All Yellow Jackets Official Staff Predictions for the 2023 season

What will Georgia Tech's record be in 2023?

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Publish date:
Aug 31, 2023 12:59 PM EDT

In this story:

It is officially game week for Georgia Tech.

Toe meets Leather in two days against Louisville in Mercedes Benz Stadium and Georgia Tech and its program are ready to start the new era of Georgia Tech football under Brent Key. The Yellow Jackets have not made a bowl game since the 2018 season but nearly made one when Brent Key took over for the fired Geoff Collins after the first four games of the 2022 season. Key went 4-4 and got wins over Pitt, Duke, and North Carolina, teams that each won nine games last season.

Key has retooled the coaching staff this offseason and added new players to the roster in hopes of bringing a winning season to The Flats. Texas A&M transfer Haynes King was named the starter last week and he will be leading an offense that is looking for a big bounce back. The offense for Georgia Tech has been near the bottom of the country, but I think with the additions of King and talent at the wide receiver position, there is a good chance of improvement. The hire of offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner is one of the most underrated moves of the offseason and I think he will get the team scoring more points.

The defense has to replace starters such as Keion White, Charlie Thomas, Ace Eley, and Zamari Walton, but the coaching staff believes the defensive line has depth and the secondary has a chance to be really strong.

Georgia Tech faces one of the toughest schedules in the country with Georgia, Clemson, Ole Miss, North Carolina, and Miami on the schedule. It will certainly be a challenge for Georgia Tech to get back to a bowl game.

So what will Georgia Tech's record be in 2023? Our writers make their picks for the Yellow Jackets season in 2023.

Georgia Tech interim head coach Brent Key — Can Georgia Tech get back to a bowl game?
Georgia Tech Athletics

Jackson Caudell (Publisher and Lead Editor)

I think this has a chance to be Georgia Tech's best season in a few years. Key made some hires on the coaching staff like Faulkner and wide receivers coach Josh Crawford that have gone overlooked nationally and they will make a big impact. King has some untapped potential at quarterback as a former blue-chip recruit and I think the wide receiver room is better than most think. If the offensive line makes enough improvement, this offense should be much better.

Defensively, I have some concerns, but there is experience returning. Replacing Thomas and Eley at linebacker will be tough and the pass rush is losing White with not much proven production returning there. It could take a few games for the front seven to find their groove. The schedule is not kind either, but there are only three games (UGA, Clemson, and Ole Miss) where I don't think there is a high chance of winning. Getting games against Boston College and Syracuse at home could be crucial in the team's chances of making a bowl game.

1. vs Louisville (L)

2. vs. South Carolina State (W)

3. At Ole Miss (L)

4. At Wake Forest (W)

5. vs Bowling Green (W)

6. At Miami (L)

7. vs Boston College (W)

8. vs. North Carolina (L)

9. At Virginia (W)

10. At Clemson (L)

11. vs Syracuse (W)

12. vs Georgia (L)

Final 2023 prediction: 6-6, 4-4 ACC

Rohan Raman (Writer)

Given how the team ended the season, I think Key was a sensible hire and profiles as someone who can restore the intangibles and fundamentals this team has sorely lacked in previous seasons. I'm especially intrigued by the decision to start Haynes King. The arm strength is tantalizing, but I am concerned about whether he can limit his turnovers and keep the offense on schedule. Still, the transfer additions in the receiver room, especially Christian Leary and Chase Lane, should give him something to work with. I'm also very high on the running backs - Dontae Smith and Trey Cooley complement each other well. Both will receive plenty of touches in the new scheme under Buster Faulkner. Unfortunately, I think this is another year where production from the tight end position is limited.

Defensively, I think the safety duo of La'Miles Brooks and Clayton Powell-Lee is incredibly exciting. Brooks is a true, do-it-all safety and Powell-Lee flashed plenty of upside in his true freshman season. I'm not as confident in the linebacker group, but I do like bringing in Andre White based on his playmaking upside. He can be a contributor in the pass rush alongside D'Quan Douse and Sylvain Youndjuen. While it could be a rough go of things early, I expect Douse and Youndjuen to rise to the challenge and hold up the spine of the defense.

This team is ready to prove something, which is why I have them starting off 2-0 against beatable teams in Louisville and SC State. Even in the Collins years, the Jackets have always played UNC well and I see no reason why that will change in 2023. I believe this team can be being competitive in a weak ACC, but Haynes King needs to show something as the starter for this team to reach this prediction.

1. vs Louisville (W)

2. vs. South Carolina State (W)

3. At Ole Miss (L)

4. At Wake Forest (W)

5. vs Bowling Green (W)

6. At Miami (L)

7. vs Boston College (L)

8. vs North Carolina (W)

9. At Virginia (W)

10. At Clemson (L)

11. vs Syracuse (W)

12. vs Georgia (L)

Final 2023 prediction: 7-5, 5-3 ACC

Madison Meyers (Writer)

1. vs Louisville (L)

2. vs. South Carolina State (W)

3. At Ole Miss (L)

4. At Wake Forest (W)

5. vs Bowling Green (W)

6. At Miami (L)

7. vs Boston College (W)

8. vs North Carolina (W)

9. At Virginia (W)

10. At Clemson (L)

11. vs Syracuse (W)

12. vs Georgia (L)

Final 2023 prediction: 7-5, 5-3 ACC

Matthew Kistner (Writer)

I enter this season highly anticipative and optimistic of what Yellow Jacket football could look like. I feel that Brent Key is the perfect hire for this program as he instills a passion and vision that only an alumnus and former player could, but now is the time for him to show that. He has brought in incredible talent in the offseason and has begun stringing together a remarkable recruiting class for next season.

Although controversial, the decision to start Haynes King is the correct one. King has the right tools to take that next step in our offensive scheme, however that could change on Friday night and Zach Pyron could be that guy. No matter the quarterback, there are certainly a lot of weapons at the wide out position for us to have success. Malik Rutherford, Dominick Blaylock, Christian Leary and Chase Lane are going to be lethal to opposing defenses. Not to mention Dontae Smith and Trae Cooley's big play ability in the run game. If all the pieces come together, Tech's offense will be a force.

Defensively, we have one of the best secondary units in the country: the skill, confidence and ability are all there. La'Miles Brooks and Clayton Powell-Lee will be strong, vocal leaders for the team, but my big worry comes at the defensive line. I could see opposing teams having great success in the run game against us which could lead to cracks in the secondary as well. It is monumentally important that the new guys stepping in on the line and at linebacker gain confidence quickly.

I am high on our team this year and believe with the right momentum, we could see a return of Georgia Tech football like it used to feel.

1. vs Louisville (W)

2. vs. South Carolina State (W)

3. At Ole Miss (L)

4. At Wake Forest (L)

5. vs Bowling Green (W)

6. At Miami (L)

7. vs Boston College (W)

8. vs North Carolina (L)

9. At Virginia (W)

10. At Clemson (L)

11. vs Syracuse (W)