Georgia Tech Football Potential Breakout Candidates: Running Back

Is there a breakout candidate at running back for Georgia Tech?

Ahead of the 2023 season, I am going to be taking a look at potential breakout candidates for Georgia Tech at each position, and after covering quarterback over the weekend, it is time to take a look at the running back position. 

This was a position that coming out of the spring, looked like there could be some depth and multiple guys vying for roles. With leading rusher Hassan Hall gone, there is going to need to be someone to step up for a Georgia Tech offense that is going to want to be able to run the ball. 

Returning from last season is Dontae Smith, who is an explosive playmaker when healthy, and Georgia Tech once again dipped into the portal to find another running back from Louisville. Trey Cooley was the leading rusher for the Yellow Jackets in the spring game with eight carries for 59 yards and he is going to play a role on this team this season. Smith and Cooley seem to be entrenched, but I think there is one player that could carve out a significant role and have a breakout season and that is Sophomore running back Jamie Felix. 

Can Jamie Felix be a breakout player for Georgia Tech in 2023? / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

When you glance at Felix's stats, they are not going to blow you away. 23 carries for 80 yards and an average of 3.5 yards per carry are not mindblowing, but when you watched Felix get carries toward the end of the year, he was a tough runner who showed physicality and he finished with six catches for 41 yards, showing there is potential for receiving upside. 

For the 2022 season, Felix finished with a PFF (Pro Football Focus) grade of 59.4, with a 55.9 grade in running, and a 58.0 in run blocking. There is clearly going to have to be a step taken in his development and he needs to show an ability to make the big play, but I think Felix adds a different element to the offense that perhaps Smith and Cooley don't bring. 

I think there are going to be multiple running backs used and they each bring something different to Buster Faulkner's offense. Felix has a physicality element that the others don't and I think that will make him the breakout player in the running back room. 

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