Last year, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson’s Yellow Jackets powered through ACC competitors week after week and swept past Clemson in the ACC title game to finish their season with an 11-3 record — one that included a 24-7 win against the Tar Heels alongside just a single conference loss to Miami.
Despite falling to Iowa 24-14 in the Orange Bowl, Georgia Tech rested at No. 13 following BCS play. It was recently chosen to finish third in the ACC Coastal Division behind Virginia Tech and Miami.
Although Georgia Tech lost four major junior talents to the NFL draft, this year’s Yellow Jackets boast a roster filled with 15 returning starters.
Still, it’s hard to deny the impact of the early departure of explosive players like Demaryius Thomas, who tallied 1,154 receiving yards alone for Georgia Tech last season and was chosen in the first round by the Denver Broncos.
“It’s going to be more of a receiver-by-committee this year,” A-back Roddy Jones said on ACC Media Day. “You don’t replace all the yards (Thomas) had last year with just one person, so Stephen Hill and Tyler Melton are going to do great jobs out there.”
2008 ACC Player of the Year running back Jonathan Dwyer, All-ACC safety Morgan Burnett and defensive end Derrick Morgan, the 2009 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, have also moved on to be replaced with new talent.
After undergoing ankle surgery in the off-season, quarterback Joshua Nesbitt will return to Georgia Tech’s offense as one of the team’s leaders. Nesbitt will rely heavily on the Yellow Jackets’ go-to strategy: the rarely seen triple-option offense.
“His understanding of the offense has grown a lot,” Jones said. “He gives a lot of feedback to Coach Johnson now about what he sees, and if they’re on the same page, then we go out and make adjustments, and it makes us that much better on offense.”
A change in the Georgia Tech coaching staff will change the team’s strategy as new defensive coordinator Al Groh comes into the spotlight to mend the Yellow Jackets’ defense, which allowed at least 30 points six times last season.
