Georgia Tech Football Transfer Profile: Defensive End Jack Barton

Will Barton help Georgia Tech's defense in 2024?

Georgia Tech's defense is seeing an overhaul in 2024 both in terms of personnel and the coaching staff. 

The Yellow Jackets had the ACC's worst defense a year ago and in response to that, head coach Brent Key went out and four new coaches, including former Duke defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci. The hope is these coaches are going to bring improvement on that side of the ball, but the new arrivals via the transfer portal are also going to try and spearhead the turnaround. 

One of those transfers is Furman defensive end Jack Barton, who is coming to The Flats with one year of eligibility remaining and he hopes to make it his best season yet. 

Before Barton got to Furman, he was a standout High School player per his Georgia Tech Bio: 

"Saw duty at eight positions during his prep career: defensive end, punter, outside linebacker, middle linebacker, tight end, fullback, nose guard, and defensive tackle … Career statistics include 75 tackles (19 tackles for-loss), 14 sacks, six blocks field goals, and three blocked punts … Served as team captain and earned second team all-region honors in 2018 … Coached by Michael Perry."

The Yellow Jackets are losing some depth and starters at the defensive end position, which is why Barton might be one of the most crucial transfers for Georgia Tech in 2024. Kyle Kennard (leading pass rusher in 2023), Noah Collins, Etinosa Reuben, Ezra Odinjor, and Malcolm Pugh are all gone. The Yellow Jackets rank 105th in returning production on defense and are going to be replacing their pass-rushing production. 

Furman transfer Jack Barton :: JESSICA GALLAGHER/ Staff / USA TODAY NETWORK

Can Barton step up into a starting role and help turn this defense around? He brings a wealth of experience and while he is taking a big step up in competition, he can come in and at minimum provide Georgia Tech with depth. 

Honors & Awards for Barton according to Furman Athletics: 2023 Preseason All-Southern Conference 2nd Team 2023 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll 2023 Southern Conference All-Academic Team2022 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

More from Furman Athletics:

2022 — Emerged as a principal performer on Furman’s defense, seeing action in all 13 games and making nine starts at defensive end...played a pivotal role in Furman’s 10-3 season that featured a stretch of seven consecutive wins and an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs, where the Paladins claimed a 31-6 first round home win over Elon...10 wins represented the most by Furman since 2005...team finished a consensus 10th in final AFCA and Stats Perform Polls...campaign was fueled with strong work by Furman’s defense, which led the FCS in turnovers gained (29), and by superior special teams play that saw the Paladins also top the FCS in blocked kicks (10)...registered 30 tackles on the season, including seven for-loss and 2.5 sacks...paced the FCS with a school record four blocked kicks...began the season as a backup to Jeremiah Jackson...stepped into the starting lineup after Jackson sustained a season ending injury early in the Charleston Southern contest (24-19 win)...went on to log starts in the Paladins’ final nine games...earned his first blocked kick on a 46-yard field goal attempt against Charleston Southern...career starting debut came the next week against Samford...had four tackles, including one for-loss versus The Citadel (21-10 win)...tallied a season high five stops (2 TFLs) against VMI (41-3 win)...deflected a pair of passes and blocked a 24-yard field goal attempt in a 24-20 win over FCS sixth-ranked Chattanooga...blocked FG versus UTC came midway the fourth quarter and helped preserve the Paladins’ 24-20 lead...notched his third blocked kick (30-yard FGA) the next week in a 23-13 road win over FCS 11th-ranked Mercer and extended his streak of blocked field goals to three games by deflecting a 38-yard attempt against Wofford (63-28 win)...named to both 2022 SoCon All-Academic Team and SoCon Academic Honor Roll for the 2022-23 school year."

It would not surprise me if Georgia Tech added more defensive line help in the spring, but Barton is going to need to be a reliable player from day one for Georgia Tech. 

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