Georgia Tech did well in the transfer portal during the offseason to solidify a deep and talented wide receiver group despite the loss of Eric Singleton to Auburn. The best addition may have been retaining Malik Rutherford after he withdrew his name from the portal after a few days in December.
Rutherford has been a reliable slot receiver for Georgia Tech since his redshirt freshman season in 2022. He returns for one final season on The Flats with total career receptions of 136 and 1491 career yards. Another 60 receptions would place him first in total receptions, beating out Kelley Campbell’s 195 record, a four-year starter from 1998-2001.
Rutherford excels in the Georgia Tech offense as the system employs superior speed with RPOs and fakes to force the defense into softer coverage. Rutherford’s high reception rate comes from being the initial read for King, where he is used on quick outs to catch linebackers or safeties out of position in the middle. Much of FSU’s issues against Tech’s offense came from the soft coverage that allowed Rutherford to catch the ball in the backfield and gain chunk yardage to move the sticks consistently.
Though his main role wasn’t to be a deep threat, he did find a few seams to sneak through during the year, including a beautiful catch against Louisville where he got behind the safety and hauled in a 45-yard pass from Haynes King. He also began the comeback against UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl in 2023.
I’d expect his role to increase near the goal line this year without Singleton in the lineup. Rutherford only accounted for 3 touchdowns on the season, but Georgia Tech relies heavily on its rushing attack close to the goal. Rutherford may pick up some additional reps where Tech used Singleton with quick pop passes that were essentially a jet sweep. Rutherford has an advantage with being 5’9” as he can easily hide behind the offensive line and make defenders lose track of him.
Malik Rutherford will be one of the cornerstones keeping the offense humming for another season, and if he can match or exceed last year’s production, he will have been one of the best to have played the position in over a decade.