Florida State (4-3, 2-3 ACC) will be back in action on Saturday to take on a struggling Georgia Tech (3-4, 2-2) program on Saturday at noon (ACC Network). The Seminoles are a 24-point favorite heading into the game. FSU leads the all-time series 14-11-1. The Seminoles are 6-2 at home against the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech has won the last two meetings, 2015 and 2020. Chris Cotter will handle play-by-play duties and will be joined in the booth by analyst Mark Herzlich and Jayln Johnson on the sidelines. The weather forecast for Saturday afternoon calls for party sunny skies with temperatures in the upper to mid 70s at kickoff and reaching the low 80s by mid-afternoon.
Georgia Tech 35 vs. Western Carolina 17
Georgia Tech 0 vs. Ole Miss 42
Georgia Tech 10 at UCF 27
Georgia Tech 26 at Pitt 21
Georgia Tech 23 vs. Duke 20
Georgia Tech 9 vs. Virginia 16
Combined record of Georgia Tech's FBS Opponents to-date: 32-13
Georgia Tech by the numbers (FBS Rank/Per Game Average)
Offensive Numbers:
Rushing Offense - 84th at 137.8 YPG
Passing Offense - 115th at 174.1 YPG
Total Offense - 118th at 312 YPG
Scoring Offense - 125th at 16.1 PPG
Sacks Allowed - 120th at 3.71 PG
TFL's Allowed - 122nd at 8.57 PG
Third-Down Offense - 122nd @ 29.7-percent conversion rate
Defensive Numbers:
Rushing Defense - 101st at 173.4 YPG
Passing Defense - 47th at 215.1 YPG
Total Defense - 84th at 392.6 YPG
Scoring Defense - 68th at 26.3 PPG
Sacks Made - 56th at 2.14 PG
TFLs Made - 13th at 7.2 PG
Third-Down Defense - 431st at 33.3 percent opponent conversion rate
Geoff Collins started the season as the Yellow Jackets head coach but was fired after the team's 1-3 start to the 2022 season. Offensive line coach and former Tech player Brent Key took over as the interim head coach after the team's loss to UCF and led his alma mater to upsets of Pitt and Duke. Key has an outstanding coaching pedigree with a long stint as an assistant for George O'Leary at UCF (2005-15) and three seasons on staff as the offensive line coach for Nick Saban at Alabama (2016-18) before joining Collins in Atlanta in 2019 when was named assistant head coach for Georgia Tech.
Chip Long is the team's offensive coordinator. Long's pro-style offense may look familiar to FSU fans as it is sure to have the influence of Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell in his scheme. From 2012-15 Long served as the tight ends coach at Arizona State while Norvell was the offensive coordinator. Long followed Norvell to Memphis in 2016, where he was the Tigers' offensive coordinator. He was also the offensive coordinator for Brian Kelly at Notre Dame from 2017-19 and last season was the offensive coordinator for Willie Fritz at Tulane.
David Turner, who has 36 years of experience coaching at the college level, is the team's defensive coordinator, although Collins filled that role until he was fired. Turner has a successful track as an assistant with stints at a list of schools that include Florida (2019-21), UTSA (2018), Texas A&M (2016-2017), Mississippi State (2013-2105) and Kentucky (2010-2012). Prior to those stops he also served as an assistant Alabama, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, NC State, Virginia and James Madison.
Former FSU quarterback Chris Weinke is the QB coach for the Yellow Jackets.
Sims has accounted for 64 percent of the team's yards from scrimmage. He is the team second leading rusher in both attempts (87) and yards (288). He is, of course, the team's leading passer. So far this season he has completed just 58 percent of his passes for 1,115 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.
If Sims is a no-go against FSU, the Seminoles are likely to see a pair of quarterbacks in his stead. Sophomore Zach Gibson (6-3, 211), a pro-style passer, filled in for Sims when he went out of the game last week. On the season Gibson has completed 11 of 27 passes for 104 yards. True freshman Zach Pryon (6-3, 213) is a four-star prospect who is expected to see the first action of his collegiate career on Saturday.
Tech features a running back by committee with three players listed as co-starters. The team's leading rusher is senior Hassan Hall (6-0, 196), who has run for 372 yards this season on 73 carries. Hall transferred to Georgia Tech from Louisville this past off-season and is also second on the team with 17 receptions. Junior Dontae Smith (5-11, 203) is the team's third leading rusher with 247 yards on 44 carries. He has accounted for half of the team's six rushing touchdowns.
