Georgia

Way-Too-Early College Football Week Seven Preview: Georgia Tech vs North Carolina

Published

2 years ago

June 23, 2024

Way-Too-Early College Football Week Seven Preview: Georgia Tech vs North Carolina

After starting the month of October with a home game vs Duke, Georgia Tech heads back on the road for another ACC clash with North Carolina. The Yellow Jackets and the Tar Heels are plenty familiar with each other, but there is a new twist on this year’s matchup. Former Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins is now the defensive coordinator for Mack Brown’s team and he is hoping to turn around what has been one of the ACC’s worst defenses over the past few seasons. North Carolina is also losing quarterback Drake Maye, who was the No. 3 pick in this year’s NFL Draft.

Even during the down years under Collins, Georgia Tech has had no problem beating North Carolina. The Yellow Jackets have won three straight vs UNC, five of the last six, and they have only lost four times to the Tar Heels since 2009. After not being able to take advantage of having a top-three pick at quarterback, North Carolina seems to have lost a little bit of momentum as a program, but they still have talent and can make noise in the ACC this year.

So how do these two teams matchup? Let’s take a really early look at how these two teams matchup.

Georgia Tech Offense vs North Carolina Defense

Georgia Tech is going to return the majority of what was one of the ACC’s best offenses last season and they had perhaps their best game of the year when they faced North Carolina in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets offense racked up over 600 yards of total offense, including 348 on the ground. The offense was starting to really hit its stride towards the end of the season, but this might have been the peak for them last year.

Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King was one of only two players in the nation with at least 2,700 passing yards, 600 rushing yards, 25 touchdown passes, and five touchdown runs this season (joining LSU’s Jayden Daniels), and one of only six ACC players to achieve those numbers in a regular season since 2000. He led the ACC in touchdown passes and was fourth in passing yards. He is back for another season on The Flats and might be the best quarterback in the conference this year. One reason to buy into the Yellow Jackets is that they might have the best quarterback on the field against many of their opponents. As good as King was though, he had a problem with turnovers and that won’t cut it against some of the teams on Georgia Tech’s schedule, including Duke.

Jamal Haynes was such a great story last season. He made the change from wide receiver to running back during fall camp and that move paid dividends. Haynes earned all-ACC honors as a running back (third team) and was an honorable mention all-purpose performer. He led Georgia Tech with 1,059 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, and six yards per carry ranked second on the team. Those numbers ranked fifth in the ACC in rushing yards and he was tied for sixth in the conference with seven rushing touchdowns and his 6.0 yards per carry ranked third in the league. Haynes had a strong bowl performance against UCF rushing for a game-high 128 yards on 18 carries. He also had a good outing against the Georgia Bulldogs rushing for 81 yards. Haynes was the second highest-rated player on the Yellow Jackets per Pro Football Focus with a 76.9 score and looks primed for another big season in 2024. I think he is in for a huge season and is not getting the recognition he has earned.

This is going to be one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the ACC and there are some newcomers who could bolster the group.

Eric Singleton Jr was the highest-rated player in the Yellow Jackets 2023 recruiting class according to 247Sports and he looked like he might be a potential superstar last season.

Singleton Jr. ranked fourth among all freshmen nationally (true or redshirt) in 2023 with 59.5 receiving yards per game and was tied for fourth among true freshmen nationally with six touchdown receptions. His 714 receiving yards and six touchdown catches both ranked among the top 10 overall in the Atlantic Coast Conference, while his six TD receptions were the second-most by a freshman in Georgia Tech history. Could he have an even better season in 2024? I think it is certainly possible and the chemistry between him and King was noticeable last year.

Singleton is not the only dangerous receiver for the Yellow Jackets.

Malik Rutherford was the second-leading receiver on Georgia Tech. He caught 46 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 10. 5 yards per catch. His biggest performance came in Georgia Tech’s big win over North Carolina. Rutherford caught six passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. He was a reliable player and can stretch the field with his speed and is also a player who can get the ball in a variety of ways.

Christian Leary was the fourth-leading receiver for Georgia Tech this season, catching 25 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns, while also returning kickoffs.

Chase Lane had a good start to the year, but injuries cost him some time. I think he could have a really good 2024 season if he stays healthy. Duquesne transfer Abdul Janneh had six catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He will once again provide depth for Georgia Tech next year.

Leo Blackburn is one of the most physically impressive players on the Georgia Tech roster at 6’5 220 LBS and if he is able to stay healthy this season, he could add a whole new element to the Yellow Jackets offense.

