Three Yellow Jackets Who Will Be Building Blocks for the 2024 Season
Georgia Tech just finished up its most successful season in a few years and they head into the 2024 season with some momentum.
A lot of that momentum has to do with the continuity this team is going to have on the field and the coaching staff. The Yellow Jackets had one of the best offenses in the country and the ACC and nearly every player that took meaningful snaps is back. Georgia Tech will of course have to replace right guard Connor Scaglione and running back Dontae Smith, but there is plenty coming back to suggest that Georgia Tech could have a really good season in 2024.
So who will be the building blocks for this Georgia Tech team next season?
1. QB Haynes King
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King
This was easy.
There is not going to be a more important player for Georgia Tech in 2024 than Haynes King. King came into the program and had a terrific season, leading the team to a bowl win for the first time in 2016. King's leadership abilities don't get talked about enough either and having him back in those roles for 2024 is huge for the program.
After years of subpar quarterback play, Georgia Tech suddenly had one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC. Haynes King, who was locked in a tight quarterback battle all the way through fall camp, turned Georgia Tech into one of the best offenses in the ACC and was named an All-ACC honorable mention. With guys like Jordan Travis, Drake Maye, Tyler Van Dyke, and others moving on to either the NFL or transferring, King could possibly be the best quarterback returning in the ACC this season. ESPN analyst David Hale talked about this very thing shortly after the season ended:
"The ACC's QB pecking order is going to look a lot different in 2024. Not only is the league losing Jordan Travis and, almost certainly, Drake Maye -- the top two QBs in 2023 -- but with the departure of Riley Leonard and Tyler Van Dyke, the biggest name returning for next year might be Georgia Tech's Haynes King. UNC already made its move to replace Maye, adding former Texas A&M and LSU starter Max Johnson.
Florida State and Louisville would be inviting landing spots for a QB, though both programs also have younger players they'd like to see develop. NC State, too, showed flashes of its offensive potential in the latter stages of the season, and after the departure of MJ Morris, the Wolfpack will be in the market, too. Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Boston College and Clemson figure to be the only schools who aren't in search of a new starter, and they might even be in the market for another veteran to provide insurance for their younger QBs."
Haynes King will likely be on preseason All-ACC teams at the start of the 2023 season and if he can cut down on the turnovers and improve in other areas, he could help Georgia Tech increase its win number from this year.
2. The offensive line
Ethan Mackenny lines up at tackle
Ok sorry for cheating a little bit right here, but it was hard to just pick one guy up front.
It's probably not an overstatement to say that no offensive line in the country improved more than Georgia Tech's in 2023. After having one of the nation's worst in 2022, Georgia Tech made huge leaps in every category.
The Yellow Jackets offensive line helped them land the No. 1 rushing attack in the ACC and one of the best in the country and they finished in the top 20 in sacks given up. Guys like Weston Franklin and Joe Fusile saw huge leaps from their 2022 season, while freshman left tackle Ethan Mackenny landed on quite a few freshman All-American lists.
The Yellow Jackets went to the transfer portal to find a replacement for Scaglione at right guard and got an all-conference player in MTSU transfer Keylan Rutledge. I expect a good transition from him and this offensive line could take an even bigger step next year. Continuity can be a great thing in college football and this offensive line for Georgia Tech will enter the 2024 season as one of, if not the best, in the conference.
3. Eric Singelton Jr
Georgia Tech wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr
Nathaniel Caudell
Eric Singleton Jr was one of the top freshman receivers in the country this year and the connection that he and King had in just their first year in the offense was impressive.
Singleton Jr was the highest-rated player in the Yellow Jackets 2023 recruiting class according to 247Sports and he looked like he might be a potential superstar this season.
He was in the running for offensive rookie of the year and he finished second. NC State wide receiver Kevin "KC" Concepcion was awarded the Rookie of the Year.
Singleton continued to garner recognition and was named to the 247Sports True Freshman All-American Team as well.
Here is what 247Sports Analyst Chris Hummer had to say about the season that Singleton had:
"Georgia Tech had one of college football’s biggest offensive jumps this year, moving from 115th to 28th from 2022-23 in average yards per play. Singleton was a huge reason why. The Douglasville, Georgia, native led the Yellow Jackets in catches (47), yards (706) and touchdowns (six), emerging as the program’s most productive receiver since Stephen Hill in 2011."
Singleton announced that he is going to remain at Georgia Tech and he will be one of the ACC's best wide receivers next season.
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