Sophomore wide receiver Nate McCollum (5-11, 184) has established himself as the team's go-to target in the passing game. His 34 catches are twice as many as their second leading receiver. McCollum is averaging 10.1 yards per receptions and will occasionally be used in the run game, where he has totaled 57 yards on five carries. Tech has only two other receivers on its roster who have accumulated more than 100 yards receiving to this point in the season. Senior wide receiver Malachi Carter (6-3, 192) has 201 yards on 13 catches and fellow senior wide receiver EJ Jenkins (6-7, 243) has 11 catches for 160 yards on the year. Starting tight end Dylan Leonard (6-5, 238), a junior, has eight catches for 72 yards this year.
A lot of Georgia Tech's issues on offense have been because of their young and inexperienced offensive line. The starting five consist of one redshirt sophomore, two true sophomores and two redshirt freshman that have combined for just 50 career starts. Sophomore offensive tackle Jordan Williams (6-6, 312) has started since he was a true freshman and is far and away the most experienced of the group with 25 career starts. No other starter up front as more than seven career starts.
Georgia Tech on Defense
The strength of this Tech team is its defense, which will play a base 4-3 front but will also use odd fronts at times. After giving up 41 and 42 points, respectively, to Clemson and Ole Miss in their first two FBS games the Yellow Jackets have had a little more sting defensively of late. They have given up more than 21 points in any of their last three games and they do have some playmakers on that side of the ball. And as the numbers above indicate they have been disruptive against the run, making plays behind the line of scrimmage. The Yellow Jackets have allowed opposing teams to run for more than 156 yards just twice this season and have allowed only one rushing touchdown in their last three games.
The leader up front is senior defensive end Keion White (6-5, 286), who is third on the team with 33 tackles, first in sacks with four and second on the team with 7.5 TFL's. Sophomores Kyle Kennard (6-5, 240) and Noah Collins (6-5, 243) have combined for 39 tackles, one sack and 5.5 tackles for a loss while splitting time opposite White. Sophomores D'Quan Douse (6-2, 282) and Makius Scott (6-4, 295) start at the two tackle spots and have done a good job of not allowing opposing offensive lineman to get to their linebackers. The pair have combined for 21 stops this season, including three sacks and two TFLs.
The Tech defense does feature two outstanding and very productive linebackers. Seniors Charlie Thomas (6-2, 207) and Ayinde Eley (6-3, 233) are the leaders on this side of the ball. Eley leads the team with 71 tackles, which is 17th most in the FBS. He leads the team with 9.5 TFLs, which is 16th-most in college football. Eley also is second on the team with 3.5 sacks. Thomas is second with 61 tackles and is also second on the team with 7.5 TFLs. He is also tied for the team lead with two interceptions.
The Tech secondary will be without free safety Jaylon King, who still ranks as the team's fourth-leading tackler despite missing the last two games. Sophomore LaMiles Brooks (6-2, 192) had been very productive at strong safety and has become a quality starter. He is fifth on the team with 28 tackles and is tied for the team lead in both interceptions (two) and passes broken up (five). Freshman Clayton Powell-Lee (6-2, 175) has been solid in King's absence and has totaled 15 tackles on the season. Redshirt sophomore nickelback KJ Wallace (5-11, 184) has 27 tackles on the season. Redshirt junior cornerback Zamari Walton (6-3, 185) is tied for the team lead with five passes broken up and has 23 tackles to his credit. He and fellow starting cornerback Myles Sims (6-3, 187) both have one interception.
Stewart has made all eight of his field goal attempts this season while Kelley has made just two of his six attempts. Kelley is 2 for 3 on field goals of 40 or more yards.
Shanahan is averaging 44.3 yards per punt, which is 22nd best in the FBS but has had four punts blocked this season. He has 13 punts this season that have traveled over 50 yards.
McCollum handles punt return duties and is averaging over 12 yards per return but has attempted just six returns on 30 chances. Hall is the main kickoff return man for Tech and is averaging 25 yards per return on six chances. The Jackets have attempted just seven returns in 38 opportunities.