The offensive line is going to be one of the best in the ACC as well.

In just one season, head coach Brent Key and first-year offensive line coach Geep Wade turned Georgia Tech’s offensive line from its biggest weakness to perhaps the best unit on the entire team. Georgia Tech went from one of the worst rushing teams in the ACC to leading the league in rushing. It was a pretty stunning turnaround if you had watched the line in 2022 and the good news for the Yellow Jackets is that the offensive line returns four of the five starters and added an All-Conference transfer this offseason.

North Carolina had a dreadful defense last season and they are losing linebacker Cedric Gray to the NFL as well. They still have some experienced players though, but they’ll have to prove they’re an improved unit.

On the defensive line, Desmond Evans, Kevin Hester, and Jahvaree Ritzie are all back. Evans had 33 tackles and three sacks last season, while Hester and Ritzie combined for 55 tackles. The Tar Heels also added Ole Miss transfer Joshua Harris through the transfer portal

The strength of the Tar Heels defense might be in the linebacker group, even with the loss of Gray. Kaimon Rucker was one of the best pass rushers in the ACC, finishing the year with 8. 5 sacks. Power Echols was second on the team last season with 102 tackles and he is back to be one of the leaders on this side of the ball. Amare Campbell might be one of the favorites to be the other starter at linebacker.

In the secondary, Alijah Huzzie and Marcus Allen are the favorites to start at cornerback, with the duo combining for four interceptions last season. Antavious Lane and De’Andre Boykins could be impact players and NC State transfer Jakeen Harris could grab a starting spot as well. This defense has a lot of work to do if they want to be a better unit, but they actually might have more questions on the offensive side of the ball. Georgia Tech’s offense should hold the advantage in this matchup.

Georgia Tech’s Defense vs North Carolina’s Offense

UNC has been one of the best offensive teams in the country over the past few seasons, but for the first time under Mack Brown, they have some questions at quarterback. After having Sam Howell and Drake Maye, UNC might be turning to Texas A&M/LSU transfer Max Johnson to lead the offense. Johnson has been a steady quarterback over the past four seasons, but lost his job at various times throughout his career at Texas A&M. He has plenty of experience though and that is what Brown might lean on.

Former Tar Heels quarterback Jacoby Criswell transferred to Arkansas, but is now back to compete for the job or at least provide experience and depth. Conner Harrell is the other name to know in the quarterback room.

The good thing for whoever starts at quarterback is that they get to hand the ball to Omarion Hampton, who ran for 1,504 yards last season and is one of the top running backs in the country. Hampton is likely going to be leaned on for much of this season and he should be up to the task. The depth is the question. USC transfer Darwin Barlowe and Caleb Hood should be the top backups.

At wide receiver, UNC is losing Tez Walker, but everyone else is back. J.J Jones led the team with 711 yards last season, former Georgia Tech receiver Nate McCollum returns after having 469 yards last season, and other names to know are Kobe Paysour and Gavin Blackwell. Tight end Bryson Nesbit had 585 yards last season.

The offensive line was the point of emphasis for UNC in the transfer portal. They brought in four transfers, former Yellow Jacket Jakiah Leftwich, Zach Greenberg, North Texas transfer Howard Sampson, and Georgia transfer Austin Blaske are all in to compete and provide depth up front. Jonathan Adorno, Willie Lampkin, and Trevyon Green are other names to know along the North Carolina offensive line.

The offensive line is going to be one of the best in the ACC as well.

At linebacker, Kyle Efford is looking to lead a group that includes veteran starter Trenilyas Tatum, Georgia transfer E.J. Lightsey, Louisville transfer Jackson Hamilton, and freshman Tah’j Butler.

Georgia Tech is returning a strong duo at safety with LaMiles Brooks and Clayton Powell-Lee, while Ahmari Harvey could be ready for a breakout season in 2024. The biggest question in the secondary will be who starts at corner opposite of Harvey. Tennessee transfer Warren Burrell might be the favorite on the outside while Rhode Island transfer Syeed Gibbs and Rodney Shelley might be the guys at nickel.

Overview

I expect North Carolina to be a team that takes a step back this season. They had one of the best quarterbacks in the country for the past five seasons, but they no longer have that luxury. Hampton is a great player, but there are questions along the offensive line and there is no guarantee that the defense is going to be any better. Still, if they get better production from the quarterback than expected and the defense takes a leap, they could be a factor in the ACC race again. Those are big ifs though.

Georgia Tech is the better team in my opinion, but getting a road win against UNC and not looking ahead to next week’s game vs Notre Dame is going to be tough. Georgia Tech has had the Tar Heels number and they enter the 2024 season as the better team in my opinion.

