Expect a running back by committee approach from Georgia Tech this season

Georgia Tech could use as many as five running backs this season

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Publish date:
Aug 26, 2023 2:20 PM EDT

In this story:

Georgia Tech is hoping to take a big step forward on the offensive side of the ball this season and while the passing game gets a lot of attention, the running game will need to be better this season.

A couple of years ago, Georgia Tech had a couple of NFL players in Jahmyr Gibbs and Jordan Mason in the backfield. I don't know that Georgia Tech has a superstar in the backfield this season, but I think they have some good backs that complement each other well.

Dontae Smith and Louisville transfer Trey Cooley are the veterans of the group. Still, guys like Jamie Felix, Evan Dickens, and converted wide receiver Jamal Haynes are going to factor in as well.

Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key has said this offseason that he expects a running back by committee approach this offseason:

"There are five guys that we have worked in preseason camp and the nature of that position, like I talked about on Tuesday, it is a position that you get banged up at. Just look at what is going on over the last 4-5 months in the NFL at that position, you gotta have a stable of guys.

At some different point in time at camp, all five of those guys have been running with the 1s and running with the 2s. They all have unique skill sets that they can be beneficial at different points in the game, in different situations in the game but at the end of the day, when the ball is put in your hand, you have to be sure that the ball is in your hand too so ball security is the No.1 thing that we are going to look at. Ability to make a play in the pass game, make a man miss in the run game, be able to be a matchup player when the time comes, whether it is the passing or the run game, being able to be multiple with that position.

So, we have a lot of guys that can do that and I do expect it to be a running back by committee so when you guys get the depth chart, it will say Dontae and or or.

"Yeah they are back there and all full speed out there today. The nature of that position, guys get banged up, they get bumps and bruises and it will be running back by committee for sure."

Georgia Tech running back Dontae Smith — Expect a running back by committee approach from Georgia Tech this season
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

During preseason camp, running backs coach Norval McKenzie has said that he would trust all of his players in a game right now, which speaks to the potential depth that they have:

"Right now I would say all of them and that is just in terms of preparation. We always talk about how preparation leads to performance, we talk about owning your reps and I challenge these guys... we have 120 snaps that each individual took 120 snaps and while you may not have gotten all of them physically, you got all of them mentally.

For us, we talk about the game being played from the neck up, its a mental game, you have to prepare like you are the starter and that is part of my job and part of my responsibility to prepare and I have confidence that if I put them in they can own their rep and they can go do their jobs."

Dontae Smith finished with 420 yards and five touchdowns on 80 carries, averaging 4.8 per carry. Smith is explosive when he is healthy and can catch the ball out of the backfield.

In two seasons at Louisville, Cooley ran for 709 yards and three touchdowns and averaged 4.9 yards per carry. Cooley is going to be a big factor in the backfield for Georgia Tech this season and he was a good addition through the portal.

One guy who has had a good fall camp was Felix, who Key singled out for his performance in one of the scrimmages:

You know, (running back) Jamie Felix is a guy that has been sitting on that two, three, four spot on the depth chart and make no bones about it, we have to run the ball better. We have to be able to hit the hole, we have to understand our pass protection, I don't care who is in there. The same standard applies for the seventh-string guy, sixth-string guy, first-year walk on and those that have gotten starts.

Dickens is a physical runner and Haynes brings an explosive element to the offense. All of these different skills are going to be used by offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner and the Yellow Jackets hope it results in better production for their running backs.

Georgia Tech kicks off their 2023 season against Louisville next Friday at 7:30 on ESPN.

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