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Georgia Tech’s defensive line will be missing a big part of edge rusher Keon White next season, but other key contributors up front will return. There’s plenty of room for improvement as this team heads into 2023, but another season with coaches Larry Knight and David Turner could be fruitful for the Yellow Jackets.
But losing White is a big deal. He was a consistent presence off the edge for the defense and his athleticism will be tough to replace. Last season, White ranked third with 54 tackles and led the Yellow Jackets with 7.5 sacks, including a three-sack performance in an upset win over North Carolina.
Two players I think will be interesting to watch next season are the defensive tackle duo of Maquis Scott and DeQuan Dawes. Both players turned the corner at the end of the season and will head into 2023 as rookies. Dawes finished the season with 26 tackles and 3.5 sacks, tied for second on the team with linebacker Ace Ealy. Scott finished the year with 22 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Edge placement is where the concern lies. If White is gone, who’s going to step up to the plate for the Yellow Jackets?
Kyle Kennard will need to take a step up next season. He has yet to put it all together in his career at Georgia Tech and had just two sacks last season. He is going to be relied upon as a starter next season.
Sylvan Yondjuen has another year of eligibility left, but he did participate in Senior Day ceremonies and hasn’t announced his return to Georgia Tech as of today, so be sure to keep an eye on that.
There are several components at the edge position that Georgia Tech will need to take a step forward next season. Noah Collins (one sack in 2022), Kevin Harris, Christian Burkhalter and Josh Robinson will be involved, and where these guys respond in spring ball could speak to how the rotation plays out next fall.
Marcus Scott will be one of the leaders of the Georgia Tech defensive line next season
Georgia Tech Athletics
Internally, the rotation behind Scott and Dawes looks stable, but there are no guarantees. Akello Stone, Jason Moore and Zeke Biggers are going to be heavily involved in the rotation. Two guys I’m looking forward to watching this spring are Horace Lockett and KJ Miles, two freshman defensive tackles who haven’t seen many snaps this season. Both Miles and Lockett were two of the top-rated players in Georgia Tech’s 2022 class, and their improvement will be a good look this spring and summer.
So what about the freshman class that Georgia Tech just signed? Could any of them be part of the defensive line rotation this fall?
With so many elements up front, I think any true freshman could be a big factor next fall. This is not impossible, but there are many experienced players on the defensive line and experience can be difficult to overcome.
Shimek Jones and Ezra Odingor were late additions in Class Two of 2023 and both have talent on the fringes. High school teammates Briston Dixon and Malcolm Pugh both committed to the Yellow Jackets on signing day and I’m a Dixon fan and believe he will be a great player for Georgia Tech at some point.
A lot of groundwork will be laid on the defensive line heading into next season. There are many players who have played for the Yellow Jackets in the past, but none of them have made a big difference in their careers yet. It’s one of the most amazing places for this group to go in the spring and beyond.
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