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Three Reasons Why Georgia Tech Can Beat The ACC Best Teams

Published

4 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Press Room

Three Reasons Why Georgia Tech Can Beat The ACC Best Teams

Don’t sleep on the Yellow Jackets heading into the 2026 season.

They have several big games in conference play against some of the conference’s elite. As they have shown us before, they are no stranger to pulling off big-time victories and shocking the college football world, especially as an underdog. Let’s talk about three reasons why the Yellow Jackets can beat the ACC elite this upcoming season.

1. They’ve Done It Before

Georgia Tech is no stranger to beating top ACC teams in the Brent Key era. They have done it consistently, multiple times. There are a myriad of examples to point to. You can go to the North Carolina game back in 2023, played in primetime on the Flats.

The Yellow Jackets defeated top pick and now New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in a 46-42 victory. You can go back to the 2024 season in Ireland when the Yellow Jackets upset then No.10 Florida State 24-21. In that same year, Georgia Tech knocked off future No.1 overall pick Cam Ward and the No.4 Miami Hurricanes, handing them their first loss of the season in a 28-23.

There are many other examples I can point to illustrate this point, but you can see the Yellow Jackets never back down and come to play when it matters most against the elite teams in the conference. They have done it with a good offense and an opportunistic defense. With Louisville, Clemson, and Virginia Tech on the schedule, they should be primed to do it again in 2026.

2. Georgia Tech Has An Identity

It is pretty simple: under head coach Brent Key, this Yellow Jackets team has an identity and a culture that sets it apart. They want to play physical, smash-mouth football and dominate you in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Coach Key has meant what he said this offseason about getting more size and girth, but also having offensive linemen who can move. It was one of the reasons why they were aggressive in the portal and one of the reasons why they are having success with the 2027 cycle.

When you look at Georgia Tech, they are going to run the football and play good defense. That makes the job easier for a first-time starter in Alberto Mendoza, who has a lighter load with the moves made this offseason. When you play in those major matchups, you have to lean on something to come out on top, and what better way than the true identity of your team?

3. The Defense Will Be Much Better

From top to bottom, the Yellow Jackets are poised to be much better defensively. When you look at the depth of the roster, the new defensive scheme, the talent level, and the hunger, you have a team that should be one of the better units in the conference. In order to beat the conference elite, you have to have a good defense that can travel and make plays late in games to seal it for you.

While Georgia Tech showed glimpses of that a season ago, the consistency in November just wasn’t there. With Jason Semore becoming the new defensive coordinator and a more attack-style, aggressive man-to-man defense, Georgia Tech should be equipped to force more turnovers and make a difference by getting the ball back to the offense.

The spring gave us a good glimpse of what the defense could look like despite so many injuries and players out. The defense flat-out shut down the Yellow Jackets, creating constant pressure and causing havoc for an offense trying to find its footing in the spring game. While some will say to take it with a grain of salt, it is clear that the Yellow Jackets will be a much better unit in 2026.

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Zuckerman eyes MLB Draft after superb baseball season at Georgia Tech

Published

14 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Press Room

Zuckerman eyes MLB Draft after superb baseball season at Georgia Tech

Ryan Zuckerman is last on the alphabetical list of the 335 college and high school baseball players attending the June 22-27 MLB Draft Combine in Phoenix.

What the 2023 Pennsbury graduate did in his lone season at Georgia Tech has garnered him plenty of attention from MLB scouts regardless of where his name is on a list that includes Holy Ghost Prep grad Aiden Robbins, a Texas outfield standout who is expected to go as early as late in the first round, fellow Pennsbury graduate Joe Tiroly, an infielder from Virginia, and Pennsbury senior right-handed pitcher Keller Bradley.

MVP of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament for the conference champion Yellow Jackets, second-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and leader in home runs (23) and RBIs (79, tied for eighth in the country) for the high-powered Georgia Tech offense are just a few of Zuckerman’s notable accomplishments heading into the July 11-13 draft. He is projected to go toward the middle of the 20 rounds.

“It’s pretty surreal for sure,” said Zuckerman, 21. “It’s something I dreamed of my whole life.”

In a season filled with memorable moments, perhaps most impressive was Zuckerman being named ACC Tournament MVP after hitting three home runs with six RBIs and batting .571 (8 for 14), culminating in a 13-6 championship game win over North Carolina in Charlotte. He also was a first-team All-ACC selection at third base.

