The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets hired former Duke defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci on the offseason last year hoping that he would stick around the program for a few seasons at least, but it sent shockwaves through the fan base when Santucci decided to leave late in the offseason on Feb. 1 for an opportunity as a linebacker coach for the Baltimore Ravens.
The Yellow Jackets wasted no time at all finding a replacement, as they looked at their options for the vacancy quickly, and wound up filling it a week later, giving the job to Blake Gideon, who was the safeties coach at his alma mater, the University of Texas. Gideon had been in the role for four seasons before his departure for the Yellow Jackets.
In his time with the Longhorns, Gideon built up one of the best position groups in all of college football, as the Longhorns would boast one of the best secondaries in the entire nation in all four years at the school. Gideon managed to win two national position coaches of the year awards, including the 2024 National Defensive Backs Coach of the Year award in 2024.
The spring game today will show Yellow Jackets fans exactly what scheme that Gideon will run with the offense, with my best guess being a 4-2-5 with a lot of nickel packages. If there is one area that Gideon could improve the secondary the most, it will be by forcing turnovers, as the Yellow Jackets only had five interceptions last season.