Georgia Tech 2024 Spring Football Position Preview: Quarterback
Spring Football is almost upon us.
It seems like just yesterday that the Yellow Jackets defeated UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl for their first bowl win since 2016, but the page has turned on the 2023 season and it is time to start thinking about the 2024 season.
The 2024 season has a chance to be a special one for Georgia Tech. They are returning a lot of production from one of the ACC's best offenses, including the quarterback position.
Haynes King was one of the best stories in college football in 2023. After transferring in from Texas A&M, King turned into one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC, leading a huge turnaround for the Yellow Jackets. He led them to their first bowl win in seven years and is poised to be one of the top quarterbacks in the ACC and the country in 2024.
King is one of only two players in the nation with at least 2,700 passing yards, 600 rushing yards, 25 touchdown passes, and five touchdown runs this season (joining LSU’s Jayden Daniels), and one of only six ACC players to achieve those numbers in a regular season since 2000. He led the ACC in touchdown passes and was fourth in passing yards.
According to PFF (Pro Football Focus), King will be the fourth-highest-graded returning quarterback in the ACC, behind SMU's Preston Stone (91.3 Overall Grade), Florida State's DJ Uiagalelei (82.0), and Miami's Cam Ward (80.7).
Georgia Tech quarterback coach Chris Weinke and quarterback Haynes King
There is one big area that Haynes King needs to improve upon in 2024 and that is decision making and cutting down turnovers. King led the ACC with 16 interceptions last season and he needs to cut that number in half. A lot of his turnovers came in a handful of games. King threw 11 interceptions in four games (Bowling Green, Miami, Clemson, and Boston College) and Georgia Tech was 1-3 in those games. If he cuts down on the turnovers and makes better decisions, King should have another special season.
When talking about the biggest takeaways for the ACC from the opening days of the transfer portal being open, ESPN analyst David Hale (who does a great job of covering the ACC) suggested that Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King might be the biggest name returning at the position for the conference next season:
"The ACC's QB pecking order is going to look a lot different in 2024. Not only is the league losing Jordan Travis and, almost certainly, Drake Maye -- the top two QBs in 2023 -- but with the departure of Riley Leonard and Tyler Van Dyke, the biggest name returning for next year might be Georgia Tech's Haynes King. UNC already made its move to replace Maye, adding former Texas A&M and LSU starter Max Johnson.
Florida State and Louisville would be inviting landing spots for a QB, though both programs also have younger players they'd like to see develop. NC State, too, showed flashes of its offensive potential in the latter stages of the season, and after the departure of MJ Morris, the Wolfpack will be in the market, too. Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Boston College and Clemson figure to be the only schools who aren't in search of a new starter, and they might even be in the market for another veteran to provide insurance for their younger QBs."
Now, that was before FSU got Uiagalelei and Miami got Ward to turn down the NFL and come to Miami, but I think King, Ward, and Uiagalelei are the clear top three quarterbacks in the ACC going into the 2024 season. There are going to be high expectations on King for this upcoming season.
He is not the only talented quarterback that Georgia Tech has though.
Georgia Tech quarterback Zach Pyron
Nathaniel Caudell
King was locked in a tight quarterback battle with Zach Pyron throughout fall camp and while King won, Pyron is going to be one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC this season and gives Georgia Tech important depth. Pyron showcased his talent when he had to step in and play during the 2022 season and I think he has a bright future ahead of him.
One of the most interesting storylines to follow this spring will be the two freshman quarterbacks, Aaron Philo and Graham Knowles.
Former Clemson quarterback and current Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence's all-time record for passing yards by a quarterback in the State of Georgia was broken by Phiolo in the Class 1A, Division 1 State Championship Game between Prince Avenue Christian and Swainsboro.
Lawrence had the record of 13, 902 yards coming into the season, but Philo was within reach of getting the record and he did. He has been one of the most prolific quarterbacks in Georgia High School History and wrapped up his career at that level before he gets on The Flats and plays for Brent Key.
Knowles became the second quarterback in the Yellow Jackets class in June and has stuck with Georgia Tech in this recruiting process. Knowles played at Southlake Caroll High School in Texas and at 6'7 220 LBS, has the size, arm strength, and tools to be developed into a starting quarterback in the ACC. He is also a two-sport athlete who also plays basketball. Other offers that the Texas quarterback had were from UTSA, Memphis, Colorado State, and UConn
According to the 247Sports Composite, Knowles is a three-star player, the No. 788 player in the country, the No. 51 quarterback, and the No. 119 player in the state of Texas.
While neither one of these players will play this season barring an injury, seeing them in their first spring practice at this level will be something to monitor as one of them will be the quarterback of the future for the Yellow Jackets.
This was a position that had some question marks going into the season a year ago, but no longer. King is one of the ACC's best quarterbacks, Pyron is as good of a backup quarterback in the conference as anyone, and there is young talent being developed by Weinke and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner.
The future is bright at quarterback for Georgia Tech.
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