Georgia Tech did not have a Thursday night game last season, but will host North Carolina State in the final ACC game of the 2024 season. This will be a key game for the ACC and could determine which team will play in the ACC Championship.
After starting the season 4-3, NC State won its final five regular season games and would have made it to the ACC Championship Game had it not been for a 13-10 loss to Louisville earlier in the season. NC State made a big splash in the transfer portal in the offseason, and that, combined with a favorable schedule, makes the Wolfpack look like a team that can make a run in the ACC title game and have a chance to make the new 12-team playoff. NC State is a well-coached and talented team, but they have struggled before when expectations were high.
Overall, Georgia Tech has had a good record against the Wolfpack, as the Yellow Jackets hold a 20-11 all-time lead against NC State and have won four of the past six meetings.
So who will these two teams face off against each other now? Let's give you a little early preview of the match.
Georgia Tech Offense vs. NC State Defense
Georgia Tech's offense was one of the best in the ACC last year and should continue to be that way this year. They'll also be facing one of the best defenses in the ACC in this game. NC State's defensive coordinator, Tony Gibson, is one of the best in the country and has always kept his team ready to go, even with player loss.
Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King is one of only two players in the country (joining LSU's Jayden Daniels) with at least 2,700 passing yards, 600 rushing yards, 25 touchdown passes and five rushing touchdowns this season, and one of only six ACC players since 2000 to achieve those numbers in a regular season. King led the ACC in touchdown passes and was fourth in passing yards. King is back for another season at the Flats and could be the best quarterback in the conference this year. One reason to root for the Yellow Jackets is that they may have the best quarterback on the field against many opponents. King has been good, but he has had problems with turnovers and will not work against some teams, including NC State, which will face Georgia Tech.
Jamal Haynes had a great season last year. He made the switch from wide receiver to running back during fall camp, and the move paid off. Haynes earned All-ACC honors as a running back (third team) and was named an honorable mention All-Purpose performer. He led Georgia Tech with 1,059 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, and a team-second-best six yards per carry. Those numbers were fifth in the ACC in rushing yards, he was tied for sixth in the conference with seven rushing touchdowns, and his 6.0 yards per carry was third in the league. Haynes had a strong performance in the bowl game against UCF, rushing 18 times for a game-high 128 yards. He also had a strong performance against the Georgia Bulldogs, rushing for 81 yards. Haynes is the second-highest rated player for the Yellow Jackets according to Pro Football Focus, earning a 76.9 grade and looks poised to have another big season in 2024. I think he's going to have a big season, but he's not getting the recognition he should be getting.
This will be one of the deepest wide receiver corps in the ACC, with several newcomers who could bolster this group.
Eric Singleton Jr. is the Yellow Jackets' highest-rated player in the 2023 freshman class, according to 247Sports, and he looked like he had superstar potential last season.
Singleton Jr. ranks fourth among all freshman (true freshman or redshirt) in the nation in 2023 with 59.5 yards receiving per game and is tied for fourth nationally among true freshman with six touchdown receptions. His 714 yards receiving and six touchdown catches both rank in the top 10 in the entire Atlantic Coast Conference, and his six touchdown receptions are the second-most by a freshman in Georgia Tech history. Can he have an even better season in 2024? I think it certainly is possible, and the chemistry between him and King was evident last year.
Singleton isn't the Yellow Jackets' only dangerous receiver.
Malik Rutherford was Georgia Tech's second-leading receiver. He caught 46 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 10.5 yards per catch. His biggest performance came in Georgia Tech's blowout win over North Carolina. Rutherford caught six passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. He was a reliable player who could stretch the field with his speed, and he was also a player who could get the ball in a variety of ways.
Christian Leary was Georgia Tech's fourth-leading receiver this season, catching 25 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns, as well as a kickoff return.
Chase Lane started the year well but injuries cost him time. If he can stay healthy, I think he'll have a really good season in 2024. Abdul-Janneh, a transfer from Duquesne, had six catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He'll add depth to Georgia Tech next year.
Leo Blackburn is one of Georgia Tech's biggest players at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, and if he can stay healthy this season, he could add an entirely new element to the Yellow Jackets' offense.
The offensive line will also be one of the best in the ACC.
In just one season, head coach Brent Key and first-year offensive line coach Jeep Wade have transformed Georgia Tech's offensive line from its biggest weakness to arguably the best unit on the entire team. Georgia Tech has gone from being one of the worst rushing teams in the ACC to leading the league in rushing. For anyone who has looked at the 2022 line, it's been a pretty surprising turnaround. The good news for the Yellow Jackets is that the offensive line returns four of its five starters and added an all-conference transfer in the offseason.
NC State will be without linebacker Peyton Wilson but should still field a very good defense.
