Could Malik Rutherford Be A Breakout Player For Georgia Tech In New Offense?

Brent Key loves what Rutherford brings to the offense so far

Going into the spring, Georgia Tech had question marks at the wide receiver position and those were only amplified after talented receiver Leo Blackburn tore his ACL and was ruled out for the season. EJ Jenkins, Nate McCollum, Malachi Carter, Ryan King, and Kalani Norris are all gone from last year's team and while guys like Norris and King did not contribute last season, they were talented and could have provided depth. 

The returning leading receiver for the Yellow Jackets is the speedy Malik Rutherford and he has a chance to be the breakout player at the position that Georgia Tech needs under new offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner.

Could Malik Rutherford be a breakout player for Georgia Tech this season? / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

New wide receiver coach Josh Crawford praised Rutherford's ability this week:

"There is no question that the kid is really special and he is electric and here is the thing... what makes him great on the field is his off-the-field. Great kid, he practices hard every day, tough, just never hurt, he is always available. He ca run a thousand reps in practice and never get tired. All of that also translates into him being a really good football player on top of that so he has God-given talent and ability and he has the intangibles that go along with it so we are excited.

He is a guy that has shown the ability to being able to handle playing multiple positions, very savvy route-runner, picks up everything and a smart player so he is creating value for himself because he is a good player in his own right and he can also play multiple positions so he has been someone that I have been really pleased with."

Georgia Tech was one of the worst teams in the country in terms of creating explosive plays in the passing game last season and has made it a point to add speed to the offense. Rutherford possesses the kind of speed that Tech needs, but according to head coach Brent Key, his love for the game is also what makes him stand out in this group of receivers that Tech has: 

"Malik is a guy that really started coming on at the end of the season and if you go back and look at some games at the end of the season and the things that he was doing in a little more limited role, he was someone who really caught our attention then. His love for the game and the energy that he brings, all 150 LBS in his body is full of energy, they really are and he plays like he is 190-200 LBS, he is tough and not afraid to get in there and do the dirty stuff and block and his personality is infectious and he elevates the play of others around him because he has so much energy and he loves playing football.

At the end of the day it is still a game. It is a hard game to go out and practice every day but it is a game and when you can take the qualities of your football team and you can work and prepare every day for the toughness that you have to, the physical toughness, the mental toughness, have the discipline, but still go out there and have fun, that is when you have a chance to do something really good."

With a new offensive coordinator and a quarterback competition going on, Tech needs consistency at the position to make the transition for both Faulkner and the new quarterback as smooth as possible. Rutherford could be that guy. 

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