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Could Eric Singleton be the next great GT receiver?

Singleton's blazing start to his career - and electric skillset - bodes well for his future.

Rohan Raman

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Ever since Ahmarean Brown's 2019-20 season, no true freshman receiver has put up numbers like Eric Singleton Jr. 

Brown ended his true freshman campaign with 396 yards and seven touchdowns. In three career games, Singleton has 200 yards and three touchdowns. He's well on his way to matching or exceeding Brown's numbers and it seems the coaching staff is recognizing his tremendous talent. 

As a true freshman, Singleton is now starting in the "Z" role in the Yellow Jackets' offense. In the traditional definition of the role, it means that Singleton will be expected to move around pre-snap, operate in the slot, and get more targets. However, in a modern passing offense, the boundaries between different receiver designations are more blurred than ever. Singleton's skillset is predicated on three factors that will serve him well in his new starting role.

Body Control

Eric Singleton Jr.'s most obvious trait is his ability to win at the catch point, which is a function of his special body control. In the season opener against Louisville, he got Tech fans buzzing with this contested catch over Louisville safety Storm Duck. 

The pass from Haynes King is certainly an impressive one, but make no mistake - Singleton's vertical explosion and ability to securely come down with the football is critical to this play. Extending over an experienced corner like Duck is a sign that King should look his way more often in tight coverage situations. 

In the same game, he scored his first career touchdown on a toe-tapping catch in the back of the end zone. 

At 5'11 and 173 lbs, Singleton does not have the typical large frame of a contested catch receiver. However, he makes up for his size with his ability to hand catch. Making toe-tap catches and winning jump balls as a true freshman bodes well for his future development - as he develops and hones his game, his already impressive body control will become even more of a threat to opposing defenses. 

Speed Threat

Saying Singleton has a track background is an understatement. He finished tenth in the 100m at the 2022 Georgia 5A state meet while qualifying for state in the 400m and long jump. 

While his long jump prowess shows up in his jump ball skills, his speed from his days as a sprinter has smoothly carried over to his Georgia Tech tenure. On his touchdown against SC State, he uses it to create significant separation between him and SC State cornerback Marquis Bradley. 

There is nothing overly complicated about his route, but it is devastating in his simplicity. From the moment King takes the snap, Singleton explodes off the line of scrimmage. Bailey is playing in off coverage, so Singleton sets him up with an inside release and then accelerates to the end zone. He even draws the deep safety out of position, but King's throw is perfectly placed, and Singleton scores with both defenders in pursuit. 

Knowing how to use speed is an invaluable tool for a young receiver and Tech hasn't had a consistent vertical threat at the wide receiver position in a long time. If Singleton forces defenses to respect his speed, it opens up more of the field and presents matchup difficulties for secondaries that Buster Faulkner and the rest of the Tech offensive staff will gladly exploit. 

Spatial Awareness

While this is the part of Singleton's game that requires the most time, he's shown promising signs in this area. Again, he is a true freshman and needs more time to reach his full potential. However, he has a very solid foundation in his route-running and general ability to find space in the defense.

His touchdown against Ole Miss is a perfect example. 

At the top of the screen, Singleton is working against former Yellow Jacket Zamari Walton and runs a great "sluggo" route to get open. The Sluggo route - or "slant and go" - requires the receiver to aggressively sell the inside slant and then get vertical. 

Singleton does exactly that, decisively breaking inside and avoiding Walton's attempt to re-direct him. While there are no defenders directly challenging Singleton after he gets past Walton, he still runs a good route and doesn't just break into the open space immediately. In-breaking routes are an effective way to get quick yards because the receiver is coming into the quarterback's field of view. If Singleton's speed develops even further, defenders will give him enough of a cushion to get those easy underneath yards that keep an offense on schedule. 

His first career touchdown showed the foundations of a broader ability to find space within zones. 

On this play, he is lined up at the top of the screen. He starts his route by sitting down in the zone and presenting himself to King as an option. Before the two Louisville defenders near him can react, he sneaks behind the defense and makes his way to a wide-open part of the end zone. Confusing opposing secondaries into inaction is a skill that is difficult to teach, but Singleton already seems to have a sense for it. With more time and development, this could be a recurring problem on Saturdays for ACC defenses. 

It has been a while since Georgia Tech has had this type of talent at such a young age and it is exciting to project what Eric Singleton Jr. could become. Here's hoping he can keep his touchdown streak - and excellent freshman season - going against Wake Forest next Saturday. 

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Rohan Raman
ROHAN RAMAN

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