Zuckerman and Georgia Tech went into the NCAA Atlanta regional as the nation’s No. 2 seed. Though the 50-11 Yellow Jackets ended up being eliminated by losing twice to Oklahoma, including 8-7 in 10 innings for the regional title, Zuckerman can only rave about his experience at Georgia Tech.

“If you would have told me that’s how the season for me and each of us on the team would’ve gone, I would’ve been extremely happy,” Zuckerman said. “It was probably the best decision I ever made in my life.”

After a solid sophomore season at Pitt in which he hit .295 with 16 doubles, 13 home runs, 48 RBIs and 48 runs scored, Zuckerman believed transferring would help him develop into a more pro-ready player and allow him to win more games. And Georgia Tech checked all the boxes

In addition to his career-best home run and RBI numbers, Zuckerman led Georgia Tech in 2026 with 24 multi-RBI games while establishing career-highs in batting average (.345), runs (71), hits (80), walks (37), slugging percentage (.720) and on-base percentage (.438). He batted fifth in the order.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Zuckerman, who always had a strong arm, also worked hard to improve his defense at third base, resulting in 15.99 defensive runs saved for the season, which was the 13th-highest total in college baseball.

“I like to say I’m arguably the best third baseman in the country,” he said.

As a senior playing third at Pennsbury, Zuckerman hit .465 with an on-base percentage of .563, plus six doubles, six home runs, 23 RBIs and scored 26 runs.

“In high school, he was incredible for us,” said Pennsbury head coach Joe Pesci. “(A year ago), he decided to go from a mid- to low ACC team to the best team in the ACC. Surrounding himself with amazing players at Georgia Tech, he’s kind of elevated his game.”

Since the conclusion of the collegiate season, Zuckerman has been working out in preparation for the MLB Draft Combine and, ultimately, the draft. He’s been splitting his time between Yardley and Atlanta.

MLB teams have indicated Zuckerman’s power bat and defense are two of his strengths, while he’s focusing on improving his swing selection and making more contact at the plate.

Zuckerman is looking forward to hearing his name called by one of the 30 major league clubs. Whether a team views him as a third baseman, first baseman, corner outfielder or even second baseman doesn’t really matter to him.

“I think right now I’m in a great position to go and play professional baseball and start my journey up to the big leagues,” Zuckerman said. “The goal is not to get drafted – it’s to play MLB.”

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly is a sports columnist for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.

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Georgia pair charged with murder after bartender’s dismembered remains found in lake outside Atlanta

Published

1 day ago

June 21, 2026

Press Room

Georgia pair charged with murder after bartender’s dismembered remains found in lake outside Atlanta

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A Georgia pair have been charged with murder after allegedly slaughtering a bartender and dumping his dismembered remains in a lake, according to authorities.

Mario Andre Barber, 46, and Brittany Amber Baker, 42, were arrested on Monday for allegedly murdering Jamal Rashad Parker, 37, in a home outside of Atlanta, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.

Investigators discovered Parker’s remains in May in the Dog River Reservoir, located about 30 miles outside Atlanta.

Parker’s identity was confirmed using DNA comparison technology after his father contacted authorities to report that the victim’s tattoos matched his son’s ink, local station WSB-TV reported.

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Mario Andre Barber, 46, and Brittany Amber Baker, 42, are charged with murder. (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)

Investigators believe the two suspects killed Parker inside a home in Douglasville where Baker lived.

Late last month, investigators were observed leaving the home with a reciprocating saw and cleaning supplies, according to WSB-TV.

Police have not disclosed if Parker knew his alleged killers. However, a GoFundMe created by a family member described the pair as “people he knew and trusted.”

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A family member described Jamal Rashad Parker as a bartender, musician and artist with “a beautiful soul and spirit.” (GoFundMe)

The suspects pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday and are being held without bond. Both have lengthy criminal records, according to reports.

“I want them to be punished. And I don’t even think a life sentence is good enough,” Parker’s dad, Charles Parker, told WSB-TV outside the courthouse.

“It’s the kind of stuff you see on TV, but I mean … they had no remorse,” he added.

In addition to bartending at Ms. Icey’s Kitchen & Bar in Atlanta, the victim was a musician and artist with “a beautiful soul and spirit,” according to the GoFundMe page created to cover burial costs.

Investigators believe the two suspects killed the victim inside a home in Douglasville. (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)

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“He loved life and the people he met along his journey in life. He was a musical artist, visual artist, and a professional bartender who enjoyed creating new drinks. This has totally devastated our family and friends and has left us heartbroken,” the fundraiser reads.

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