Georgia Tech Football Transfer Profile: Tight End Ryland Goede

What will Ryland Goede bring to Georgia Tech's tight end room?

Georgia Tech is losing Dylan Leonard and Luke Benson from last year's tight end room and both players brought something valuable to the offense and the locker. 

Earlier in the year, Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key talked at length about what Leonard brought to Georgia Tech: 

"I know you are talking about progression in terms of catching the football but anyone that has watched Dylan Leonard play football this season would be blown away, No. 2 is playing as well as any tight end in the country right now when it comes to the way he blocks, blocks core, blocks moving, blocks on the perimeter, I could not be more proud of that kid and what he is doing for this football team. You want to talk about someone that bleeds Georgia Tech and bleeds White and Gold and is all about this place, then watch the way he plays for 50, 60, 65 plays in a game. He is Georgia Tech, the gritness, the toughness, that is the intelligence, that is what this program is about is the way he is playing the game. If he gets catches, that is a bonus in what he is doing for this football team. That entire position is playing as good of football as I have seen out of a tight end position I have seen in my entire career."

With Leonard and Benson gone, most knew that Georgia Tech was going to have to find answers through the transfer portal, even with Brett Seither back. One of the guys that Georgia Tech brought in was former Georgia and Mississippi State tight end Ryland Goede. 

Georgia Tech transfer pick up Ryland Goede / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

I think that you will see Georgia Tech use its tight ends in a similar fashion in 2024. They rotated heavily between Leonard, Benson, and Seither last year and used their different skill sets depending on what they would like to do on offense. Seither made some big catches in different games but was not as good of a blocker as Leonard. Georgia Tech is bringing in two new transfers at the position as well as two new true freshmen. 

Coming out of high school, Goede was a highly regarded prospect. Per his bio at Georgia Tech Athletics: 

"Four-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … Ranked as the No. 6 tight end nationally and the No. 23 prospect in the state of Georgia … Finished his prep days as the Kennesaw Mountain all-time career leader in receptions, receiving yards and catches by a tight end … Earned All-Region 3-7A First Team honors as both a junior and senior … His senior season was cut short due to injury … Named to the USA Today 2017 All-USA Georgia Second Team offense … Hauled in 21 catches for 228 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a junior at Kennesaw Mountain … Coached by Caleb Carmean."

While it would not surprise me if he adds to his receiving numbers, I think he could be primarily the blocking tight end. That is how he was primarily used at Mississippi State and was solid. 

Per PFF (Pro Football Focus), Goede had 158 run-blocking snaps and 55 run-blocking snaps, twice the amount of snaps that he played where he ran a route. He finished with a 60.3 pass-blocking grade and a 60.9 Run-Blocking grade per PFF. Mississippi State was a more run-heavy team last year, but Goede was used more for blocking than receiving. That does not mean he can't turn into a reliable receiver, but I think it could offer a glimpse of the kind of role that Brent Key and Buster Faulkner envision for Goede in 2024. 

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