3 questions for Georgia Tech’s Brent Key at ACC Media Days

Head coach Brent Key and the Yellow Jackets surprised just about everyone in college football last fall as they finished 7-6 overall and 5-3 in the ACC, which was good enough to finish 4th in the conference. Those five wins included thrilling wins over No. 17 North Carolina and No. 17 Miami.

Now, for the first time in what seems like a very long time, there are some serious expectations in Atlanta for the Yellow Jackets football program. The Yellow Jackets’ schedule is a bit of a gauntlet and there is some roster turnover to navigate. So what are some of the biggest questions Key will face during ACC Media Days?

Top three questions for Brent Key at ACC Media Days

1) How can The Yellow Jacket Run Defense make major improvements in 2024?

All eyes are on defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci. The Yellow Jackets’ rushing defense was the worst in the Power Five last season, ranking 130th nationally and allowing 5.38 yards per attempt. They also ranked 105th in third down conversion percentage allowed, 53rd in yards allowed, 90th in red zone defense, 109th in sacks and 120th in total defense .

Georgia Tech allowed 2.75 yards before contact on rushing attempts, ranking them 128th nationally. On the tape, the Yellow Jackets were simply pushed into the trenches. They struggled to get any push up front, and their linebackers were often left on islands to make one-on-one tackles as massive running lanes were created.

MORE: Georgia Tech 2024 Yellow Jackets depth chart

The Key and Jackets had a solid transfer window and are hoping that the new additions can help strengthen their defensive front. Defensive tackle transfer Ayo Tifase from Florida State and linebacker EJ Lightsey from Georgia will be relied upon heavily to change the middle of the Yellow Jacket defense.

If Georgia Tech’s defense can make significant improvements in 2024, they will prove to be a tough test for any ACC opponent this season.

2) Can the yellow coat offense take better care of the football?

It’s no secret that Georgia Tech’s offense improved greatly from 2022 to 2023 as it went from one of the most anemic to one of the most prolific offenses in the ACC. But one glaring problem remained – turnover.

Quarterback Haynes King led the ACC in interceptions. When he turned the ball over, he did it in bunches. King threw a combined 11 interceptions in games against Clemson, Bowling Green, Boston College and Miami, where the team went 1-3.

Fewer turnovers against Bowling Green and Boston College could have led to wins for Georgia Tech, as both were narrow losses. Despite King’s impressive overall performance, cutting down on interceptions is crucial for the Yellow Jackets to navigate their challenging schedule and make a push for the postseason.

3) Are the Yellow Jackets ready for one of their toughest schedules in recent memory?

Most college football coaches will tell you that they don’t think about the schedule and all they can do is prepare their team for the games ahead. But it’s hard to imagine a program on the rise like Georgia Tech not looking at its schedule and realizing how challenging it will be.

CFN college football analyst Cam Mellor ranked Georgia Tech as having the second-toughest schedule in the nation in CFN’s annual strength of program rankings. Here’s how the Jackets ranked the program:

• The toughest game: @Georgia
• The easiest game: vs. VMI
• SOS score: 24.79 (-0.63)

One of the most exciting aspects of Georgia Tech’s schedule is opening the season overseas. The Yellow Jackets will face ACC champion Florida State in Dublin, Ireland, adding an international flavor to their campaign.

Another highlight is their clash with Notre Dame at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 19. It renews an old rivalry at an iconic neutral site.

The last six weeks for Georgia Tech look like an absolute gauntlet: at North Carolina, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Miami, NC State and Georgia. 11 of the 12 opponents on Georgia Tech’s schedule have played in a bowl game since 2023. They’ve also been a bit unlucky as they won’t have the opportunity to face any of the new ACC additions Cal, SMU and Stanford .

With 2024 bringing some serious expectations for the Yellow Jacket program, they certainly have a crazy schedule to navigate.

ACC Media Days Schedule: Brent Key, Georgia Tech head coach

• Date: Monday, July 22
• Time: noon ET
• How to watch: ACC network

Georgia Tech is a legitimate ACC wildcard in 2024. No one expected them to be a top-four ACC team in 2023. And now, there are expectations in Atlanta for the foreseeable future. But will the program prove too challenging? It’s one of the toughest in the country, with plenty of top-25 matchups awaiting the Yellow Jackets.

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Can the offense continue this upward trend? Can I limit turnovers? Can quarterback Haynes King continue to improve and lead this offense to another level? And can the defense finally match the output of the offense and begin to slow down some of the best offenses in the ACC?

There’s no doubt that head coach Brent Key has some big questions to answer before 2024. But if the Yellow Jackets continue on this trajectory, we could be looking at one of the biggest Power Five sleepers in the nation.

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