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Georgia Tech Football: Who Will Be The Jackets Most Impactful Freshman?

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 30: A general view of Bobby Dodd Stadium during the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on November 30, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 30: A general view of Bobby Dodd Stadium during the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on November 30, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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While the 2020 college football season’s ultimate fate still hangs in the balance, we will continue to move on in hopes of the season starting relatively on time, no matter how high of a hope that may be. Today, we look at what true freshman could have the biggest impacts on the field for Georgia Tech in 2020 and their individual cases.

RB Jahmyr Gibbs:

The case for Jahmyr Gibbs is simply that he is too good to not see the field this upcoming season for the Yellow Jackets. While we expect Jordan Mason to remain the Jackets starting running back and rightfully so, Gibbs could very well be the Jacket second string running back in 2020.

Gibbs rose in the recruiting rankings this past season, having a “breakout” senior season for Dalton High School. Gibbs originally committed to the Yellow Jackets last summer and despite being courted by some of the nation”s top programs including Alabama, LSU, and Ohio State, the 5-foot-9, 191-pound all-purpose back remained committed to the Jackets.

We’ll see Gibbs on the field in 2020 without a doubt, but it’s up to him and his performance ultimately to decide just how big of a role he’ll have.

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QB Jeff Sims

One of two quarterbacks that truly could make an impact this upcoming season, Sims is one of the biggest gets in recent history right behind that of Jahmyr Gibbs. The four-star quarterback will have a chance to be the Jackets immediate starter this upcoming season. He’ll have to beat out the likes of James Graham, Jordan Yates, and Tucker Gleason but if Sims is as good as everyone thinks he is coming out of Sandalwood High School in Jacksonville, Florida then it won’t be any surprise if he’s the Jackets Day-1 starter.

QB Tucker Gleason

Like Sims, Gleason is someone who has the opportunity to be a day one starter for the Jackets this upcoming season. More of a pro-style quarterback than dual-threat, Gleason is a tall and lengthy quarterback that you look for in the backfield. With a strong arm and quality accuracy, Gleason has the talent like Sims to play right away, at least on paper. While he seems less likely than Sims to be the day starter, we’ll not ruling it out 100% either.

ILB Khatavian Franks

Depending on how you ask, some will say Franks is one of the most underrated recruits in the Jackets 2020 recruiting class. Franks was an absolute stud this past season for Creekside High School in Fairburn, GA. Franks much like Gibbs will definitely see the field in our opinion this upcoming season it’s just a matter of how much. While he may not be a game wrecker this upcoming season, Franks has a great chance to be a game wrecker in the future for the Yellow Jackets. The RecruitGeorgia 6A Player of the Year has everything you look for in a linebacker at the next level.

TE Billy Ward

We’re going a little outside the box here but it is a selection that does make sense. Ward, the Jackets lone tight end recruit of the 2020 recruiting class has a chance to make a mark right away this upcoming season. The Jackets have just one scholarship tight end (Dylan Deveney) on the roster heading into this season which opens up a spot for Billy Ward to make an impact. The Jackets didn’t use the tight end position last year a huge amount but that could change this season. At 6-foot-4, 245-pounds, Ward has quality size and his high school tape shows an overall well rounded tight end who could be an asset in both the passing and rushing attack.

Obviously, predicting what type of an impact a true freshman will have on a future season is an imperfect science. Sometimes, the top of the line five stars don’t make impacts for years to come while the three-star prospect who was outside the top-1,000 makes a huge impact. With that being said, we feel that the five freshman we’ve noted above will have quality chances this upcoming season to be impact players.