Georgia Tech schedule, results and national rankings
Georgia Tech 10 vs. Clemson 41Georgia Tech 35 vs. Western Carolina 17
Georgia Tech 0 vs. Ole Miss 42
Georgia Tech 10 at UCF 27
Georgia Tech 26 at Pitt 21
Georgia Tech 23 vs. Duke 20
Georgia Tech 9 vs. Virginia 16
Combined record of Georgia Tech's FBS Opponents to-date: 32-13
Georgia Tech by the numbers (FBS Rank/Per Game Average)
Offensive Numbers:
Rushing Offense - 84th at 137.8 YPG
Passing Offense - 115th at 174.1 YPG
Total Offense - 118th at 312 YPG
Scoring Offense - 125th at 16.1 PPG
Sacks Allowed - 120th at 3.71 PG
TFL's Allowed - 122nd at 8.57 PG
Third-Down Offense - 122nd @ 29.7-percent conversion rate
Defensive Numbers:
Rushing Defense - 101st at 173.4 YPG
Passing Defense - 47th at 215.1 YPG
Total Defense - 84th at 392.6 YPG
Scoring Defense - 68th at 26.3 PPG
Sacks Made - 56th at 2.14 PG
TFLs Made - 13th at 7.2 PG
Third-Down Defense - 431st at 33.3 percent opponent conversion rate
Geoff Collins started the season as the Yellow Jackets head coach but was fired after the team's 1-3 start to the 2022 season. Offensive line coach and former Tech player Brent Key took over as the interim head coach after the team's loss to UCF and led his alma mater to upsets of Pitt and Duke. Key has an outstanding coaching pedigree with a long stint as an assistant for George O'Leary at UCF (2005-15) and three seasons on staff as the offensive line coach for Nick Saban at Alabama (2016-18) before joining Collins in Atlanta in 2019 when was named assistant head coach for Georgia Tech.
Chip Long is the team's offensive coordinator. Long's pro-style offense may look familiar to FSU fans as it is sure to have the influence of Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell in his scheme. From 2012-15 Long served as the tight ends coach at Arizona State while Norvell was the offensive coordinator. Long followed Norvell to Memphis in 2016, where he was the Tigers' offensive coordinator. He was also the offensive coordinator for Brian Kelly at Notre Dame from 2017-19 and last season was the offensive coordinator for Willie Fritz at Tulane.
David Turner, who has 36 years of experience coaching at the college level, is the team's defensive coordinator, although Collins filled that role until he was fired. Turner has a successful track as an assistant with stints at a list of schools that include Florida (2019-21), UTSA (2018), Texas A&M (2016-2017), Mississippi State (2013-2105) and Kentucky (2010-2012). Prior to those stops he also served as an assistant Alabama, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, NC State, Virginia and James Madison.
Former FSU quarterback Chris Weinke is the QB coach for the Yellow Jackets.
Georgia Tech on offense
The big question heading into the game this weekend is who will line up at quarterback for the Yellow Jackets. Sophomore Jeff Sims (6-4 and 219 pounds) is listed as the starter, but Key said earlier this week that his starter is "day-to-day" after leaving last week's game against Virginia. Georgia Tech's offense hasn't exactly been lighting up the scoreboard this season when Sims has been at full speed and his possible absence would give the FSU defense a significant advantage in the game.Sims has accounted for 64 percent of the team's yards from scrimmage. He is the team second leading rusher in both attempts (87) and yards (288). He is, of course, the team's leading passer. So far this season he has completed just 58 percent of his passes for 1,115 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.
If Sims is a no-go against FSU, the Seminoles are likely to see a pair of quarterbacks in his stead. Sophomore Zach Gibson (6-3, 211), a pro-style passer, filled in for Sims when he went out of the game last week. On the season Gibson has completed 11 of 27 passes for 104 yards. True freshman Zach Pryon (6-3, 213) is a four-star prospect who is expected to see the first action of his collegiate career on Saturday.
Tech features a running back by committee with three players listed as co-starters. The team's leading rusher is senior Hassan Hall (6-0, 196), who has run for 372 yards this season on 73 carries. Hall transferred to Georgia Tech from Louisville this past off-season and is also second on the team with 17 receptions. Junior Dontae Smith (5-11, 203) is the team's third leading rusher with 247 yards on 44 carries. He has accounted for half of the team's six rushing touchdowns.
Sophomore wide receiver Nate McCollum (5-11, 184) has established himself as the team's go-to target in the passing game. His 34 catches are twice as many as their second leading receiver. McCollum is averaging 10.1 yards per receptions and will occasionally be used in the run game, where he has totaled 57 yards on five carries. Tech has only two other receivers on its roster who have accumulated more than 100 yards receiving to this point in the season. Senior wide receiver Malachi Carter (6-3, 192) has 201 yards on 13 catches and fellow senior wide receiver EJ Jenkins (6-7, 243) has 11 catches for 160 yards on the year. Starting tight end Dylan Leonard (6-5, 238), a junior, has eight catches for 72 yards this year.
A lot of Georgia Tech's issues on offense have been because of their young and inexperienced offensive line. The starting five consist of one redshirt sophomore, two true sophomores and two redshirt freshman that have combined for just 50 career starts. Sophomore offensive tackle Jordan Williams (6-6, 312) has started since he was a true freshman and is far and away the most experienced of the group with 25 career starts. No other starter up front as more than seven career starts.
Georgia Tech on Defense
The strength of this Tech team is its defense, which will play a base 4-3 front but will also use odd fronts at times. After giving up 41 and 42 points, respectively, to Clemson and Ole Miss in their first two FBS games the Yellow Jackets have had a little more sting defensively of late. They have given up more than 21 points in any of their last three games and they do have some playmakers on that side of the ball. And as the numbers above indicate they have been disruptive against the run, making plays behind the line of scrimmage. The Yellow Jackets have allowed opposing teams to run for more than 156 yards just twice this season and have allowed only one rushing touchdown in their last three games.
The leader up front is senior defensive end Keion White (6-5, 286), who is third on the team with 33 tackles, first in sacks with four and second on the team with 7.5 TFL's. Sophomores Kyle Kennard (6-5, 240) and Noah Collins (6-5, 243) have combined for 39 tackles, one sack and 5.5 tackles for a loss while splitting time opposite White. Sophomores D'Quan Douse (6-2, 282) and Makius Scott (6-4, 295) start at the two tackle spots and have done a good job of not allowing opposing offensive lineman to get to their linebackers. The pair have combined for 21 stops this season, including three sacks and two TFLs.
The Tech defense does feature two outstanding and very productive linebackers. Seniors Charlie Thomas (6-2, 207) and Ayinde Eley (6-3, 233) are the leaders on this side of the ball. Eley leads the team with 71 tackles, which is 17th most in the FBS. He leads the team with 9.5 TFLs, which is 16th-most in college football. Eley also is second on the team with 3.5 sacks. Thomas is second with 61 tackles and is also second on the team with 7.5 TFLs. He is also tied for the team lead with two interceptions.
The Tech secondary will be without free safety Jaylon King, who still ranks as the team's fourth-leading tackler despite missing the last two games. Sophomore LaMiles Brooks (6-2, 192) had been very productive at strong safety and has become a quality starter. He is fifth on the team with 28 tackles and is tied for the team lead in both interceptions (two) and passes broken up (five). Freshman Clayton Powell-Lee (6-2, 175) has been solid in King's absence and has totaled 15 tackles on the season. Redshirt sophomore nickelback KJ Wallace (5-11, 184) has 27 tackles on the season. Redshirt junior cornerback Zamari Walton (6-3, 185) is tied for the team lead with five passes broken up and has 23 tackles to his credit. He and fellow starting cornerback Myles Sims (6-3, 187) both have one interception.
Georgia Tech on special teams
Sophomore Gavin Stewart and freshman Jude Kelley split the place-kicking duties while sophomore David Shanahan is the team's punter.Stewart has made all eight of his field goal attempts this season while Kelley has made just two of his six attempts. Kelley is 2 for 3 on field goals of 40 or more yards.
Shanahan is averaging 44.3 yards per punt, which is 22nd best in the FBS but has had four punts blocked this season. He has 13 punts this season that have traveled over 50 yards.
McCollum handles punt return duties and is averaging over 12 yards per return but has attempted just six returns on 30 chances. Hall is the main kickoff return man for Tech and is averaging 25 yards per return on six chances. The Jackets have attempted just seven returns in 38 opportunities.
