Georgia Tech Football: Post Spring Defensive Depth Chart Projection

How will Georgia Tech replace key defenders in 2023?

Jackson Caudell | May 9, 2023

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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

When discussing the Georgia Tech depth chart projection on the offensive side of the ball, I talked about how there is going to be competition at every position and how there are still a lot of undecided spots for the Yellow Jackets. That is going to be the same on the defensive side of the ball as well.

Georgia Tech is going to be missing Keion White, Charlie Thomas, and Ace Eley and they lost starting cornerback Zamari Walton to the transfer portal. While defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker and defensive backs coach Travares Tillman are back, the defense has two new coaches in Kevin Sherrer and Marco Coleman, who is back after spending a year at Michigan State.

It was hard to have any big takeaways from the spring game on the defensive side of the ball. Head coach Brent Key admitted after the spring game that the defense was only playing a couple of coverages and not blitzing either. It was a very vanilla game plan and made it hard to judge the performance.

The positions battles will go on through the fall and I expect plenty of rotation at these spots.

Let's take a crack at projecting the two-deep depth chart for the Georgia Tech defense.

Defensive Line:

Georgia Tech defensive tackle D'Quan Douse — D'Quan Douse is likely to remain a starter for Georgia Tech this fall / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The defensive line, particularly the edge rusher, is going to be a question mark for the Yellow Jackets. White was the most consistent pass rusher last season and while there are plenty of guys with experience, there is not a true standout at the position right now.

On the interior, it appeared as if Akelo Stone was going to be a significant contributor to the defense. He was a captain for the spring game and received the award for best defensive lineman, but opted to enter the transfer portal after the spring. I think the Yellow Jackets will be fine there, but Stone appeared to be a possible breakout player for them. Redshirt freshman K.J. Miles also entered the portal.

I expect D'Quan Douse and Makius Scott to be the starters on the interior and guys like Etinosa Reuben (who can play inside and outside) and Zeek Biggers, who I think is on the verge of becoming a fixture of this defense. Jason Moore and Horace Lockett are also guys that could figure in.

On the edge, here is what Thacker had to say after a spring practice about the position and the guys to watch:

"Yeah, I'll give you names. Noah Collins, Kyle Kennard, and Kevin Harris have an opportunity to have real downs and have some experience. They are literally in a three-headed competition. At some point they have been with every group in first, second, or third string. This offseason is huge as far as them understanding the position and I would argue that one of the most complex positions is the rush position as far as what we ask them to do."

Collins, Kennard, and Harris are the three guys I expect to get the most snaps, but Sylvain Yondjouen and Josh Robinson should also factor in.

Projection:

Defensive Tackle:

1. D'Quan Douse

2. Makius Scott

3. Zeek Biggers

4. Etinosa Reuben

Defensive End:

1. Noah Collins

2. Kyle Kennard

3. Sylvain Yondjouen

4. Josh Robinson

Linebacker:

Braelen Oliver should be a factor at linebacker for Georgia Tech in 2023 / Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

It will not be easy replacing a pair of 100+ tackle players like Thomas and Eley, but that is what this group is going to have to try and do. The linebacker unit did lose one guy to the transfer portal (Khatavian Franks).

One guy that I was excited to see in the spring game was Texas A&M transfer Andre White Jr, but he was unable to play.

Minnesota transfer Braelen Oliver has the experience and I think the defense will need that in 2023. If he stays healthy, I think he will likely be one of the starters at linebacker, but the competition for the other spot will be interesting.

Trenilyas Tatum, Kyle Efford, White, Tyson Meiguez, and freshman Ashton Heflin will be the other competitors for that spot. Heflin was one of the freshman standouts from the spring game, finishing with four tackles, which was the second most on team swarm. Rutgers transfer Austin Dean (1 tackle in the spring game) and freshman Jacob Cruz and Nacari Ashley will compete in the fall.

This is going to be a spot with plenty of competition and multiple guys could play this fall.

Projection:

1. Braelen Oliver

2. Andre White Jr

3. Kyle Efford

4. Tyson Meiguez

Secondary

Georgia Tech defensive backs Myles Sims and LaMiles Brooks — The secondary should be a strength for Georgia Tech this fall / Georgia Tech Athletics

This is likely to be the strength of the defense, even with Walton transferring. LaMiles Brooks, Clayton Powell-Lee, Jaylon King, and Myles Sims make up a strong core for the back of the defense and K.J. Wallace is back at nickel.

There is going to be an ongoing competition for the corner spot opposite of Sims. Kenan Johnson, Kenyatta Watson, and Ahmari Harvey have been the main contenders for that spot and I think it will be one of them. The coaching staff did pursue Alabama cornerback transfer Tre'Quon Fegans this offseason.

Rodney Shelley, Sirad Bryant, and Eric Reed Jr are going to be contenders as well for playing time and they saw plenty of it in the spring game. Bryant led team swarm in tackles with six. Freshmen Steven Jones Jr, Taye Seymore, and Nico Dowdell are arriving this summer.

One thing to note is how the positional flexibility of some of these guys could change things. The coaching staff talked about Brooks playing some nickel, which would allow them to play him alongside both King and Powell-Lee:

"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.

Anytime that you can talk about depth charts and starters, some guys can get into their feelings, but that group has humility right now and we can use that to our advantage. You mentioned the safeties, the other part of that is the nickleback position. 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."

Projection:

Cornerback:

1. Myles Sims

2. Kenan Johnson

3. Kenyatta Watson

4. Ahmari Harvey

Safety:

1. LaMiles Brooks

2. Clayton Powell-Lee

3. Jaylon King

4. Khari Gee

Nickel:

1. K.J. Wallace

2. Rodney Shelley

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Defensive Line:

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Secondary

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