PFF Grades: Who are Georgia Tech's 10 highest-graded players at midseason?

Georgia Tech is 3-3 heading into their bye week

Jackson Caudell | Oct 11, 2023

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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

It is officially the midseason point for Georgia Tech.

If you had asked most, a 3-3 record would be a pretty common answer for how Georgia Tech could be at this point in the season, but how they have gotten here has been a roller coaster.

Georgia Tech had a 15-point lead against Louisville in the opener (Cardinals are rising in the rankings now), but faltered and lost the game. After a win over South Carolina State and a road loss to Ole Miss, Georgia Tech went on the road and got an impressive win over Wake Forest. The next two games could not have been any different.

Georgia Tech was a three-touchdown favorite against Bowling Green but lost in an embarrassing effort and there was real question about how they would bounce back. The bounce-back wound up being one of the craziest finishes in college football history in the final thirty seconds against Miami.

That is how the Yellow Jackets have gotten here, but who has led them here? Let's take a look at the 10-highest graded players on PFF (Pro Football Focus) so far this season for Georgia Tech.

Note: I only included players that have played at least 100 snaps.

1. DB Clayton Powell-Lee (76.9 Grade On PFF)

Going into the season, the safeties were pegged as a strength for Georgia Tech, with a trio of LaMiles Brooks, Jaylon King, and Clayton Powell-Lee set to be the stars of the defense. The defense has had its troubles this season, but one of the brightest spots of the season has been Powell-Lee.

Powell-Lee is the second leading tackler on Georgia Tech with 32 tackles and he has one interception, to go along with two pass deflections. He has a pretty solid all around grade on PFF in both run defense (77.3) and coverage (75.1). It has been a good season so far for the Sophomore and I am intrigued by how he plays in the second half of the season.

2. DE Kyle Kennard (76.6 PFF Grade)

Kennard has put together some huge performances this year for the defense. In the game against South Carolina State, he forced a fumble, had a fumble recovery, and an interception. Against Wake Forest, Kennard had four sacks and was constantly pressuring the quarterback. Kennard leads the team in sacks and tackles and has been one of the more consistent players on the Georgia Tech defense. He has a 73.9 pass-rushing grade on PFF and for Georgia Tech to continue to get better on defense and push for a bowl game, they will need to have Kennard continue to play how he is playing.

3. LB Kyle Efford (76.0 PFF Grade)

Trenilyas Tatum and Paul Moala have been the starters on the Georgia Tech depth chart, but it has been Kyle Efford who is the highest-graded linebacker so far this season for the Yellow Jackets. Efford is fifth on the team in tackles with 24 and has a 76.0 grade on PFF midway through the season. Look to see if Efford gets more snaps than the 114 that he has so far this season.

4. DE Kevin Harris (75.9 PFF Grade)

For a team that has had a much better offense than defense so far this season, it is interesting to see the top four players on PFF are all defensive players. Harris has played 167 snaps this season and has been at the top of the defensive line rotation. Harris has a 76.5 tackling grade and a 73.6 pass-rushing grade.

5. OL Joe Fusile (75.5 PFF Grade)

The highest-graded offensive player on Georgia Tech this season is offensive lineman Joes Fusile, who has started every game at left guard this season. Fusile was a first-year starter who struggled last season, but he has made huge strides and has had a pretty good season under new offensive line coach Geep Wade. Fusile has a 75.7 pass-blocking grade and a 75.2 run-blocking grade this season.

6. WR Eric Singelton Jr (74.6 PFF Grade)

Eric Singleton Jr has been tremendous for Georgia Tech this season and while I don't think he is getting the attention he deserves nationally, PFF has him graded as the second-best player on the offense. He was named to On3 Sports midseason Freshman All-American Team.

Singleton leads the Yellow Jackets in receiving with 355 yards on 20 catches and he has five touchdowns this season, averaging nearly 18 yards per catch. He is currently seventh in the ACC in receiving yards and second in touchdowns. He has given this team much-needed speed at the position and looks like a future superstar.

7. LB Paul Moala (74.5 Grade on PFF)

Paul Moala had one of the highlights of Georgia Tech's season when he stripped the ball from Miami running back Don Chaney Jr and gave the ball back to Georgia Tech's offense. Moala has started every game for Georgia Tech and has 24 tackles and two pass deflections to go along with the forced fumble. He leads the linebackers in snaps played and that is not going to change anytime soon.

8. DB LaMiles Brooks (73.4 PFF Grade)

Brooks just had his best game of the season against Miami and had a crucial red zone interception in the game. I think that Brooks is ready to have a big second half of the season and remind everyone why he is an All-ACC caliber player. Brooks has 25 tackles this season and is tied for the lead in pass deflections with four.

9. WR Christian Leary (72.8 PFF Grade)

Leary made the play of the season for Georgia Tech by catching the game-winning touchdown against Miami, but he has been a solid player all season. He has 13 catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns while averaging over 14 yards per catch.

10. DB K.J. Wallace (72.8 PFF Grade)

Wallace has been the starter at nickel for Georgia Tech in every game this season and has played the fourth-most snaps on the defense. Wallace has 22 tackles this season and four pass deflections, as well as two forced fumbles. He has a 74.5 grade in coverage and a 63.5 grade in run defense.

The Yellow Jackets are off this week and return to the field at home against Boston College next Saturday at 12:00 p.m. on the ACC Network.