STACY SEARELS (OL COACH) – “Physical” was one of the first words Coach Kirby Smart use to describe this Georgia Tech team. We all know physicality starts in the trenches, and with Tech you can see it in their defensive front. Their starting defensive lineman all weigh in at about 300 pounds, so Searels and his crew should be in for a treat trying to game plan to keep Carson Beck clean. Beck is on an 11 game streak of throwing for over 250 yards, so the Dawgs will surely be looking to keep that one alive as they take on their well-hated in-state rivals.
Dillon Bell (WR #86) – Dillon Bell is coming off a career game against the Volunteers, scoring two touchdowns — one receiving and one passing (yes, you read that right)—and catching five passes for 90 yards. He’s had a slow past couple of weeks after starting the season playing running back while the likes of Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton were out with injury, but it’s all starting to come together for the sophomore pass catcher. Something to note is that both Ladd McConkey and RaRa Thomas are not guaranteed to play against Georgia Tech this weekend, so that means more opportunity is headed Bell’s way. He’s a do-it-all receiver, and he proved that last week in Knoxville, so fans should be confident that Bobo has a plan for him heading into this weekend’s matchup.
Daijun Edwards (RB #30) – Georgia’s leading rusher and arguably the most talented healthy running back should be primed to have a day against the Yellow Jackets, who just so happen to be ranked dead last in the ACC in terms of rushing defense. In 11 games this season, Georgia Tech has allowed 2,446 total rushing yards. That’s about 222 yards on the ground per game, and for bonus points, they allow runners to average about 5.3 yards per carry. That stat just about lines up with Edwards’ season average of 5.4. Edwards, alongside the rest of the Georgia backfield, shouldn’t have a hard time padding the stat sheet against these guys.
Dominic Lovett (WR #6) – With Ladd McConkey questionable, that may open up more opportunities in the slot or for the likes of Dominic Lovett. He has proven himself as one of Georgia’s leading receivers this year and should have one more regular-season opportunity against an objectively less talented Georgia Tech team. He only saw one reception for nine yards last week against the Volunteers, but the fact that Dillon Bell was able to have a career game after a little drought just shows that anything can happen with this Georgia offense.
CJ Allen (LB #33) – “Shades of Nakobe Dean.” That’s all you have to think about when you see No. 33 take the field on defense. He has really stepped up to the plate these past two weeks in Jamon Dumas-Johnson’s absence, and he’s offering a different set of skills too. Against the Volunteers, Allen had a key pass breakup on third down that forced a punt and got Georgia another possession. The true freshman is really coming into his own toward the end of his first season with the Dawgs, and that trend should continue against the Yellow Jackets.
Tykee Smith (DB #23) – At this point, you can say that he was probably snubbed for the Jim Thorpe Award candidacy because Tykee Smith is probably one of, if not, the best slot corners in all of college football. His physicality and attitude when pursuing the ball are unmatched, and he has the numbers to prove it too. Smith leads the team in tackles and interceptions with 56 and four on the season. In what will be his last regular-season game wearing the red and black, you can bet your bottom dollar that Smith will be doing whatever it takes to get to the ball.
Jalon Walker (LB #11) – Coming into the season, almost everyone thought it was going to be Mykel Williams, but by now, it’s safe to say that Georgia’s best pass rusher is Jalon Walker. He has elite get-off and really knows how to get around a tackle to try and contact the quarterback. Walker has the most sacks of any Georgia defender that plays with their hand in the dirt and should hope for success against number six passing offense in the Atlantic Coastal Conference in Georgia Tech.
In the Bulldogs 38-20 victory over the Yellow Jackets in 1980, All-American tailback Herschel Walker had a clinching 67-yard touchdown run and set the NCAA freshman rushing record.
On the first play from scrimmage of the Bulldogs 44-7 victory over the Yellow Jackets at Grant Field in 1981, Buck Belue connected with Lindsay Scott for an 80-yard touchdown pass.
Legendary Hall of Fame coaches Vince Dooley and Bobby Dodd squared off three times, with Dooley’s Bulldogs winning all three meetings over Dodd’s Yellow Jackets from 1964-66.