Evaluating Georgia Tech's Roster As The Spring Transfer Portal Window Opens

Jackson Caudell | Apr 16, 2024

Nov 18, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Spring Football has wrapped up and today, the second wave of the transfer portal is starting. For the next couple of weeks, teams will be really active in trying to shore up their rosters ahead of the 2024 season. 

Georgia Tech had their spring game last weekend and had a really good day on The Flats. The offense showed it still has plenty of playmakers and the defense showed signs of improvement, though there is still a long way to go to see if the defense has made enough progress for Georgia Tech to challenge for more wins this season. 

With spring now over and the portal open, let's look at the roster for the Yellow Jackets and discuss positions that they might need to add to during this portal opening. 

Note: This is just speculation on what Georgia Tech might do at each position. 

Quarterback

This one is pretty easy. 

Georgia Tech has one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC in Haynes King, a reliable backup who has talent with Zach Pyron, and two promising freshmen with Aaron Philo and Graham Knowles. This is not a position that needs to be addressed right now. 

Running Back

Jamal Haynes had a huge season in 2023 and looks like he might be even better in 2024. He had a great performance on Saturday, but who provides depth is still a bit of a question mark. The Yellow Jackets have a talented freshman with Anthony Carrie and some veterans such as Trey Cooley, Evan Dickens, and Chad Alexander all competing right now for that No. 2 spot behind Haynes and nobody seemed to separate on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets could look to add to this position through the portal and could look to a former Ohio State Buckeye for that according to On3's Steve Wiltfong. 

One of the most talented players in the transfer portal, former Ohio State RB Dallan Hayden says "Colorado, UCLA, Louisville, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech" are the programs he's heard from so far.

In the 2023 campaign, Hayden made three appearances, tallying 19 carries… pic.twitter.com/jtqJCXOPDb

— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) April 16, 2024

Wide Receiver

This is arguably the deepest position on the roster for Georgia Tech. With guys like Eric Singleton Jr, Malik Rutherford, Christian Leary, Leo Blackburn, Abdul Janneh, and others, it would be surprising to see any additions to this position. 

Tight End

Georgia Tech has already made two additions to tight end through the portal with Jackson Hawes (Yale) and Ryland Goede (Mississippi State) playing in the spring game on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets also have Brett Seither on the roster and four-star tight end Luke Harpring is going to be joining the team in the summer. It is always possible that they add someone, but they may choose to roll with what they have. 

Offensive Line

Georgia Tech returns one of the best offensive lines in the ACC and already made one big addition to it in the last transfer portal window with MTSU transfer Keylan Rutledge coming to Atlanta. Georgia Tech has young players behind the starters for depth and this is another position that unless a really talented player came along, I think the Yellow Jackets might like what they have. 

Defensive Line

This is one position that I think the Yellow Jackets might look to add to this spring. After getting a commitment from Florida State transfer Ayo Tifase in December, he is already back in the portal this morning. 

Former FSU DL Ayo Tifase has entered the transfer portal after less than a semester at Georgia Tech.

— Kelly Quinlan (@Kelly_Quinlan) April 16, 2024

Georgia Tech has Zeek Biggers, Makius Scott, Horace Lockett, Josh Robinson, Eddie Kelly, Kevin Harris, Furman transfer Jack Barton, freshman Jordan Boyd, redshirt freshman Shymeik Jones, and they will be getting veteran defensive end Sylvain Yondjouen back. It appears that Georgia Tech has already shown interest in getting more defensive line help this spring according to 247Sports Chris Hummer. 

FAMU defensive line grad transfer Cherif Seye has emerged as a popular FBS target in the @247SportsPortal.

Offers: UNT, Bowling Green, New Mexico State, WKU & Sam Houston
Interest: Auburn, Kansas, Georgia Tech, Washington & Tulanehttps://t.co/gQnbyAHTKK pic.twitter.com/fdca7jWuU7

— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) April 15, 2024

Linebacker

This is a position that Georgia Tech has already addressed in the first transfer portal window and they showed some flashes this spring. Kyle Efford, Jackson Hamilton, E.J. Lightsey, Tah'j Butler, and Trenilyas Tatum look like the guys at this position for the Yellow Jackets heading into the summer and while it is always possible to add players to the position, they might go ahead with this group. 

Secondary

Corner could be a position where the Yellow Jackets look to add to and according to Steve Wiltfong, they might already be in contact with some corners in the portal:

Talked to the family of former USC DB Tre’Quon Fegans. UCF, Georgia Tech are doing well out the game, Memphis has made a good impression. Mississippi State is in there. Maryland and Boston College are two others to potentially watch. The family has some brief conversation with… pic.twitter.com/PIe7YKhHxC

— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) April 16, 2024

Georgia Tech has Ahmari Harvey, transfers Warren Burrell and Syeed Gibbs, Rodney Shelly, Omar Daniels, and converted wide receiver D.J. Moore at cornerback at the moment. It looks like they might try to add another experienced corner to the group if they are going after Fegans. 

Safety is a position where Georgia Tech has two starters, LaMiles Brooks and Clayton Powell-Lee. If any position in the secondary is added through the portal, I think it is likely it will be a corner. 

Georgia Tech is in pretty good shape in several spots of its roster, but they can always look to add a talented player at any position. It looks like corner, defensive line, and running back are some spots to watch going forward.