Entering the offseason, Georgia Tech knew it needed to improve defensively to make a breakthrough in 2024. Though the Yellow Jackets boasted the best offense in the ACC, their defense, specifically the run defense, was one of the worst in the country. Head coach Brent Key recognized that and made changes to his defensive staff, including hiring a new coordinator, former Duke defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci.
But it wasn’t just a coaching change: the Yellow Jackets made sure to hit the transfer portal in the offseason, addressing every level of their defense.
On the defensive line, former USC/Auburn defensive end Romello Height, Miami/Georgia State defensive lineman Thomas Gore and Penn State defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg are all ready to contribute this season and I think they will all contribute.
Gore only appeared in 167 games, but was Miami’s fourth-highest-graded defense last season according to PFF with a defensive rating of 76.7, but his highest rating was in run defense with a 79.2. Georgia Tech is hoping he’ll have the biggest impact.
His best season, according to PFF, was his 2021 season at Georgia State. Gore played 386 snaps and earned an excellent grade of 90.2 on defense and an excellent grade of 92.0 on run defense. This may be due in part to playing in the Sun Belt, but it shows that Gore is effective against the run. During the 2022 season (his final season at Georgia State), Gore recorded a pass rush rating of 89.6 on 313 pass rush snaps. With 13 career sacks, Gore is an effective pass rusher from the inside, which would help strengthen any defense, but he is also an effective run stopper. While we don’t know if an All-ACC-like season is on the horizon (though it would be welcome on defense), there is a chance that Gore can make an immediate impact and improve the Georgia Tech defense.
There may be some concerns about his 6-foot height, but I think his production will offset those concerns.
Height is a former four-star recruit from Dublin, Georgia who initially committed to Auburn University. He transferred to USC for the 2022 season, but a season-ending shoulder injury meant he recorded 21 tackles and four sacks for the Trojans last season.
Hamilton played his high school football at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Georgia and will return next season to compete for the linebacker position at Georgia Tech. Hamilton has two years of eligibility remaining.
Hamilton played three years with the Cardinals from 2021-2023, recording 17 total tackles and one pass deflection in those three seasons. At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, he will bring athleticism to the position and it will be exciting to see how he fits into the defense next year.
Hamilton was highly graded by PFF last season, but the sample size was small. He played 55 snaps and had a defensive rating of 69.1 and run defense of 81.1. Again, it’s a limited sample, but there’s evidence Hamilton can take a big step forward as a linebacker.
Lightsey joined the Yellow Jackets as a signee in December and hopes to be one of the missing pieces on the defense. At linebacker, Georgia Tech lost the likes of Paul Moala, Andre White and Braylen Oliver and had to enter the portal to find replacements for them.
Lightsey now has to prove he can stay healthy. He wasn’t able to do that last season and didn’t appear in any games for the Bulldogs. In 2022, he played 19 total snaps and earned a 66.8 defensive grade and good tackle rating.
Gibbs had offers from multiple Power Five schools when he entered the transfer portal but chose to come to Georgia Tech, where he thinks he has a chance to be a high-level impact player.
At 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, Gibbs could play on the outside or at nickel, two positions where Georgia Tech lost several players this offseason. Myles Sims is no longer eligible, Kenan Johnson transferred to Utah and starting nickel KJ Wallace transferred to UCLA. Players like Amari Harvey and Rodney Shelley are back, but the Yellow Jackets may have needed one or two more experienced cornerbacks to bolster their secondary.
Gibbs recorded 52 tackles, three tackles for loss, six interceptions and three passes last season and has three years of eligibility remaining.
Burrell has entered the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining, and he will spend his final season with the Flats looking to compete for a starting spot or add quality depth to the position.
What kind of player will Georgia Tech acquire in Burrell?
According to PFF (Pro Football Focus), Burrell played 1,647 snaps in his career in Knoxville, 823 of which came in 2021. His best season from a PFF rating standpoint was last season. He finished with an overall rating of 68.0 in defense, 67.3 in run defense, a very good tackle rating of 82.0 and a rating of 67.2 in coverage. In all his seasons with the Volunteers, Burrell has been rated as a good tackler, which will be huge, since tackling was a big issue at every position for Georgia Tech last season. He had a good spring, so he should perform well this fall.
Tobe recorded 25 tackles and five pass deflections this season.
According to PFF, Toub was the 15th highest graded player on the Illinois defense, earning an 83.7 grade in run defense, 73.9 in tackles for loss and a very respectable 65.6 grade for a defensive back, as well as a 62.1 grade in coverage. Based on the ratings, Toub is a solid tackler at the position with room for improvement in coverage.
Davis spent one year in Cincinnati before transferring to Georgia Tech, but is quite familiar with the area, having played at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia. As a recruit, the 247Sports Composite rated Davis as a three-star prospect, the No. 494 prospect in the country, the No. 47 safety in the country and the No. 52 player in the state of Georgia.
All of these players have a chance to make an impact this year, but the three I’m most excited about are Height, Gore, and Burrell. They should all be able to play wherever they’re needed right away, and Gore is a versatile player who can play anywhere on the line. Georgia Tech’s pass rush has been the biggest concern going into the year, but both players have the potential to step up. Burrell could earn a starting spot opposite Harvey. I’d love for all of these guys to step up on defense and keep them from being one of the worst defenses in the ACC again.
