Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Preview and Predictions: 2015-16 NCAA College Football Season

Georgia Tech narrowly missed out on being the ACC champions last year, losing a razor-close game 37-35 to Jameis Winston and the Florida State Seminoles. The Yellow Jackets still managed to end their season with a bang, though, with a dominant 49-34 win against Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl.

Can the Yellow Jackets gain some traction behind Justin Thomas to finally capture the conference championship? Read on as we break down Georgia Tech and its incredible rushing offense ahead of the 2015-2016 college football season.

Scout out the Yellow Jackets’ competition. Check out the season preview for the ACC as well as the in-depth look at Florida State’s 2015-2016 campaign.
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2015-2016 Georgia Tech College Football Preview

Overview

Georgia Tech became one of the nation’s most prolific rushing teams last season, ranking second in the nation with 342.1 yards per game. The Yellow Jackets’ running back depth took a big hit, though, with Synjyn Days, Zach Laskey and Charles Perkins all gone from the team. The trio of running backs rushed for a combined 2,218 yards on 377 carries last season. Days and Laskey, in particular, each scored a team-high nine touchdowns.

[sc:NCAA240banner ]Incredible depth on the offensive line makes up for the loss of experienced running backs. Three fifth-year seniors will start in Bryan Chamberlain, Trey Braun and Errin Joe. Behind them in the depth chart are a handful of talented young players: redshirt freshmen Trey Klock, Gary Brown and Jake Stickler.

The Georgia Tech aerial attack may take a step back, though. The receiving corps lost two of its top receivers from the previous year in DeAndre Smelter (715 yards and seven touchdowns) and Darren Waller (442 yards and six touchdowns). No other returning wide receiver had over 200 yards or had more than one touchdown last season.

The Yellow Jackets weren’t good defensively, giving up 411.3 total yards per game. But the future looks better with a couple of standouts with All-ACC Adam Gotsis in the interior and KeShun Freeman earning Freshman All-America honors last season. Senior linebacker Tyler Marcordes should be a force this season as well after the Yellow Jackets lost All-ACC linebacker Quayshawn Nealy. Marcordes had 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks last season.

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Key Player – Justin Thomas

As mentioned earlier, Georgia Tech’s passing game may take a step back after losing two key pieces in the receiving game. But the Yellow Jackets don’t really rely too much on their passing. Even their quarterback Justin Thomas is more of an option runner than a passer. Thomas led his team with 1,086 yards rushing and eight touchdowns. However, he completed just 51.3 percent of his passes for 1,719 yards and 18 touchdowns throughout the season.

Playing behind an excellent offensive line, Thomas is set to thrill Georgia Tech supporters with his speed and elusiveness. With Thomas as the signal caller, the team should remain one of the most prolific rushing offenses in the nation. Having him under the Georgia Tech spotlight should also help his case as a Heisman contender. Thomas is +3,000 to win this year’s Heisman Trophy.

Key Game – vs Georgia (November 28)

When November 28 arrives, it’ll be time for some “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” when heated rivals the Georgia Bulldogs arrive at the Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Bulldogs have dominated the series in the past 14 years. But Georgia Tech fought back last season, winning a thrilling back-and-forth game 30-24 in overtime. This game has the potential to be a barn-burning running showcase as the two teams combined for 593 yards rushing in last season’s edition.

Best/Worst Case Scenario for the Season

Best Case

Justin Thomas improves on his passing and remains a threat on the ground. Playing behind a stellar offensive line should turn him into a dual-threat quarterback who could tear defenses down either with his arm or his legs.

Worst Case

The loss of experienced running backs puts all the pressure on Thomas to perform, and the unproven receiving corps won’t be able to give the Georgia Tech quarterback any viable targets. The defense also fails to keep opponents in tabs, giving up way too many points for Thomas and the offense to chase.

Complete Schedule

Date | Opponent | Time (ET)
Thu, Sept 3 | vs Alcorn State | 7:30 PM
Sat, Sept 12 | vs Tulane | 3:30 PM
Sat, Sept 19 | @ Notre Dame | 3:30 PM
Sat, Sept 26 | @ Duke | TBD
Sat, Oct 3 | vs North Carolina | TBD
Sat, Oct 10 | @ Clemson | TBD
Sat, Oct 17 | vs Pittsburgh | TBD
Sat, Oct 24 | vs Florida State | TBD
Sat, Oct 31 | @ Virginia | TBD
Thu, Nov 12 | vs Virginia Tech | 7:30 PM
Sat, Nov 21 | @ Miami (FL) | TBD
Sat, Nov 28 | vs Georgia | TBD

Writer’s Prediction

Georgia Tech rides the momentum it received last season. The Yellow Jackets (+450) win the ACC.
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