For most college football programs across the country, it seems like a given that rosters will be attrited with some players leaving and new players coming in to replace them. This is a new reality for college football coaches and something they have to deal with every year.
Georgia Tech had 32 players leave the team through the transfer portal this offseason. The Yellow Jackets added 14 total transfers this offseason, but two (Ayo Tiface and Jack Burton) left after the spring. Georgia Tech has placed a strong emphasis on defense this offseason, and with their offense doing well, they will hopefully see improved defensive numbers next season.
With so much player turnover, where did the 32 players land?
1. CB Kenan Johnson – Utah
Johnson finished the year with 29 tackles, three pass deflections and one interception. He was the top-graded player on Georgia Tech's defense, according to PFF, with a 75.4 grade in 521 snaps. Georgia Tech acquired several transfer cornerbacks to try to ease the loss of him.
2. DE Kyle Kennard – South Carolina
Kennard is the player Georgia Tech will miss most this offseason. The pass rush was a concern for the Yellow Jackets heading into the season and Kennard would have been a valuable addition.
Kennard recorded 54 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one interception and six sacks in 12 games during his junior season. He played 534 snaps and had an overall grade of 71.6 according to PFF. The team leader in sacks, he consistently applied pressure from the edge, making him a big improvement from his sophomore season.
3. OT Wing Green Campbell
4. WR JuJu Lewis – FIU
Lewis was not on the varsity team during his two years at Tech. He enrolled at Tech as a three-star recruit after a standout high school career at Western High School in Davie, Fla. During his senior season, he recorded 77 receptions for 1,260 yards and 14 touchdowns and was named to the Sun-Sentinel All-Broward first team.
5. OT Tyler Gibson – Charlotte
Gibson, the brother of former Yellow Jackets quarterback Zach Gibson, got playing time as a freshman in 2022 when Brent Key took over as interim coach but didn't see much time on the field in 2023. He was a three-star offensive tackle in the 2022 freshman class, according to 247Sports.
6. OL Elias Croy – Alabama A&M
Redshirt, will not play in 2023
7. DE Malcolm Pugh – Louisiana Tech University
Redshirt, did not play
8. DL Bryston Dixon – South Alabama
Redshirt, did not play
9. LB Ashton Heflin – Marshall
Heflin redshirted in 2023 but recorded one tackle before transferring to Marshall University, where former Georgia Tech linebackers coach Jason Semore is the defensive coordinator.
From Georgia Tech Athletics biography:
“Rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN… Earned first-team all-state honors as a senior in 2022… Three-time all-region selection, including first-team selections as a junior and senior… Three-time all-county selection… Recorded 241 tackles and 15.0 tackles for loss throughout his high school career, with 122 stops and 9.0 TFLs as a senior in 2022… Coached by Chip Walker at Newnan… Two-sport athlete is a county champion, two-time county finalist, two-time regional finalist, two-time district finalist and three-time state qualifier and finalist as a wrestler… Honor roll student.”
10. DE Ezra Odinjohr – UAB
Did not play due to redshirt.
From Georgia Tech Athletics biography:
“Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports and Rivals…Selected as a 2022 All-Region selection…Set an Allatoona High School single-season record with 12 sacks as a senior…Appeared in 12 games as a senior and recorded 81 total tackles (53 solo), 23 tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries…Also had two forced fumbles and one recovery…Recorded 43 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and two quarterback hurries in eight games as a junior in 2021…Coached at Allatoona by Gary Varner…Attended the same high school as current Georgia Tech teammate Ty Thompson.”
11. DL Etinosa Leuven – University of Massachusetts
12. OL Paul Chio – University of Massachusetts
Both Chio and Ruben transferred to Tech from Clemson, but neither made an impact. They plan to continue their careers at UMass.
13. QB Zach Gibson – Georgia State University
During his time at Georgia Tech, Gibson appeared in six games, starting three games after former starter Jeff Sims was sidelined with an injury. He completed 54.8% of his passes for 589 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The highlight of his time at Georgia came against No. 13 North Carolina, where he completed 72.2% of his passes for 184 yards and led the Georgia Tech offense to a major comeback win. He also had a strong performance against Georgia, completing 54.2% of his passes for a season-high 191 yards. Despite a strong first half on offense, Georgia lost to the eventual national champions.
14. DB Kenyatta Watson – Georgia State University
From Georgia Tech Athletics biography:
2022 (Redshirt Sophomore): Appeared in 10 games…Finished season with seven tackles…Recorded a season-high five tackles (two solo) at FSU (Oct. 29)…Other games came at UCF (Sept. 24) and No. 1 Georgia (Nov. 26).
2021 (Redshirt Freshman): Appeared in six games at reserve defensive back and special teams…No statistics were recorded.
15. DE Noah Collins – Arkansas State University
From Georgia Tech Athletics biography:
2023 (Junior): Appeared in eight games…Recorded eight tackles (four solo) on the season…Recorded a season-high four stops in a 48-13 win over South Carolina State (Sept. 9)…Also recorded two solo tackles in a 45-17 win over Virginia (Nov. 4).
2022 (Sophomore): Appeared in 11 games with one start against Clemson (Sept. 5)…Recorded 16 tackles on the season (including 2.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and one blocked kick)…Recorded four stops in consecutive games against then-No. 4 Clemson (Sept. 5) and Western Carolina (Sept. 10) in the season opener…Recorded two tackles for loss against then-No. 17 Ole Miss (Sept. 17)…Also recorded three stops in a thrilling 23-20 overtime win against Duke (Oct. 8).
2021 (Freshman): Appeared in seven games as a freshman, contributing on both defense and special teams…Finished the season with five tackles, including one for a loss…All five tackles came in the final five games of the season: one against Virginia Tech (October 30), one against Miami (November 6), one against No. 6 Notre Dame (November 20) and a season-high two against No. 1 Georgia (November 27)…Also recorded a tackle for a loss in the season finale against Georgia.
16. DB KJ Wallace – UCLA
Wallace has been a primary starter at the nickel position the past two seasons, recording 45 total tackles and one interception in 2022. Last season, he recorded 42 tackles, seven pass deflections, two forced fumbles and one interception.
17. DB Shirad Bryant – UAB
18. LB Tyson Mages – Murray State University
19. OT Jakia Leftwich – North Carolina
20. WR James Blackstrain – Missouri State University
Blackstrain is a former four-star player, but didn't get much playing time during his time at Atlanta.
21. QB Colson Brown
22. DB Eric Reid Jr.
23. WR Justin Brown –
24- QB Aidan Semo – El Camino Community College
Former walk-on quarterback
25. DB Stephen Jones Jr. – Murray State University
26. DL Ayo Tiface
Tyferdez transferred from Florida State to Georgia Tech and then entered the transfer portal again after the spring.
27. DE Eddie Kelly – Missouri
Kelly was a solid player for the Yellow Jackets last year, appearing in all 13 games and starting five of them, and the team would have loved to keep him.
28. DL Jack Burton – UConn
Like Tiface, Burton enrolled at Georgia Tech during the winter transfer window and completed the transfer process after transferring in the spring. He plans to play for the Huskies this fall.
29. OL Gabe Fortson – Tulane University
30. DB Cali G
31. DL Jason Moore – Temple
32. DL Duquan Daus – Michigan State University
Of the 32 transfers, I think there were some players Georgia Tech would have liked to keep. Kyle Kennard, Eddie Kelly and Dequan Dowse would have helped Georgia Tech add depth up front, and Johnson and Wallace were solid in the secondary. Still, Georgia Tech boasted the worst defense in the country last year, and the Yellow Jackets' staff did a good job filling in for the players they missed.
