ACC Football: Coastal Division Power Rankings Preseason
Friends in Low Places
Game versus North Carolina: Lost 48-20
Returning Starters: 15 (7 on Offense, 8 on Defense)
Lowdown: After a rough 2015 that saw the Yellow Jackets win three games and end an 18-year bowl streak, Georgia Tech rebounded big time in 2016 going 9-4, including winning six of their last seven.
Paul Johnson’s squad would’ve ranked higher on this list until news broke that the team had released lead back Dedrick Mills. The release leaves the Jackets looking for friends anywhere they can to carry the ball this season.
Georgia Tech opens the year in the Georgia Dome against a ranked Tennessee squad.
Strengths: Defense. Georgia Tech returns eight starters from a defense that was top 75 in the nation last year. The team will hope for a continued improvement as there are now questions on the offensive side of the ball.
Weaknesses: Running back. With the release of Mills coupled with the transfer of Marcus Marshall and the graduation of Justin Thomas, the Yellow Jackets are starting from scratch.
This wouldn’t normally be a problem, but the triple option thrives on the success of the run game. If other players don’t step up to replace the nearly 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns, it could be another long year in Atlanta.
Best Case Scenario: Paul Johnson proves the triple option is not star dependent and Georgia Tech runs all over the ACC. The Yellow Jackets go 10-2, win the Coastal and meet up with Florida State in Charlotte.
Worst Case Scenario: The loss of Mills is more than the team can recover from. They get blown out by the Volunteers and go on to an abysmal 2-10 season where Paul Johnson faces questions from his fan base.