Georgia Tech Spring Football: Two-Deep Depth Chart Projections For Defense

How will the defensive depth chart look like for Georgia Tech this spring?

Last season, Georgia Tech improved on defense, especially later in the season. It was a nice step up for the Yellow Jackets after being really bad on that side of the ball in 2021, but Tech is going to have to replace some key players on defense and hope they don't suffer a big step back.

Defensive lineman Keion White, linebackers Charlie Thomas and Ace Eley, and cornerback Zamair Walton are all gone and that is going to leave some holes open on the defense. White, Thomas, and Eley are off to the NFL, while Walton transferred to Ole Miss. 

So how could the defensive depth chart shake out this spring?

Defensive End 

Who will step up as Georgia Tech's top pass rusher this season? / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Larry Knight and David Turner are no longer the coaches on the defensive line, but there is going to be a familiar face there. Former Yellow Jackets player and coach Marco Coleman is back in Atlanta and he is going to be looking to maximize this group.

In terms of edge players, Sylvain Yondjouen was third on the team in sacks with 2.5 and I think that his experience is going to be key for this group. He is a favorite to start on one end and started one game against Pitt last season. 

Kyle Kennard is another veteran player for the Yellow Jackets and started eight games for Tech last season. He had two sacks last season and has 6.5 for his career. He might be the most talented edge player for Georgia Tech.

The other players that were on the depth chart and in the rotation last season are Noah Collins, Josh Robinson, and Kevin Harris. None of these players had a sack this past season, but they are going to be counted on in this rotation and I think they could challenge for a starting spot.

One guy that I am interested to see this spring is former UCLA transfer, Christian Burkhalter. Burkhalter was a talented player in high school but has not found his stride yet in his college career. While the other edge players might have more experience, Burkhalter has a chance to get more playing time this season.

 1. Kyle Kennard (Starter)

2. Sylvain Yondjouen (Starter)

3. Noah Collins (Backup)

4. Christian Burkhalter (Backup)

Defensive Tackle

D'Quan Douse will be a big part of the Georgia Tech defensive line this season / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The strength of the 2023 defensive line for Georgia Tech might be on the interior. Both D'Quan Douse and Makius Scott are going to be back and both players improved a good deal last season. Douse was tied for second on the team in sacks with 3.5 and you could see him get better in each game, especially in his performance against Virginia Tech, where he had 2.5 sacks and earned a high grade on PFF for his performance.

Scott had 1.5 sacks last season and 22 tackles as well. I think there are some holes on this football team where I can't definitely project the starters, but defensive tackle is where I think it is safe to pencil in Douse and Scott as the two starters.

 But who will provide depth?

I think Clemson transfer Etinosa Reuben is going to be used along the defensive line at both edge and interior and it would not surprise me if he plays more snaps at defensive tackle.

During his time with the Clemson Tigers, Reuben tallied 19 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Reuben had his best season in 2021 when he totaled 2.5 sacks and 14 tackles. According to PFF (Pro Football Focus), Reuben played 192 snaps in 2021 and finished with a 72.2 grade, with a 68.5 grade in run defense, and a 69.8 pass rushing grade. With the Tiger's defensive line healthier, Reuben only saw 56 total snaps during the 2022 season according to PFF.

So where will Reuben line up for the Yellow Jackets?

Based on where he spent the majority of his time at Clemson, I think Reuben is going to line up inside at defensive tackle. In 2021, PFF charted Reuben as playing 129 of his snaps at defensive tackle and 41 of those snaps as a nose tackle. Georgia Tech is returning two experienced defensive tackles who got better as the season went on and if Reuben can step in and provide some depth there, that is going to make the defensive line a strength for Georgia Tech. Guys like Zeek Biggers, Akelo Stone, and Jason Moore are also going to challenge for playing time and I am optimistic that this group will be a plus for Georgia Tech in 2023

Two other guys to keep a close eye on are redshirt freshmen K.J. Miles and Horace Lockett. Both are two of the highest-rated recruits in the 2022 class but did not see the field last season. I am interested to see if either player can push for playing time this fall.

 1. D'Quan Douse (Starter)

2. Makius Scott (Starter)

3. Etinosa Reuben (Backup)

4. Zeek Biggers (Backup)

This is just a two-deep depth chart, but I think that Stone, Lockett, Miles, and Moore are going to be major factors in the rotation and for the defense. There is potential for this to be a deep group, but there is going to need to be an improvement from everyone for that to happen. Reuben has a chance to be the highest-impact transfer on either side of the ball.

Linebacker 

Can Braelen Oliver be a starter for Georgia Tech in 2023? / Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia Tech had one of the best linebacker duos in the ACC and the country last season with Thomas and Eley, but both guys are off to the NFL. Both of these players were also named All-Conference by the ACC. Not only are they gone, but Demetrius Knight II transferred to Charlotte

Both Eley and Thomas had over 100 tackles for the Yellow Jackets. Eley had a season for the ages by totaling 118 tackles, 3.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and three pass deflections. Eley put together a great final season for the program.

Thomas had just as good of a season as Eley and he did it while having to miss time due to targeting penalties. For the season, Thomas had 112 tackles, two sacks, two pass deflections, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

Both players helped lead the Yellow Jackets to defensive improvement and replacing both players is going to be hard to do, but new head coach Brent Key is going to have to find a way.

