As we approach the 2025 college football season, we are in the time frame that preseason teams and polls start coming out, highlighting the best of the best coming into the season, and while the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will probably not see a lot of their players on these lists, there is one name that should stand out: running back Jamal Haynes.
Haynes has been the feature back for the Yellow Jackets over the past two seasons, rushing for 2,003 yards each of the last two seasons. On top of that, he has combined for 20 total touchdowns, putting him among the best in the country.
Haynes is slated for a huge season in 2025, as it has been shown that he has been a focal point odf the offense the past two seasons. The Yellow Jackets will be returning a key component on the offensive line in Keylan Rutledge and they have incoming five-star tackle Josh Petty, who will undoubtedly be a starter on the offensive line, so he will be running behind one of the best offensive lines in college football next season.
Haynes belong in the conversations just as much as Makhi Hughes, Isaac Brown, and Kaytron Allen due to his explosiveness and impact that he can have on a game.
While I do not think he is quite on the level of Jeremiyah Love and Nicholas Singleton, the disrespect shown to Haynes this offseason has been crazy, as he should still be considered one of the top three returning backs for the college football season.