Georgia Tech football coaches continue to peruse the NCAA Portal for transfer targets to fill pressing needs for the upcoming 2022 season and to backfill any missing spots due to attrition in the roster. Adding Dylan McDuffie at running backfills one of the missing spots due to the churn at RB, but what other spots are pressing needs for the portal as Tech has about eight scholarships open for portal targets pending the eventual signing of OL Bobby Mooney.
1. OFFENSIVE LINE (2)
The pressing need for offensive line depth is very apparent to anyone who follows GT football closely. Tech suffered two big losses on the line with the medical DQ of lineman Nick Pendley who was projected to start at either guard or right tackle for the Jackets for the next few seasons and played extremely well before suffering multiple injuries last season-ending his career. Starting center Mikey Minihan also ended his career early to start his post-football life and 2020 signee Ryan Spiers received a medical as well after missing the entire 2021 season. He was the second medical DQ from that class joining Michael Rankins both projected as offensive tackles.
The tackle position remains the biggest question going into the season with Jakiah Leftwich (0 career snaps on the OL) projected as the starting left tackle and veteran Jordan Williams projected to start at right tackle with Wing Green (0 career snaps) as the main backup at both spots. That is less than ideal. Leftwich and Green both made huge strides in the spring and are capable of playing major snaps, but that is also a major learning curve going against the type of schedule GT plays out of the gate with four really good teams in the first five games. Ideally, Brent Key would like to add a starting left tackle via the transfer portal that has plenty of game experience even if it is not at left tackle, just game experience would be good.
In addition, another offensive lineman with game experience would be good in general guard or tackle. Right now they have Pierce Quick and Paul Tchio likely slotted as the starting guards plus Paula Vaipulu as the swingman, only Vaipulu has extensive experience playing and Tchio missed a good chunk of spring ball after transferring from Clemson, so Vaipulu and Quick were the typical starting guard combo in the spring. Vaipulu struggled last season playing guard after Pendley's injury and Kenny Cooper's career-ending injury thrust him into the rotation. Adding another experienced guard would improve the depth here and give the Jackets some leeway at a position that has been hammered by injuries during Geoff Collins' entire tenure.
At tackle, the Jackets staff have Kansas transfer Corey Robinson II on campus for a visit today showing the need for tackle bodies as well. If I were to guess I think GT adds two tackles via the portal.
2. DEFENSIVE END (1)
The Jackets had a ton of defensive ends on the roster last year and played a huge and varied group of guys snaps, but the two most consistent starters Jordan Domineck and Jared Ivey both bounced via the transfer portal in the offseason and the Jackets could use one more pass rusher with game experience to round out a young but talented group with one older player, Keion White. Tech coaches are hosting Solomon Byrd (Wyoming transfer) this week showing that this is a priority.
3. WIDE RECEIVER (1)
Del Alexander is taking over the WR room following the departure of Kerry Dixon to the NFL and the new Jacket coach could add one player to the fold the help the outside receiver position where the Jackets are still looking for an elite playmaker to step up. It appeared like they had one in Leo Blackburn before his ACL injury last fall and he may take some time to return to 100-percent when he gets cleared this summer. Typically it takes 18 months to fully get your full groove back there. Malachi Carter has been the #1 receiver or expected to be it the last few years and has struggled at times with consistency and drops and route running by his own admission. He has plenty of talent but has not fully harnessed it yet. Kalani Norris stepped up and had a good spring, but a more experienced receiver would good 50/50 skills would be a great fit for what new OC Chip Long and Alexander like to do downfield at that position.
4. BEST AVAILABLE (remaining spots)
Whether it is Branden Jennings for the third time the Maryland transfer LB or Miami RB transfer Cody Brown or something else, GT should have about four ships to fill the remaining needs or wants of Collins and his staff. The portal deadline is coming up so the roster is pretty set at that point in terms of attrition on the GT side so the market options will be pretty clear. From talking to sources several marquee programs will be parting ways with kids over the next 10-11 days and there could still be surprising kids leaving as well from the marquee programs or lesser programs post-spring as the last surge of transfer portal activity begins. That will be the most interesting piece of the puzzle moving ahead.