In the high school ranks, Georgia Tech brought in three prospects in the 2023 recruiting class. Ashton Heflin, Nacari Ashley, and Jacob Cruz are going to have a chance to be the future at the position, but with the veteran transfer additions, I think it is likely they could redshirt this season, but any freshmen could surprise and they are guys to keep an eye on during the season. Heflin is an early enrollee and will be participating this spring, while Cruz and Ashley will be arriving later.

One of the three additions to the linebacker room is Braelen Oliver, who is coming over from Minnesota. Oliver is originally from Georgia and played at Douglas County High School and is returning to his home state to try and help Georgia Tech return to having winning seasons. For his career, Oliver has amassed 79 tackles, three pass deflections, 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. I fully expect Oliver to challenge for one of the starting spots that have been vacated by Eley and Thomas.

Andre White Jr is one of three transfers Georgia Tech landed from Texas A&M and he has a chance to be one of the most impactful transfers that the Yellow Jackets signed this offseason. White tallied up 61 tackles, six pass deflections, one forced fumble, and an interception. He was a four-star recruit in the 2019 class.

Austin Dean is coming over to Atlanta from Rutgers. Last season, Dean (6'2, 225 LBS) registered 18 tackles. He is a former three-star recruit in the 2020 class and played his high school football at Berkeley Prep in Tampa, FL.

So what about the guys that were already on the roster?

Trenilyas Tatum is likely to be heavily involved in the rotation and was one of the main backups for the Yellow Jackets last season. Tatum is a talented player and I think one of the top guys to watch this spring. Last season, he totaled 31 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.

Kyle Efford was the lone linebacker recruit in the 2022 class and I think he will have a chance to compete as well. Taylor McCawley served as a backup last season and totaled four tackles last season. Khatavian Franks and Tyson Meiguez have been with the program and were both a part of the 2020 class for the Yellow Jackets and they might be ready to compete. 

1. Braelen Oliver (Starter)

2. Andre White Jr (Starter)

3. Trenilyas Tatum (Backup)

4. Austin Dean (Backup)

Cornerback

Myles Sims is going to be one of the leaders of the Georgia Tech defense in 2023 / Georgia Tech Athletics

Myles Sims will be locking down one side of the field and can be one of the best cornerbacks in the ACC. Sims started every game last season and I am excited to see how he looks in 2023

But how will the rest of the depth chart look?

There are a number of candidates that I think are going to compete for the spot opposite of Sims. Kenan Johnson, Kenyatta Watson Jr, and Ahmari Harvey were listed as the backups last season on the depth chart and I think they will get the first crack at the job.

Out of the three players, Johnson played the most snaps last season by a considerable amount. According to PFF (Pro Football Focus), Johnson played 161 total snaps for the Yellow Jackets and finished with a 69.9 grade overall, which is solid. Johnson finished the season with 12 tackles and one pass deflection.

Watson played 67 snaps last season and finished with a 51.7 grade on PFF. He totaled seven tackles last season.

Harvey only played 12 snaps after transferring in from Auburn.

K.J. Wallace started most of the games at nickel last season and will likely be the starter heading into the spring. Kenny Bennett was the main backup at nickel last season, but he is out of eligibility and the backup spot is going to be up for grabs in the spring and that might go all the way into the fall. Khari Gee is listed on the depth chart as a safety, but he did start one game at nickel and with Georgia Tech having three solid players at safety, Gee might be the main backup at this spot. Keep an eye on the nickel position in the spring.

This secondary is talented and has experience. How good it can be might be dependent on who steps up on the opposite side of Sims and if Wallace takes a step up from last season (he is capable of doing so). 

Cornerback

1. Myles Sims (Starter)

2. Kenan Johnson (Starter)

3. Kenyatta Watson Jr (Backup)

4. Ahmari Harvey (Backup)

Safety

LaMiles Brooks was one of the top players on Georgia Tech's defense in 2023 / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Safety was a position last season that saw two players step up when called upon and it is going to be beneficial for the 2023 season.

Jaylon King and Derrik Allen were the starting safeties at the beginning of last season, but LaMiles Brooks and Clayton Powell-Lee were the starters by the end of the season. King suffered a leg injury after starting the first five games of the season and was replaced by Powell-Lee, who was a true freshman last season, and Allen was in a position battle with Brooks and lost his starting job early in the season. Allen transferred to North Carolina and King is back for his last season on The Flats.

In my opinion, this is the strongest position on the entire team. Brooks finished as the highest-graded player on Georgia Tech according to PFF (Pro Football Focus) and Powell-Lee finished No. 5. With two of the top-graded players in the secondary returning, this is going to be the strength of the entire defense and perhaps the entire team.

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. Brooks was the best player on the field that night and I expect more performances like that from Brooks in the future.

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 shoulder injury.

Gee was listed as the backup safety behind Powell-Lee during the season and also started a game at nickel. I think Gee is going to be challenging for the backup spot this spring and will also be a top special teams contributor.

Jaylin Marshall was a true freshman last season and I am interested to see if he can make a push to be a backup or see the field in a special teams capacity. Kaleb Edwards had 11 tackles last season and I expect him to be involved in the competition to be a backup and special teams contributor.

Safety

1. LaMiles Brooks (Starter)

2. Clayton Powell-Lee (Starter)

3. Jaylon King (Backup)

4. Khari Gee (Backup)

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