Evaluating Georgia Tech's 2024 Opponents and What They Did in the Transfer Portal
Georgia Tech is going to be facing the ACC's toughest schedule in 2024 and one of the toughest in the country. What makes some of the teams on the Yellow Jackets schedule so tough is the new talent that is being brought in through the high school ranks and the transfer portal. Some teams that Georgia Tech will face are reloading through the portal for a run at the ACC championship game and it will make their games that more challenging.
With that being said, let's take a look at what each opponent on Georgia Tech's schedule has done in the transfer portal and where it ranks nationally.
1. Florida State (Aug. 24th, Dublin, Ireland)
The first opponent on Georgia Tech's schedule will also have the best transfer portal class.
The Seminoles under Mike Norvell have been a transfer portal destination and that did not change this offseason. They brought in the No. 4 transfer portal class in the country and the top in the ACC.
The headliner will be quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, who comes to FSU after a year at Oregon State. He has one year remaining and should be a good fit in Norvell's offense.
Other headliners include running back Roydell Williams (Alabama), defensive back Earl Little Jr (Alabama), defensive lineman Sione Lolohea (Oregon State), and wide receiver Malik Benson (Alabama). Florida State will be a new-look team when these two face off to kick off the 2024 season.
2. Georgia State (Aug. 31st, Atlanta, GA)
Former Georgia Tech quarterback Zach Gibson transferred to Georgia State this offseason
These two teams are connected by a few transfers.
Georgia State signed the No. 5 transfer portal class in the Sun Belt according to 247Sports and the names Georgia Tech fans will remember are quarterback Zach Gibson and defensive back Kenyatta Watson II.
Other notable names include linebacker KD McDaniel (UCF), running back Dominique Thomas (Clemson), and defensive lineman Victoine Brown.
3. Syracuse (Sept. 7th, Syracuse, NY)
New Syracuse head coach Fran Brown was busy in the portal and on the recruiting trail.
Syracuse brought in the No. 23 transfer class in the country and No. 4 in the ACC. Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord will look to elevate this offense after leading the Buckeyes to an 11-1 regular season record. Texas A&M edge transfer Fadil Diggs is the name to watch on defense and Brown brought a few transfers in from Georgia. Brown seems to be trending in the right direction so far at Syracuse.
4. Louisville (Sept. 21st, Louisville, KY)
Like Florida State, Louisville had an elite transfer portal class for the second year in a row and the Cardinals hope it's enough to get them back to the ACC Championship.
Louisville's transfer portal class is ranked No. 6 in the country and No. 2 in the ACC. They have a whopping 26 incoming transfers and this team is going to look very different than when these two faced off in Mercedes Benz a year ago.
Louisville has five four-star transfers and they are among the best that were in the portal. They flipped defensive end Tyler Baron from Ole Miss, landed Alabama transfer Ja'Corey Brooks, South Alabama wide receiver Caullin Lacy, San Diego State tight end Mark Redman, and Texas Tech quarterback Tyler Shough might be Jake Plummer's replacement.
It was a great job by Jeff Brohm and they will be a contender in the ACC once again.
5. Duke (Oct. 5th, Atlanta, GA)
Duke has a new head coach in Manny Diaz and he was able to land one of the top transfer quarterbacks in the portal.
Texas transfer Maalik Murphy has a chance to be a special player for the Blue Devils and keep the momentum going from the Mike Elko era. Murphy will be the transfer to watch for in Duke's 40th-ranked transfer class, but keep an eye on Liberty defensive lineman Kendy Charles.
6. North Carolina (Oct. 12th, Chapel Hill, NC)
North Carolina is not a team that has a lot of momentum going forward under Mack Brown and that seems to be reflected in their transfer portal haul. UNC's transfer class ranks No. 12 in the ACC and does include former Georgia Tech offensive tackle Jakiah Leftwich.
The Tar Heels also brought in former Texas A&M and LSU quarterback Max Johnson to compete for the starting job and that might not be a great sign for North Carolina, as Johnson was average while with the Aggies. This class could surprise, but I don't see many impact players here for North Carolina.
7. Notre Dame (Oct. 19th, Atlanta, GA)
The Fighting Irish did not need to do much in the portal, but they made some nice additions. Former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard was one of the best quarterbacks in the portal and former Clemson receiver Beaux Collins could tap into his potential. Duke defensive line transfer RJ Oben was highly coveted, but Notre Dame beat out several schools for his services and he should fit in nicely on an already good defense.
8. Virginia Tech (Oct. 26th, Blacksburg, VA)
Brent Pry's team is getting a lot of offseason love heading into 2024 season and because his team has so much coming back, they did not need to do much in the transfer portal. The Hokies brought in only four transfers and have the 14th-ranked transfer class in the ACC. Duke defensive lineman Aeneas Peoples is the top-ranked transfer in this class.
9. Miami (Nov. 9th, Atlanta, GA)
Miami Quarterback Cam Ward
Miami looked to have a below-average transfer portal class, but they convinced quarterback Cam Ward to not enter the NFL draft and come play quarterback for the Hurricanes. Miami did not use the portal much, but Ward is a massive addition.
They filled some key spots with some talented transfers though. NC State defensive tackle C.J. Clark and Washington safety Mishael Powell should be instant impact players for Miami. Mario Cristobal hopes to have the Hurricanes contending for the ACC crown in 2024 and Ward is going to lead that effort.
10. NC State (Nov. 21st, Atlanta, GA)
This is another elite transfer class that Georgia Tech will have to face. NC State brought in the No. 3 transfer class in the ACC and No. 10 in the country. The Wolfpack hope to make a run at the ACC title as well and they went all in to land some big transfers.
Ohio State wide receiver Noah Rogers, Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall, Duke running back Jordan Waters, UConn tight end Justin Joly, and Auburn safety Donovan Kaufman are some of the names to know ahead of 2024.
11. Georgia (Nov. 30th, Athens, GA)
Kirby Smart prioritizes high school recruiting, but he is not afraid to dip into the portal for some talent.
The Bulldogs went to the portal in search of some wide receiver help and got it. Miami wide receiver Colbie Young and Vanderbilt wide receiver Landon Humphreys will be contributors and Florida running back Trevor Etienne is likely a starter. Georgia will be the team to beat next year and this transfer portal class strengthened that claim.
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