2021 Georgia Tech Yellowjackets: Patience as Improvement is Coming

Georgia Tech has gone from the option days on offense to a much more versatile version. There hasn’t been much success yet in Coach Geoff Collin’s tenure but in year three the offense looks like it could be ready to break out. Tech is coming off a 3-7 record from 2020 and hopes they can build and continue back to respectability.

Offense: The Jackets have developing star at QB in Jeff Sims. As a freshman in 2020, he threw for 1,881 yards and 13 touchdowns and showed his running ability over the last three games. He looks like a dual threat type of guy. Another freshman, Jahmyr Gibbs was another developing star and had accumulated 763 total yards before suffering an injury after 7 games. Jordan Mason is also back after missing the entire season last year and he was 3rd team All-ACC in 2019. Tech has some quality at receiver and an offensive line that is rapidly improving. The offense has a chance to be really good.

Defense: The defense looks to be on the road to better things in 2021. The defensive front returns three starters and added Alabama transfer Kevin Harris. Linebacker Quez Jackson is back and Maryland transfer Ayinde Eley had a great spring. The secondary has a couple of players with NFL talent also. This is a defense on the rise.

Non-Conference Schedule:

9/4 Northern Illinois

9/11 Kennesaw State

11/20 at Notre Dame

11/27 Georgia.

The two games in September are must wins and the only non-con games the Ramblin’ Wreck will play until they end the season with a bang at Notre Dame and the traditional season ender with Georgia. The best they can do is 2-2.

Conference Schedule:

9/18 at Clemson

9/25 North Carolina

10/2 Pittsburgh

10/9 at Duke

10/23 at Virginia

10/30 Virginia Tech

11/6 at Miami

11/13 Boston College

The conference schedule features home games against Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, and Boston College which are winnable. The other one against North Carolina is a stretch. The road games at Duke and at Virginia can be won but games at Clemson and Miami are losses.

Summary: Georgia Tech is making strides back to respectability that they enjoyed a few years ago. They could surprise some people this year and move up in the ACC pecking order. If they can win 3 out of 4 conference games at home and beat Duke on the road a .500 season is there and they will have a huge building block for 2022.

Predicted Finish: 6th Place in the Coastal Division

Overall Record: 5-7