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Georgia Tech Football: Four Areas the Jackets Must Improve This Spring

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 12: Head coach Geoff Collins of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets reacts during the first half of their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 12: Head coach Geoff Collins of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets reacts during the first half of their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 21: James Graham #4 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets passes during the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Bobby Dodd Stadium on November 21, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 21: James Graham #4 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets passes during the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Bobby Dodd Stadium on November 21, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

Quarterback Play

The most important position on the football field is without a doubt, the quarterback. In 2019, Georgia Tech’s production at quarterback was sub-optimal to say the least. The Jackets played four different quarterbacks throughout the season with redshirt freshman James Graham leading the way for the most part. Additionally, one of those quarterbacks, Lucas Johnson has left for other pastures.

As we recently previewed in our spring quarterback position preview, the quarterback position is one that is kind of wide open entering the spring. That remains so after none of the quarterbacks really stood apart in 2020.

James Graham as mentioned above was the leader for the most part, he was the Jackets starter for their last eight games of the season after making his first start against the Temple Owls. During his time as quarterback, Graham struggled with consistency and hitting his targets. He finished with a completion percentage of just 45.1 while throwing for 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He did pick up 290-yards of rushing throughout the season but averaged just 2.9 yards per carry.

But Graham wasn’t the problem in the Jackets offense and he did show quite a bit of promise but the Yellow Jackets do need a ton more out of Graham in order to be more successful in 2020 or any quarterback in that case.

As a team in 2020, the Yellow Jackets quarterbacks completed 45.1% of their passes (123-for-268) with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Their best quarterback outside of Graham was Lucas Johnson who completed over 56.0% of his passes but as mentioned above Johnson has left the program. With Tobias Oliver most likely playing other positions, that leaves Graham, Jordan Yates, and a pair of freshmen in Tucker Gleason and Jeff Sims as the Jackets options at quarterback in 2020.

With all four of them currently enrolled and will be ready for spring practices, the Yellow Jackets should have a stiff quarterback competition. They need to because the only way the team will take any step forward in 2020 is if the quarterback play is much improved. Hopefully for the Yellow Jackets, having a strong quarterback competition will help raise the level of play this spring and summer as we lead into the 2020 season.