Georgia Tech Football Fall Camp position previews: Safeties

Georgia Tech has a talented safety room heading into 2023

Jackson Caudell | Jul 29, 2023

Georgia Tech Football Fall Camp position previews: Safeties /

In this story:

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Georgia Tech has some uncertainties on its roster, but the safety position is not one of them.

The Yellow Jackets have three talented safeties back this season and if they stay healthy, it could be the strongest position on the team and one of the better safety rooms in the ACC.

In terms of departures, Derrik Allen (North Carolina) and Jalen Huff (FAU) entered the transfer portal this offseason.

Leading the way for the Yellow Jackets' safety is a potential All-ACC player in LaMiles Brooks.

I think that Brooks has a chance to be Georgia Tech's 1st first-round draft pick since 2010. PFF (Pro Football Focus) is also high on Brooks entering the 2023 season and had him as one of the five highest-graded returning safeties in the country this season.

Highest graded returning Safeties🔥 pic.twitter.com/Nf1vv7pZ4Q
— PFF College (@PFF_College) May 14, 2023

Brooks finished as the highest-graded player on Georgia Tech last according to PFF (Pro Football Focus) and his coverage grade of 86.8 was good for 21st in the country and fourth in the ACC. He finished as the 23rd highest-graded safety in the country according to PFF last season.

Brooks finished the season with 52 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions. His best performance came in a loss to Virginia when he finished with nine tackles and a pick-six.

He possesses the size to be a first-round pick as well at 6'2 192 LBS and is a physical tackler.

Brooks is an instinctive safety in coverage and his versatility is going to be on display this season. During the spring, defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker talked about how Brooks had to play nickel last season and he could do more of that in 2023:

"So K.J. Wallace would probably be listed as the starting nickle positon right now, but LaMiles Brooks in multiple games kicked down to that position so you are talking about having four guys with experience for three spots so we are able to cross-train those guys and use them in that way.

A tangible example would be being at North Carolina this past season, K.J. Wallace goes down and we slide LaMiles Brooks down to that position at nickel. That is the group that has the most maturity right now."

Brooks talked at ACC Media Days this week about how he is helping take on more of a leadership role this season as well:

"Leadership-wise I would say myself, D'Quan Douse, and Sylvain here. We've all kind of already been leaders on the team in a sense, but now that Ace and Charlie are gone, we're here to continue to push the message that they pushed. Obviously from the head man himself. The new additions, two linebackers, Andre and Braelen. Excited to see how they come in and play in the fall. You know, they had a good spring, been preparing well in the summer, and it will be a show this fall."

Brooks has a chance to be one of the most impactful defenders in the conference, but the other safeties deserve attention as well.

LaMiles Brooks is one of the best safeties in the ACC / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

After not starting at the beginning of the year, Clayton Powell-Lee took over and never looked back.

When a true freshman steps into a starting role, there can be a lot of ups and downs that come with their play, but on a week-to-week basis, Powell-Lee stepped up in a big way and provided a consistent presence in the back of the defense. He finished the year with 46 tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception. He played well in the win against Virginia Tech, totaling six tackles and an interception in the game and he was named the ACC defensive back of the week after that performance.

Georgia Tech finished the season with the sixth-ranked pass defense in the ACC and sixth in interceptions. There is plenty of room for improvement on those numbers and with Brooks and Powell-Lee heading into their second season as starters, I expect improvement in those numbers.

With King returning for his last season, I think he is going to be part of the rotation and be a top backup. King had 32 tackles and one interception before he went down with his leg injury.

Defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker spoke this spring about King's return from injury:

"So Jaylon King was our starter last season and I believe it was game five against Pittsburgh in the middle of game five where he broke his leg and had what I thought was a pretty dang serious injury so I am impressed that he is back in spring ball right now. That created an opportunity and sure enough, Clayton Powell-Lee was the next man up and played at an incredibly high level and got a lot of accolades and played at a high level and can be one of our most dynamic players on defense so it is a luxury."

While these three players are going to get the majority of the snaps, who are others to know?

Khari Gee was listed as a backup safety on the depth chart last year and he is likely to be one again. Gee could also play a big role on special teams.

There are a pair of freshmen to mention as well. Taye Seymore and Justin Brown are talented players, but it will be hard to crack the rotation of this group.

I am excited about this group this season because they have a chance to be even better than they were last year. Brooks was in his first season as a starter and Powell-Lee was only a freshman. If they both take steps forward and King returns well from his injury, this could be one of the better secondaries in the ACC potentially.

Facebook: All Yellow Jackets

Twitter: @AllYellowJacket

Follow Jackson on Twitter: @jacksoncaudell

Follow Madison on Twitter: @Madison_Meyers7

Follow Matthew on Twitter: @kistner__

See all of the latest Tech News at AllYellowJackets.com

Check out the Georgia Tech Homepage

Listen to the Goal Line Stand Podcast for the best Georgia Tech and national college football coverage!

More Georgia Tech Related Content: