ATLANTA – A Georgia Tech program that was already as far down as it could be is suddenly full of optimism.

The Yellow Jackets are coming off their first successful season since 2018 and feel ready to climb even higher under coach Brent Key.

The Yellow Jackets were a laughing stock under their previous coach, Geoff Collins. He talked a lot about his game but was completely unprepared to lead a major league team.

Those dark days are behind us. While no one expects Georgia Tech to compete for national titles on a regular basis, this group has shown it can compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“We want to take on the challenges that lie ahead,” Key said. “Nothing is easy. We don’t want it to be easy.”

Impact of Key

Key is entering his second full season as coach and deserves credit for leading the Yellow Jackets out of the Collins-era abyss.

The fiery coach instilled a winning, nervous attitude in his players that paid off last season with improbable victories over North Carolina and Miami.

Georgia Tech had a 10-28 record in three-plus years under Collins, including a 7-19 record in the conference. Since Key took over four games in the 2022 season, the Jackets are 11-10 overall and 9-6 in the ACC.

Nice to be king

Haynes King returns after an outstanding season as quarterback.

The transfer from Texas A&M threw for 2,842 yards with 27 touchdowns, plus 737 rushing yards and ten more TDs.

If there’s anything King needs to work on, it’s being more selective with his passes after being intercepted 16 times. But no one was complaining much after the Yellow Jackets averaged 31.1 points per game – their highest output in five years.

“He does everything you ask of him,” said offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner. “We have a lot of confidence in him and what he can do, and we keep pushing him harder.”

Assault weapons

Faulkner received much praise for King’s development, which was by no means a one-man show.

Running back Jamal Haynes collected 1,059 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and caught 20 passes for 151 yards. Eric Singleton (48 catches, 714 yards, six TDs) and Malik Rutherford (46 catches, 502 yards, four TDs) were the top receivers. All are back.

“He’s got great players around him and he understands that,” Faulkner said of his quarterback. “He knows how to pass the ball to them and make them look really good.”

Restructuring of the defense

While the offense was a bright spot, Key was not happy with the leaky defense, which allowed nearly 30 points per game, ranking 97th nationally.

Georgia Tech has revamped its roster on that side of the defensive line, most notably hiring Tyler Santucci from Duke as its new defensive coordinator. Under Santucci, the Blue Devils have allowed just 19 points per game, leading the ACC and ranking 16th nationally.

He is expected to produce the same results at Georgia Tech.

“That’s why I was hired,” Santucci said. “Stopping people, getting turnovers, getting the ball back to the offense and not letting them score touchdowns. That’s not pressure. That’s our job.”

The schedule

Georgia Tech faces a series of difficult games, beginning with its opener on Aug. 24 against No. 10 Florida State in Dublin, Ireland.

“This is a great opportunity for Georgia Tech to see GT on a global stage,” Key said.

The Yellow Jackets also host No. 7 Notre Dame on Oct. 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium – home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons – and close the regular season at No. 1 Georgia on Nov. 29.

There are also two consecutive home games against No. 19 Miami (Nov. 9) and No. 24 NC State (Nov. 21), as well as another difficult road game at Louisville (Sept. 21).

This schedule could make it difficult for Key’s team to significantly improve on last year’s 7-6 record, even if they continue their upward trend.