2018 Opponent Series: Georgia Tech - Sept. 22
Over the next two weeks, we will be giving you an inside look at every opponent on Clemson's schedule. The road to a fourth straight ACC Championship and another College Football Playoff trip begins September 1 against Furman.
2018 Opponent Series
For Coach Paul Johnson, the 2017 season was a challenging year. Georgia Tech missed a bowl game for the first time since 2015, finishing 5-6 and 4-4 in the ACC. Johnson, entering his 11th year in Atlanta said at ACC Media Days that he always learns something and he knows the primary goal is to win.
“I think, to win football games hasn't changed that much; you need to be able to run the ball and win the turnover battle and play good defense. And if you'll do that, be sound in the kicking game, you've got a chance to win games. It hasn't changed much,” Johnson said.
Quarterback TaQuon Marshall returns for his senior season in Johnson’s spread option offense. Being in a triple option offense, the opportunities to throw the ball can be limited, but it’s been a priority for Marshall to fix.
“This off-season I've really been working on the pass game. Last year I struggled a lot hitting some of the guys that were wide open, just throwing the ball in general,” Marshall said.
Wide receiver Ricky Jeune has departed, which leaves a void to be filled as a part of Georgia Tech’s deep passing game, but Marshall feels they have the tools to fill it.
“There's not going to be one specific person this we're going to target,” Marshall said.
“We have a couple of guys that we can throw the ball to. There's not one specific person. We have some receivers that we're going to put the ball in their hands and let them work and do what they're able to do.”
Johnson hired a new defensive coordinator in Nate Woody, who served in the same capacity at Wofford College in Spartanburg. Woody brings a breath of fresh air to a defense that allowed 26.5 points per game last year. Senior linebacker Brant Mitchell is excited to play under Woody’s guidance.
“We believe in it. We've been introduced to it. Now it's time to start translating the things that we've learned from past defenses and bringing it over to what we're running now,” Mitchell said.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Head coach: Paul Johnson, eleventh year
Last season: 5-6 overall, 4-4 in ACC play; lost to Georgia 38-7 in the season finale
Returning starters: 8 offense, 5 defense
Players to Watch
- Brad Stewart (Wide Receiver, Sr.) - As the only returning starting wide receiver, the senior wide receiver is the likely guy to replace Ricky Jenue as he started in 11 games last year, only catching one touchdown in 2017 so, his production has a chance to pick up.
- Parker Braun (Left Guard, Jr.) - Braun was picked on the All-ACC preseason team, and will play a vital role in the success of Georgia Tech’s run game this fall. Braun brings experience to the table with 11 starts in 2017.
- Anree Saint-Amour (Defensive Line, Sr.) - The senior out of Suwanee, Ga. looks to cap off his career in Atlanta strong after playing in every game the last two years. Last year he finished with 32 tackles, which ranked first on the defensive line and eighth overall on the team.
2018 Schedule
Sept. 1 - vs. Alcorn State
Sept. 8 - at USF
Sept. 15 - at Pittsburgh
Sept. 22 - vs. Clemson
Sept. 29 - vs. Bowling Green
Oct. 5 (Fri.) - at Louisville
Oct. 13 - vs. Duke
Oct. 25 (Thurs.) - at Virginia Tech
Nov. 3 - at North Carolina
Nov. 10 - vs. Miami
Nov. 17 - vs. Virginia
Nov. 24 - at Georgia
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