Georgia Tech is hoping for a big rebound on the defensive side of the ball in 2022. The Yellow Jackets have been among the worst in most defensive stats and if this team has any hope of improving with a three win total, some players will have to step up.
This season, there were personnel changes on the defensive end and Georgia Tech brought in seven defensive transfers, most of them in the secondary.
So which players are ready to step up and make the break for Georgia Tech on defense? Here are my choices.
Keon White – Defensive End
After transferring from Old Dominion after the 2020 season, Keon White was ranked as one of the top pass rushers on the transfer portal and chose to play at Georgia Tech.
However, injuries kept White out of the first eight games of last season and he was unable to make the impact he wanted. He was second-team All-Conference USA at Old Dominion White last season and had 19 tackles for loss, which was in the top ten nationally.
Tech had one of the worst pass rushes in the ACC and the nation last season, and if that is to improve, I think White will need to have a big breakout season.
Kyle Kennard- Defensive End
Kennard could be the starter at defensive end opposite White and should improve on his numbers from last year, when he finished with two sacks and 15 tackles.
Kennard has the athletic talent to get the job done. He was a three-star prospect coming out of high school and was seeing more and more game action during his two seasons in Atlanta.
Consistency has not been Kennard’s strength and is the number one thing he needs to change. If he can, this pass rush will be better for him.
Kenyatta Watson – defensive back
Georgia Tech has plenty of defensive backs to replace and there will be plenty of competition in fall camp. Zamari Walton is locked into one spot at cornerback, but someone I think could push him for serious time this fall is Texas transfer Kenyatta Watson.
Watson saw action in six games last season as a backup and was mostly relegated to a special teams role. He was the top-rated prospect coming out of high school and flashed that talent at times while playing for the Longhorns.
At 6-1 185 lbs, Watson has the physical ability and athleticism to be an impact player at corner. The Yellow Jackets had a good pass defense and there is going to be a lot of competition to earn a starting job and improve the secondary. Keep an eye on him this season.
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