When The Other Guys Have The Ball- Georgia Tech Defense In 2025
As Georgia Tech prepares for the upcoming season, optimism is in the air for an improved record, thanks largely to a good returning core of offensive players.
On defense, the biggest news is a new coordinator. Last year's DC, Tyler Santucci, has moved on to the pros, Baltimore to be specific. In his place, Brent Key brought in Blake Gideon, a defensive backfield coach at Texas.
Gideon will oversee a defense with some significant questions coming into the 2025 season, chief among them the defensive line. Jordan van den Berg had a strong year last year and will be back. But experience and proven effectiveness along the line fall off from there. Akelo Stone is back and will add some experience and veteran savvy. Zeek Biggers is gone from the middle, having been drafted by Miami.
Beyond that are a group of newish- to -brand new Jackets, from whom Gideon will need to forge a consistent if not spectacular front wall.
The linebacking corps will again be anchored by Kyle Efford in the middle, with big help from EJ Lightsey.
Efford is a savvy leader, if a bit undersized. His football instincts and leadership qualities make him the QB of the defense.
The defensive backs bring back some strength in the person of Clayton Powell- Lee. He will be helped out by Amari Harvey and Rodney Shelley, all seniors. Tech has an abundance of experience , which may make the secondary the strong point of the entire defense, especially important if the pass rush is inconsistent. Last year, Tech ranked ninth in the ACC in scoring defense, at 25.6 ppg.
Any improvement in that number will lessen the load for the Yellow Jacket offense.
All told, Tech's overall improvement for 2025 will be determined in.large partly how well their new DC can mold a unit that is as good or better than a year ago.
A number of Yellow Jacket defenders have consistently shown up on pre- season all- ACC lists, including Efford, van den Berg, and Harvey. The key will be the ability of the Tech coaching staff to find and blend adequate depth in the short time before August 29 when Tech kicks off the 2025 season against Colorado in Boulder.
Patrick Conarro RamblinSports.com