Georgia Tech Football 2023 Position Review: Running Back

Georgia Tech saw increased production from the running back position in 2023

Georgia Tech had a below-average running game in 2022 and coming into the season, it was not clear who was going to be the top in the room. Dontae Smith was back for one more season, Trey Cooley was a transfer coming in from Louisville, and the Yellow Jackets were high on true freshman Evan Dickens, who signed in the 2023 recruiting class. 

None of those guys led the team in rushing though. 

Jamal Haynes changed over from the wide receiver position and is less than 70 yards away from being a 1,000-yard rusher. There are a lot of unexpected angles from this season of Georgia Tech football, but Haynes emerging as one of the best running backs in the ACC is near the top. Haynes finished fifth in the ACC in rushing yards and helped spearhead a rushing attack that finished first in the ACC. 

Jamal Haynes running vs Syracuse / Nathaniel Caudell

Haynes ranks fifth in the ACC in rushing yards (931), is tied for sixth in the conference with seven rushing touchdowns and his 6.0 yards per carry rank third in the league. He is the first Yellow Jacket with three 100-yard rushing games in a season since current San Francisco 49er Jordan Mason in 2019 and needs just 69 yards in Tech’s upcoming bowl game to become the program’s first 1,000-yard rusher since QB TaQuon Marshall and RB KirVonte Benson in 2017.

In addition to being voted third-team all-ACC as a running back, Haynes earned honorable mention as an all-purpose back thanks to ranking fifth in the conference with 1,129 total yards from scrimmage (931 rushing, 151 receiving) and tied for the 15th in the league with eight total touchdowns (seven rushing, one receiving).

It is safe to say that Haynes had a really good season for Georgia Tech and he has already announced his return for next season. He is going to be the top back in the offense next season and I am excited for what is next for him. 

Dontae Smith running the ball vs North Carolina / Nathaniel Caudell

Haynes was not the only running back to have a good season. 

Over the last half of the year, Senior Dontae Smith was a perfect complement to Haynes. He had a massive 178-yard game vs North Carolina and was a huge reason that they pulled that upset. Smith finished with 439 yards and three touchdowns this season while averaging 5.2 yards per carry. 

Louisville transfer Trey Cooley finished the year with 274 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Cooley started the year off hot, but Haynes and Smith became the main parts of the rushing attack late in the season. I think Cooley is going to take over Smith's role as the other back in the rushing attack to go along with Haynes. 

Even though Smith is leaving, this is a position of strength for Georgia Tech going into next season. The expectation will be to be among the ACC's best rushing attacks and I think they could be. 

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