While it is a relief to Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket fans that starting quarterback Haynes King has announced that he is 100% healthy for the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 27, it is worth noting that in his absence from a shoulder injury, a future Yellow Jackets superstar may have emerged.
Heading into the season, freshman quarterback Aaron Philo was third on the Yellow Jackets depth chart. Philo presumably assumed he wouldn’t see much playing time this season, however King went down with a shoulder injury and second-string quarterback Zach Pyron failed to be productive for the Yellow Jackets against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the first half of the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies. Philo would then make his season debut in the second half, going 11/26 for 184 yards and throwing an interception.
While he didn’t look the sharpest in his debut, it was enough for head coach Brent Key to make the decision to start Philo in the team’s next game against the then-No.4 ranked Miami Hurricanes. Philo and King would split snaps, with Philo completing five of ten passes for 67 yards and a touchdown to wide receiver Chase Lane. The Yellow Jackets would pull of a 28-23 upset of the Hurricanes.
Philo would make his second start of the season in the teams next outing against the NC State Wolfpack, where he submitted himself as the future quarterback for the Yellow Jackets after King graduated next season, having a heroic performance that would lead the Yellow Jackets to a 30-29 victory. Philo completed 19 of his 33 passes for 265 yards and an interception, while adding 57 yards on the ground, including an 18-yard rushing touchdown with 22 seconds left in the game that would eventually be the game-winning touchdown.
While the Yellow Jackets have their current superstar in King, it seems that the future of the team is already in motion, as Philo will be the quarterback after King graduates at the end of next season.