Georgia Tech breakout candidates: Can Andre White Jr be the new leader at LB?

White comes over to Atlanta after spending time at Texas A&M

Jackson Caudell | Jun 28, 2023

Georgia Tech breakout candidates: Can Andre White Jr be the new leader at LB? /

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Georgia Tech had one of the best linebacker duos in the ACC last season with Charlie Thomas and Ace Eley, who are both now in the NFL.

Both Eley and Thomas had over 100 tackles for the Yellow Jackets. Eley had a season for the ages by totaling 118 tackles, 3.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and three pass deflections. Eley put together a great final season for the program.

Thomas had just as good of a season as Eley and he did it while having to miss time due to targeting penalties. For the season, Thomas had 112 tackles, two sacks, two pass deflections, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

With both players gone, the Yellow Jackets coaching staff went into the transfer portal and landed Andre White Jr (Texas A&M), Braelen Oliver (Minnesota), Austin Dean (Rutgers), and Paul Moala (Idaho). Replacing those guys is going to be tough, but one or more of these guys is going to have to step up and there is one guy in particular that I think is ready for a breakout season.

White is coming to Atlanta after spending four seasons in College Station and he is one of three transfers from A&M that is joining Brent Key's squad (Haynes King and Chase Lane are the others) and all three of these guys are hoping to be an instant impact player. White has traits that are similar to Thomas and that is what stands out the most to me.

White is a former four-star recruit from Harrisburg, PA, and here was his scouting report coming out of high school, courtesy of 247Sports national recruiting analyst Brian Dohn:

"Tremendous frame with ability to add 15 pounds and play at 230. Can play inside or outside linebacker. Runs well and closing speed is impressive. Gets to full speed in a few steps. Movements are fluid and easy. Changes direction well. Explodes into gaps and plays physical. Can get off blocks and locate ball carrier quickly. Effective blitzer. Can chase a play to sideline. Good body control. Nice footwork when dropping into coverage. Drives through ball carrier when tackling. A big hitter with attitude. Upper body strength needs work. Must be consistent with wrapping up on tackles and keep his pad level low at contact. Two- or three-year starter at top 20 Power 5 school. Third- or fourth-round draft pick."

I think his speed and running ability is something that stands out about White. One of the things that Thomas did well during his career was close in on ball carriers with speed and pressure the quarterback and that is evidenced by his 10 career sacks. I think that White can replicate some of that on the field and that kind of ability is why ESPN's Bill Connelly named White as one of his 10 favorite ACC players heading into the season:

"Generally, averaging havoc plays (TFLs, passes defended, forced fumbles) on more than 1.5% of your snaps is pretty good. In seven games with A&M last year, White averaged 3.0%. Give him a starring role and watch him post star-level numbers."

Eley and Thomas combined forced six fumbles last season, as well as five pass defelctions. When this defensive staff was looking to replace both of those players, I am sure that White's ability to create negative plays stood out to them and now that he has a chance to start for the Yellow Jackets, he could be a big reason the defense sees a big improvement this season.

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