It is no secret to Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football fans that the position group that the team could use the most help in is anywhere in the defensive front seven for the team. But the Yellow Jackets and head coach Brent Key recognized this in the offseason and made it a point to bring in talent for the group, but how well can they do in 2025?
Perhaps the biggest addition to the Yellow Jackets defensive unit this offseason was the transfer of Brayden Manley, who put up 9.5 sacks for the Mercer Bears last season, capping it off with making the All-FCS All-American team.
Adding Manley was something that the team desperately needed to do, because they have had a consistent issue with getting to the quarterback in Key’s first two seasons at the program, totaling just 39 sacks, which is the second lowest of any team in the ACC over the past two seasons.
The additions did not end there, as Key was also able to bring in A.J. Hoffler, Horace Lockett, Matthew Alexander, Ronald Triplette, Jacob Cruz, Christian Burkhalter, and former Yellow Jackets defensive lineman Akelo Stone. All of these players show that Key seen where his team struggled the most and got the help that he thought that the team needed in those positions.
The additions added in with returning players from last season including Jordan van den Berg and E.J. Lightsey puts the Yellow Jackets in position to take a big step forward in 2025 as a group.