The defensive line will see the return of Davin Vann, who was third on the team with five sacks last season. Brandon Cleveland, Travali Prisum and Chaz Wallace, who transferred from Colorado, will also be notable players on the defensive line.
The biggest question mark on the Wolfpack's defense next season may be at linebacker. Players to watch at the position include Devon Betty, Caden Fordham, four-star freshmen Elijah Groves and Wyatt Wright. Fordham recorded 53 tackles for the Wolfpack last season.
NC State's strongest spot is its secondary. Aidan White is one of the best cornerbacks in the country, and safety Devan Boykin had three interceptions and 54 tackles last season. Sean Brown also returns after recording 66 tackles and two interceptions, and Brandon Cisse will be the starting cornerback opposite White. This is also a division of the team where Dave Doeren added several players through the transfer portal. Jahad Carter (Ohio State), Kelly Martin (Akron), Corey Corley (Maryland), Donovan Kauffman (Auburn), Tamarcus Cooley (Maryland) and Devon Marshall (Villanova) will help form one of the deepest secondaries in the ACC.
While the Wolfpack are missing some key players from last year on the defensive line, there is no doubt that they have a talented defense. The problem lies on the other side of the offensive line.
NC State Offense vs Georgia Tech Defense
NC State had the worst passing attack in the country last year, but the hope is that personnel changes will improve that.
One of the most interesting additions in the transfer portal this offseason is the departure of former Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall to play his final year at NC State. McCall had a great career at Coastal and was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country, but the question is how he will play outside of Jamie Chadwell's system. After Chadwell moved to Liberty, McCall had just 10 touchdowns against six interceptions last season before getting injured. I think he'll do well, but it's a question worth asking. This is also a big step up competitively for him. He should be an upgrade over last year's team, but it's not a stretch to say he's an All-ACC level quarterback.
NC State made their best running back addition in the offseason with the addition of Duke transfer Jordan Waters as their primary back this season. Waters threw for 819 yards and 12 touchdowns last season and should be NC State's primary back this season. Kendrick Rafael and Oklahoma transfer Hollywood Smothers should be NC State's secondary options at running back.
NC State will have arguably the ACC's best receiver on this year's team. Kevin Concepcion was the ACC's Freshman of the Year last season after catching 71 yards for 839 and 10 touchdowns. He was also the team's second-leading rusher with 320 yards. He's one of the best all-around players in the country and could have even more talent surrounding him this year. Ohio State transfer Noah Rodgers has been highly praised this spring, and Dakari Collins could be a breakout star. Connecticut transfer tight end Justin Jolly is also a player to watch this season, as is Wake Forest transfer Wesley Grimes.
The Wolfpack offensive line returns four starters, and NC State should add depth with the addition of two transfers in Val Erickson (Missouri) and Zeke Correll (Notre Dame).
New Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci is looking to rebuild Georgia Tech's defense and try to compete in the ACC this season. In his one season at Duke (2023), Santucci oversaw the ACC's top-ranked scoring defense, allowing just 19.0 points per game, good for 16th in the nation. The Blue Devils also ranked in the top 50 nationally in rush defense, pass defense, total defense, tackles for loss, third-down defense, fourth-down defense and red zone defense. Duke allowed just 10 points combined in two wins over teams that finished the season in the top 25 (No. 20 Clemson (28-7) and No. 21 North Carolina State (24-3)) and improved to 8-5 overall with a 17-10 win over Troy in the 2023 Birmingham Bowl.
Georgia Tech's defensive line may be their biggest question mark, especially at defensive end. On the interior, Zeke Biggers, Miami/Georgia State transfer Thomas Gore, Penn State transfer Jordan van den Berg and Horace Lockett have potential, but does Georgia Tech have enough power at the edge rusher position? USC transfer Romello Height could help, but Georgia Tech will need production from this unit.
At linebacker, Kyle Efford will look to lead a group that includes veteran starter Tre'Niulious Tatum, Georgia transfer EJ Lightsey, Louisville transfer Jackson Hamilton and freshman Taj Butler.
Georgia Tech returns a strong safety duo in LaMyles Brooks and Clayton Powell Lee, and Ahmari Harvey could have a breakout season in 2024. The biggest question in the secondary is who will start at corner opposite Harvey, with Tennessee transfer Warren Burrell likely be the favorite on the outside and Rhode Island transfers Saeed Gibbs and Rodney Shelley potentially at nickel.
overview
It will be a tough game for Georgia Tech, but playing in Atlanta instead of Raleigh means a lot and will give the Yellow Jackets more time to prepare for Thursday night's showdown.
NC State is a contender for a spot in the ACC Finals, but it will depend on how the new additions affect the offense. If McCall, Waters and Rodgers can add some explosiveness to their passing and running, NC State could be dangerous. Without significant improvement, they'll likely remain at around 7 or 8 wins. Thursday night's matchup will be interesting.
