Georgia Tech Football 2023 Position Review: Wide Receiver

Georgia Tech had a deep wide receiver room in 2023

Coming into the year, the wide receiver room for Georgia Tech was a question mark. Nate McCollum had gone to North Carolina via the transfer portal while EJ Jenkins and Malachi Carter went to the NFL Draft. Georgia Tech brought in four players from the transfer portal and added some potential impact freshmen, but there were no clear answers for the Yellow Jackets at the position, even if there was talent. 

After the year, you could argue that this was the deepest position on the team and even better news is that they are all going to be back for the 2024 season. 

Eric Singleton Jr was the highest-rated player in the Yellow Jackets 2023 recruiting class according to 247Sports and he looked like he might be a potential superstar this season. 

Georgia Tech wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr / Nathaniel Caudell

Singleton Jr. leads all freshmen (true or redshirt) nationally with 64.2 receiving yards per game and ranks second among true freshmen nationally with six touchdown receptions. His 706 receiving yards and six touchdown catches both rank among the top 10 overall in the ACC, while his six TD receptions are just one shy of the Georgia Tech freshman record of seven, held by Calvin Johnson (2004) and Ahmarean Brown (2019).

Singleton Jr was in the running for offensive rookie of the year and he finished second. NC State wide receiver Kevin "KC" Concepcion was awarded the Rookie of the Year.

Singleton continued to garner recognition and was named to the 247Sports True Freshman All-American Team as well.

Here is what 247Sports Analyst Chris Hummer had to say about the season that Singleton had:

"Georgia Tech had one of college football’s biggest offensive jumps this year, moving from 115th to 28th from 2022-23 in average yards per play. Singleton was a huge reason why. The Douglasville, Georgia, native led the Yellow Jackets in catches (47), yards (706) and touchdowns (six), emerging as the program’s most productive receiver since Stephen Hill in 2011."

Singleton announced that he is going to remain at Georgia Tech and he will be one of the ACC's best wide receivers next season. 

Malik Rutherford was the second-leading receiver on Georgia Tech. He caught 44 passes for 462 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 10. 5 yards per catch. His biggest performance came in Georgia Tech's big win over North Carolina. Rutherford caught six passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. He was a reliable player and he also announced that he was coming back to Georgia Tech next season. 

Malik Rutherford catching a touchdown vs North Carolina / Nathaniel Caudell

It was a career year for Georgia transfer Dominick Blaylock. Blaylock was the third-leading receiver on the Yellow Jackets, caught 21 passes for 337 yards, and had two touchdowns. He was also the primary punt returner for Georgia Tech. He had a good impact on the field, but Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key praised Blaylock for his impact as a leader as well. 

"Yeah, we brought in four transfer receivers last year because we knew that offensively, we had to increase our production and become more explosive and become a more explosive offense. The quickest way to do that in college football is to have receivers that can spread the field horizontally and vertically and to have a triggerman that can get the ball to them and then his added value in the punt return game will be a big challenge this week so.

It has been great to have him, but Dom is a great kid. He is a guy that comes in and he does not say anything and just goes to work. To see what he has overcome in his career and to be able to have some success, I am really happy for him."

Christian Leary was the fourth-leading receiver for Georgia Tech this season, catching 25 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns, while also returning kickoffs. He was also responsible for the biggest play of the season for Georgia Tech: 

GEORGIA TECH STUNS MIAMI.

The craziest ending to a game this season. pic.twitter.com/bZqQoRAxss

— College Football Alerts  (@CFBAlerts_) October 8, 2023

Chase Lane had a good start to the year, but injuries cost him some time. I think he could have a really good 2024 season if he stays healthy. Duquesne transfer Abdul Janneh had six catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He will once again provide depth for Georgia Tech next year. 

This turned out to be a position of strength for the Yellow Jackets and first-year receivers coach Josh Crawford should be getting a ton of credit for how this position developed. Crawford did a great job of coaching these guys after coming over from Western Kentucky and I think he is a rising star in the coaching ranks. 

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