1. OFFENSIVE LINE (2)
The pressing need for offensive line depth is very apparent to anyone who follows GT football closely. Tech suffered two big losses on the line with the medical DQ of lineman Nick Pendley who was projected to start at either guard or right tackle for the Jackets for the next few seasons and played extremely well before suffering multiple injuries last season-ending his career. Starting center Mikey Minihan also ended his career early to start his post-football life and 2020 signee Ryan Spiers received a medical as well after missing the entire 2021 season. He was the second medical DQ from that class joining Michael Rankins both projected as offensive tackles.
The tackle position remains the biggest question going into the season with Jakiah Leftwich (0 career snaps on the OL) projected as the starting left tackle and veteran Jordan Williams projected to start at right tackle with Wing Green (0 career snaps) as the main backup at both spots. That is less than ideal. Leftwich and Green both made huge strides in the spring and are capable of playing major snaps, but that is also a major learning curve going against the type of schedule GT plays out of the gate with four really good teams in the first five games. Ideally, Brent Key would like to add a starting left tackle via the transfer portal that has plenty of game experience even if it is not at left tackle, just game experience would be good.
In addition, another offensive lineman with game experience would be good in general guard or tackle. Right now they have Pierce Quick and Paul Tchio likely slotted as the starting guards plus Paula Vaipulu as the swingman, only Vaipulu has extensive experience playing and Tchio missed a good chunk of spring ball after transferring from Clemson, so Vaipulu and Quick were the typical starting guard combo in the spring. Vaipulu struggled last season playing guard after Pendley's injury and Kenny Cooper's career-ending injury thrust him into the rotation. Adding another experienced guard would improve the depth here and give the Jackets some leeway at a position that has been hammered by injuries during Geoff Collins' entire tenure.
At tackle, the Jackets staff have Kansas transfer Corey Robinson II on campus for a visit today showing the need for tackle bodies as well. If I were to guess I think GT adds two tackles via the portal.
2. DEFENSIVE END (1)
The Jackets had a ton of defensive ends on the roster last year and played a huge and varied group of guys snaps, but the two most consistent starters Jordan Domineck and Jared Ivey both bounced via the transfer portal in the offseason and the Jackets could use one more pass rusher with game experience to round out a young but talented group with one older player, Keion White. Tech coaches are hosting Solomon Byrd (Wyoming transfer) this week showing that this is a priority.
3. WIDE RECEIVER (1)
Del Alexander is taking over the WR room following the departure of Kerry Dixon to the NFL and the new Jacket coach could add one player to the fold the help the outside receiver position where the Jackets are still looking for an elite playmaker to step up. It appeared like they had one in Leo Blackburn before his ACL injury last fall and he may take some time to return to 100-percent when he gets cleared this summer. Typically it takes 18 months to fully get your full groove back there. Malachi Carter has been the #1 receiver or expected to be it the last few years and has struggled at times with consistency and drops and route running by his own admission. He has plenty of talent but has not fully harnessed it yet. Kalani Norris stepped up and had a good spring, but a more experienced receiver would good 50/50 skills would be a great fit for what new OC Chip Long and Alexander like to do downfield at that position.
4. BEST AVAILABLE (remaining spots)
Whether it is Branden Jennings for the third time the Maryland transfer LB or Miami RB transfer Cody Brown or something else, GT should have about four ships to fill the remaining needs or wants of Collins and his staff. The portal deadline is coming up so the roster is pretty set at that point in terms of attrition on the GT side so the market options will be pretty clear. From talking to sources several marquee programs will be parting ways with kids over the next 10-11 days and there could still be surprising kids leaving as well from the marquee programs or lesser programs post-spring as the last surge of transfer portal activity begins. That will be the most interesting piece of the puzzle moving ahead.
