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Georgia Tech Football: Tech a top 40 program for 2017 in new ranking

By Blake Silvers

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Paul Johnson of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets smiles during the first half of the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at EverBank Field on December 31, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Paul Johnson of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets smiles during the first half of the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at EverBank Field on December 31, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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The Yellow Jackets got a little respect in a new online ranking of the 100 best college football programs going into the upcoming season.

On Monday, the website HeroSports.com listed Georgia Tech at No. 40 on its Top 100 College Football Programs for 2017 list. Earlier today, the ACC media predicted the Jackets to finish third in the ACC Coastal.

One of the big reasons writer Andrew Doughty gives for the Yellow Jackets being put on the upper half of this year’s ranking is Tech’s depth and talent in the backfield.

Georgia Tech has already announced that Matthew Jordan is expected to start against Tennessee in the season opener at quarterback, and the team will look to Dedrick Mills and Clinton Lynch to carry the load in the run game.

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Tech also returns Lance and Lawrence Austin, KeShun Freeman, and a whole host of other experienced defenders on the other side of the football.

Doughty also cites the experience and history of winning from Tech’s Paul Johnson, who will be entering his 10th season as head coach on the Flats.

Johnson is 70-48 as head coach of the Yellow Jackets, and under his command Tech has only had one losing record in the regular season at 3-9 (1-7 ACC) in 2015. Losing seasons are an oddity for Paul Johnson led football teams, only failing to win at least six games in the regular season twice since first becoming a head coach in 1997.

The Yellow Jackets will start their 2017 season off on Labor Day against the Tennessee Volunteers at the newly built Mercedez-Benz Stadium. Last season, the Yellow Jackets went 3-0 against SEC East opponents.

See the entire HeroSports.com rankings (No. 40- No. 100) HERE.