Georgia Tech has been eager to add talent to its defense this spring to improve what was one of the worst in the nation last season, especially in its ability to stop the run. Fixing those issues has been Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key's top priority this offseason. Key started by revamping the defense, bringing in four new assistants on the defensive side of the ball, including new defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci from Duke. The Yellow Jackets also added eight transfers to their defense, including Miami transfer Thomas Gore, who committed to Georgia Tech this week.
The defensive line was arguably Georgia Tech's biggest concern heading into the season, but the team has made some key additions to that group and the interior of the defense could be vastly improved. The pass rush may still be a concern, but I think Gore has the potential to be an immediate impact player for Georgia Tech next season.
Here are some numbers that show the impact Gore had during his time at Miami and before that at Georgia State (Georgia Tech plays Georgia State on Aug. 31).
Gore only appeared in 167 games, but was Miami's fourth-highest-graded defense last season according to PFF with a defensive rating of 76.7, but his highest rating was in run defense with a 79.2. Georgia Tech is hoping he'll have the biggest impact.
His best season, according to PFF, was his 2021 season at Georgia State. Gore played 386 snaps and earned an excellent grade of 90.2 on defense and an excellent grade of 92.0 on run defense. This may be due in part to playing in the Sun Belt, but it shows that Gore is effective against the run. During the 2022 season (his final season at Georgia State), Gore recorded a pass rush rating of 89.6 on 313 pass rush snaps. With 13 career sacks, Gore is an effective pass rusher from the inside, which would help strengthen any defense, but he is also an effective run stopper. While we don't know if an All-ACC-like season is on the horizon (though it would be welcome on defense), there is a chance that Gore can make an immediate impact and improve the Georgia Tech defense.
There may be some concerns about his 6-foot height, but I think his production will offset those concerns.
His presence will help bolster what is currently a potential strength on the interior of the defensive line. Gore and Penn State transfer Jordan Van den Bergh join a group that includes Zeke Biggers (an All-ACC honorable mention), Horace Lockett, Macius Scott and redshirt freshman Shaimake Jones.
The 6-foot-6, 333-pound Biggers recorded 35 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, three pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick from the defensive tackle position. 2024 could be a breakout season for him.
Will Gore grab a starting spot right away? I don't think we can completely rule it out. He could start alongside Biggers, and the rotation would have a nice mix of veterans and young players like Lockett and Jones.
Even with the addition of Height from USC, the defense's biggest challenge remains the pass rush. Kevin Harris, Sylvain Yonjuan (returning from a torn ACL), Josh Robinson and freshmen Jordan Boyd and Jacob Crews will need to provide pressure on the edge for this team, and Scott showed the ability to play on the edge last season.
How much this defense improves could determine what kind of season Georgia Tech has in 2024. They should have one of the best offenses in the country and could be a dark horse contender in the ACC if the defense improves enough. Gore could help this defense get one step closer to that goal.
