The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets offense is beginning to hit its stride under their second-year head coach.
This year’s installment of the “Clean, Old Fashioned Hate” week presents fans with two bowl-eligible teams. The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs will come to Atlanta and take on the 6-5 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The Yellow Jackets offense has been one of the major keys to them defeating a ranked Miami and North Carolina team this season, as former Georgia Tech offensive lineman turned head coach, Brent Key has seemingly revitalized this football program. The Yellow Jackets have totaled their previous two seasons’ win totals combined through 11 games.
The Yellow Jackets have some players to watch for on the offensive side of the ball as they look to turn the tides in this rivalry against Georgia. One of the main players Georgia will have to stop this weekend is Georgia Tech’s quarterback, Haynes King. The sophomore from Texas hasn’t been bad this season for Georgia Tech, as he’s thrown the ball for 2,597 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. King is also their second-leading rusher, with 624 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. King has helped lead this offense to being the fourth-ranked offense statistically in the ACC behind Florida State, North Carolina, and Louisville. He’s had moments of electricity for this offensive unit coordinated by former Georgia staffer Buster Faulkner.
The Yellow Jacket’s primary rusher is Jamal Haynes. Haynes has been a tough tackle in open space, rushing the ball 141 times for 850 yards and seven touchdowns. Averaging at about six yards per carry, Haynes is a physical runner and a good option to have for their RPO-based offense. He has helped put their offense back into notoriety as the Yellow Jackets have the third-best rushing attack in the ACC. He alongside King will be very important to stop on the ground tomorrow.
The next few players Georgia will need to contain come in the wide receiver room with Eric Singleton Jr., Malik Rutherford, and a face Georgia fans know in Dominick Blaylock. Singleton and Rutherford are King’s main options, hauling in over 40 passes each. Singleton has been the biggest receiving threat for opposing defenses, with 610 yards while averaging about 14.2 yards a catch with six touchdowns to go along with it. Rutherford has 442 yards, three touchdowns, and averages 10.8 yards per catch. Blaylock hasn’t seen the same reps as his two counterparts but has been productive, hauling in 21 catches for 337 yards, two touchdowns, and averages right at 16 yards a catch.
These offensive players from the Yellow Jackets will be looking to upset their third-ranked team this season and finish their season off on a high note going into their bowl game. Georgia versus Georgia Tech will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC.
