Georgia Tech Fall Camp position previews: Special Teams

Georgia Tech will need to be much improved on special teams in 2023

Georgia Tech has a lot of work to clean up their special teams unit from last year. 

Georgia Tech had a number of special teams issues last season and was the 124th special teams unit according to Football Outsiders FEI Ratings. Four punts were blocked last season, which was tied for the most in the country and the Yellow Jackets gave up three punt returns for a touchdown. The unit did improve after former linebackers coach Jason Semore took over, but there were still plenty of things wrong with the special teams. 

One bright spot that emerged last year was kicker Gavin Stewart.

Stewart took over for Jude Kelley after Kelley started the season 2-6 on his field goal attempts and Stewart was solid once he got the starting kicker job. He finished the year 12-13 on field goals, including a memorable 4-4 performance in the upset against Pitt in his first start of 2022. Stewart would also go 3-3 in the upset win over North Carolina. 

Punter David Shanahan looked good in the spring game, punting three times for 150 yards, averaging 50 yards per kick. 

How much better will Georgia Tech's special teams be in 2023? / Georgia Tech Athletics

Brumfield did coach for the FIU Panthers last season, but he also has experience in the ACC as a special teams coordinator.

From 2018-2021, Brumfield was the special teams coordinator at the University of Virginia, as well as also coaching cornerbacks (2019-2021) and tight ends (2018). He has previous experience as a special teams coordinator at UTSA (2016-2017), Western Kentucky (2013-2015), Nicholls State (2011-2012), Fairmont State (2004-2010), and Union College (2001-2003). That is two decades worth of special teams coaching experience and that is going to be huge asset for this Georgia Tech going into this season. 

FIU was tied for 19th in the country last season in blocked kicks and only allowed one blocked punt.

Brumfield is going to have a lot to work on with this special teams unit, but there is hope for improvement with his new arrival.

Georgia Tech shot themselves in the foot too many times last season with special teams' miscues. Even though they got better after head coach Geoff Collins was fired, this team needs to show it can have a full season of consistency at both kicker positions. Stewart was a big part of wins against Pitt, Duke, and North Carolina and showed he has what it takes to be the kicker at Georgia Tech. I was encouraged by what I saw from Shanahan in the spring and with the arrival of Brumfield, all signs point up for Georgia Tech being improved on special teams. 

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