Georgia Tech Football Preview 2025: A True Breakthrough Year for the Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech was 2024 SMU before 2024 SMU was cool.The 2009 Yellow Jacket team won the ACC title and would've been in a 12-team College Football Playoff.The 2014 team came from out of nowhere, as it fought its way to the ACC title game, but lost to a powerhouse Florida State squad. Even with that, it would've been just on the cusp of the CFP.This is a program that knows it's possible to win. And now, in his third full season, head coach Brent Key might be close to having one of those teams that, if it stays healthy, can catch the right wave at the right time and do something big.That didn't happen last season.
X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFNGeorgia Tech Offense BreakdownGeorgia Tech Defense BreakdownSeason Prediction, Win Total, Keys to SeasonOutside of ending Florida State's season before September, 7-6 Georgia Tech didn't get the right mix of things needed to be fantastic. But to be fair, there were plenty of forgivable losses..Lose at Notre Dame? No shame there. Lose a tough fight at Syracuse and have problems at Louisville? That's the cost of doing business in a Power Four conference.Lose in eight overtimes at Georgia? Yeah, there's no dogging that.
But the offense didn't get going in a loss to a mediocre Virginia Tech, and to close out with a bowl loss to Vanderbilt when things didn't quite work right … no.This year, there's no Notre Dame. There's no Miami, or SMU, or Florida State, or Louisville. The ACC road games are Boston College, Duke, NC State, and Wake Forest. All of them are landmines, but that's about as reasonable as any big-school away slate can get.
Star quarterback Haynes King is still around - it only seems like he started his career in the Bill Curry era.The portal should fix a few problems - be stunned if there isn't more of a pass rush and a lot more of a downfield passing attack - there's more depth, more talent, the coaching staff knows what it's doing, and this should be a true breakthrough year.Georgia Tech Offense BreakdownGeorgia Tech Defense BreakdownSeason Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season
© 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
Clemson is all over The Athletic's Top 25 ACC football players for the 2025 season
Clemson football will enter the 2025 season with no shortage of star power, and The Athletic's ($$$) latest ACC player rankings reflect just how loaded Dabo Swinney's roster is. Nine Tigers were named among the top 25 players in the ACC, with five of them ranked inside the top 10, including three in the top five and two in the top three. Edge rusher T.J. Parker leads the way at No. 1 overall after an outstanding 2024 campaign that included 16.5 career sacks, six forced fumbles, and a four-sack performance against Pittsburgh. He was also a key factor in Clemson's win over SMU in the ACC Championship Game. Fellow defensive lineman Peter Woods came in at No. 3. The 315-pound interior force recorded 28 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks in his first season as a full-time starter. The Athletic's Manny Navarro described Parker and Woods as 'a two-headed monster' that gives Clemson a major advantage defensively heading into 2025. Quarterback Cade Klubnik was ranked No. 4, earning recognition as the top quarterback in the league. Klubnik made a major leap in efficiency last year and enters this fall with 36 career touchdown passes, the most among returning FBS quarterbacks. His supporting cast only adds to his potential, with standout receiver Antonio Williams ranked No. 7 overall and recognized as the ACC's top wideout after leading the league with 11 touchdown receptions in 2024. Cornerback Avieon Terrell gives Clemson five players in the top 10. He landed at No. 8 after posting 58 tackles, 12 pass breakups, and two interceptions last season, while also establishing himself as one of the league's most reliable run defenders. Clemson's presence continues deeper into the list, with offensive tackle Blake Miller at No. 12. The veteran lineman has started 41 games in his career and was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2024. Linebacker Wade Woodaz (No. 16), safety Khalil Barnes (No. 18), and sophomore linebacker Sammy Brown (No. 22) round out the Clemson contingent. Barnes has led the team in interceptions each of the past two years, and Brown — a former five-star recruit — was last season's ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kon Knueppel Makes Cooper Flagg Admission Before NBA Draft
Kon Knueppel Makes Cooper Flagg Admission Before NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Former Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg is universally pegged as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to the Dallas Mavericks. His chances of being drafted by Dallas appear so likely that, unlike most draft prospects, Flagg has not scheduled any visits or workouts with teams other than the Mavericks. Advertisement Flagg, Duke's centerpiece this past season, led the team as a freshman with averages of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, earning a historic sweep of ACC Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year, and National Player of the Year honors. The Blue Devils finished with a 35‑4 record (19‑1 ACC) and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament before falling in the Final Four. While Flagg played a crucial role in Duke's success, fellow freshman wing Kon Knueppel was nearly as important. He averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, shooting 47.9% from the field and 40.6% from three. Knueppel also earned ACC Tournament MVP honors. Duke Blue Devils Cooper Flagg (2) and Kon Knueppel (7) Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images Knueppel's strong showing at the draft combine in May further boosted his stock, and ESPN currently projects him to be selected No. 4 overall by the Charlotte Hornets. Advertisement In an interview with USA Today Sports' For the Win, Knueppel shared the following when asked what people might not know about Flagg. "He doesn't turn it off," Knueppel said. "I think that's one of the best compliments I can give. I know people see it in the games. He plays every play. Guys of his caliber don't usually play every play like he does. But he does it in practice, too. I remember the first time we played pickup together in the summer, I was on his team. We won a bunch of games in a row. Then he switched teams and they won a bunch of games. It's rare for guys that can do that. So it was cool to be around." Knueppel added what Flagg is like outside of basketball. "Off the court, he's a great guy," Knueppel continued. "You wouldn't know he's a good basketball player. He doesn't carry himself in that way like he's all that. He's just a humble dude who loves basketball and wants to get better." Both players have been invited to attend the 2025 NBA draft in New York on June 26 and sit in the green room, where they will likely hear their name early. Advertisement Related: Big Hunter Dickinson News Emerges Before NBA Draft This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Emerging TE recruit Julius Miles sets finalists, verbal commitment date
Despite collecting nearly 30 scholarship offers through his rise as a football recruit, Julius Miles is down to just three. The Freeport (Fla.) High School star tight end, who also excels on the basketball court, will play his college football in the ACC. Advertisement "Let's make it a top three," Miles told Rivals. "Florida State, Louisville, Syracuse. "All of them are great options. I'm leaning on my family and the man above for the guidance in this decision." The date the college football world will learn of the output of said pledge has also been settled on. The rising-senior recruit will make his commitment public on July 5. Miles took visits to a handful of programs, with Syracuse earning the trip in early June and Louisville closing out the visit slate in hosting the Floridian this weekend. FSU is semi-local for the three-star, who has been to Tallahassee several times. Advertisement CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State Miles commented on each finalist ahead of the final decision. Florida State: "With FSU I love what Gus (Malzahn) is installing in the offense, it's a no-brainer. I'm a Florida kid so staying home wouldn't be bad at all." Louisville: "Louisville always makes it feel like home and the system they present to me is great. They need a Day One impact tight end and see me doing that. Also they have a loaded class." Syracuse: "Their system fits me well and I love how they used Oronde Gadsden II and I could see myself topping everything he did in that system. The Syracuse staff also shows crazy love." Before averaging 27.5 points per game on the hardwood as a junior, Miles put together a head-turning football seas in registering 59 receptions for 895 yards and seven touchdowns for the FHS Bulldogs.
