceptions as a senior in ’20 … Coached by Justin Rogers."

Syeed Gibbs had an impressive start to his career with Rhode Island being named to multiple accolades. Gibbs was named NCAA Division I FBS freshman all-American in 2023. He appeared in 10 games in 2023 and recorded 52 tackles and three tackles He also had six passes defensed and three interceptions. Gibbs allowed just one touchdown 52 passing targets. He hauled in his first interception against Bryant. He possesses great ball skills and rarely gets beat in coverage. Gibbs brings a lot of experience to the Yellow Jackets and will look to earn a starting spot in 2024.

Cedric Franklin was one of the defensive backs the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets took in the 2024 class. Per his bio via Georgia Tech Athletics:

"Rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN … Versatile athlete played cornerback and quarterback at Kell H.S. … With teams generally avoiding throwing in his area, Franklin II made 61 tackles with an interception, seven pass breakups and two fumble recoveries over final two prep seasons … Also completed 11-of-14 passes for 229 yards (20.8 yards per completion) and three touchdowns in spot duty at QB as a senior in 2023 … Named team’s most improved player as a junior in 2022 … Helped lead Kell to 19-4 overall record and 11-1 region record over final two seasons … Coached by Bobby May … Also lettered in basketball … Cousin, Remy Lazarus, played DB at Georgia State … Cedric is an honor roll student … Intends to major in business administration with a minor in law, science and technology (pre-law) at Georgia Tech."

Another young player to watch will be redshirt freshman Steven Jones Jr. At 61 192 LBS, Jones Jr has the size and athleticism to be a contributor at the next level. 

Georgia Tech certainly has a talented group at cornerback that has experience and youth throughout the roster. Harvey seems like a surefire bet to be a starter, while Burrell and Gibbs will be experienced challengers on the other side. I think that is a battle to watch this spring. 

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