Kyle Efford Named ACC Linebacker of the Week After Performance vs Syracuse

Efford recorded 11 tackles and one interception against Syracuse

After an 11-tackle performance that also included the game-sealing interception, Georgia Tech's Kyle Efford was named the ACC linebacker of the week. 

Efford's 11 tackles were a career-high. His first career interception came with 2:18 to go in the game to seal the victory. However, perhaps his biggest play of the game came in the third quarter when he and teammate Horace Lockett teamed up to stuff Syracuse on fourth-and-one from the GT 32-yard line, which gave Tech the ball back with its 24-10 lead intact. The big play proved to be instrumental later in the game when the Orange pulled within two points at 24-22. Efford led a defensive effort that saw Tech limit Syracuse to just 259 yards, nearly 100 yards below the Orange's 357.6-yard average this season (Per ACC PR). 

Kyle Efford posted 11 tackles and an interception against Syracuse on Saturday / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Efford is the leading tackler on this Georgia Tech team with 64 and he also has one sack. 

Efford's performance helped the Yellow Jackets clinch their first bowl appearance since 2018. After Georgia Tech was ahead 24-3, Syracuse made a run to cut it to 24-22. After the two-point conversion failed, Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King ran a touchdown, and then on the ensuing Syracuse drive, Efford picked off a pass and that was the end. Georgia Tech will be going to a bowl game, but first, they have to face the No. 1 team in the country on Saturday. 

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart held his weekly press conference today and discussed how Georgia Tech has improved this year and his familiarity with Key and Yellow Jackets offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner:

"They've won games because they're playing good football. No. 1, they've done a good job upgrading talent. He understands what it takes to win at Tech, what kind of players to go recruit. I think as he gets recruiting classes in there, he's not going to do anything but get better. But when you've got an offensive line coach as a head coach, you're going to have a physical, tough team. That's No. 1. Haynes King is like that. He's fast. He's athletic. We've got several coaches that came from the Texas area that talk about his athleticism in high school, and you see it on tape. Buster's done an unbelievable job with him, and he utilizes his entire skill set. These guys know how to run the football now. They are really good at running the football. They find best runs available, scheme runs, quarterback runs, unbalanced runs. Good backs, really tough O-line. It's a day's work when you go to play these guys with the way they play in terms of toughness and those things. That's what's allowed them to win is they have identity."

It will be a good challenge for the Yellow Jackets on Saturday and the game will kickoff at 7:30 on ABC. 

Kirby Smart Praises the Job Brent Key has Done at Georgia Tech: "They've won games because they're playing good football"

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