One area of concern coming into last year was Tech’s run defense. In 2023, the defense gave up 221 rushing yards per game, which would have them only better than Louisiana Tech and North Texas for the season. The linebackers did a tremendous job correcting that in 2024, only allowing 122 yards per game on the ground, placing them at 30th in the nation, which is the best mark since Paul Johnson’s final season in 2018.
Trenilyas Tatum will depart as the third-leading tackler on the team, but Kyle Efford returns with the team high of 64 tackles. Efford became a social media trend after the first game against FSU due to his old-school look with a high neck guard while giving the FSU offense all they could handle. Efford excels against the run but does need to work on fighting through blocks to create more pressure on the QB, with only one hurry on the season last year.
E.J. Lightsey returns as the likely starter to replace Tatum this year. Lightsey recorded two starts and played in 9 games last year after transferring over from rival Georgia. Lightsey’s highlight of last year came against NC State during a bungled trick play that led to Lightsey returning an interception for a touchdown.
Georgia Tech brought in two transfers to reinforce the depth with Cayman Spaulding from Tennessee Tech and Melvin Jordan from Oregon State. Spaulding had a great year with Tennessee Tech last year, with 66 tackles and produced pressure on the QB with 3 sacks. It is possible he could push Lightsey for the starting role if he can continue to produce in pass defense by generating pass rush. An area Tech finished near the bottom of the conference last year.
Tech did not bring in any new players from the high school ranks this year, but does round out the room with Tah’j Butler, who served in a rotational role last year, along with Jackson Hamilton, who came in from Louisville last year. It’s going to be another deep and veteran group in hopes that another year continues to build upon the last.