Georgia Tech's annual Shirokane Spring Game was held at Bobby Dodd Stadium today, and it was a great day. The Yellow Jackets had no shortage of players who shined today.
Team Swarm faced off against Team Wreck'Em, and Team Swarm won 27-24. Georgia Tech was able to get everyone on the field today and saw plays on both offense and defense.
The Yellow Jackets will head into the summer preparing for their big season opener against Florida State in August. This team showed today that it could be a special season for the Flats, but there is still a lot of work to do to make it happen.
Here are my three biggest takeaways from today's game.
1. The wide receiver room is really deep.
This was something most Georgia Tech fans were already thinking, but the depth really came into play today. Eric Singleton and Malik Rutherford both made plays, but there were several players who got their first chance to shine today and they took full advantage.
Chris Elko caught four passes for 136 yards, including a Hail Mary at the end of the first half. Brent Key said Elko had a great spring and was playing consistently today.
But he wasn't the only one. Bailey Stockton caught three passes for 93 yards, including 52 yards and redshirt freshman Zion Taylor caught three passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. . With players like Eric Singleton, Christian Leary, Malik Rutherford, and Leo Blackburn, Georgia Tech will have to get a feel for its depth at this position heading into the fall. showed us why today.
There are only a limited number of snaps to show you, but the Yellow Jackets must be loving the room they've built.
2. Jamal Haynes and Aidan Barr look ready for a big season…
Although both players play different positions, both looked in mid-season form today and looked ready for a big season in 2024.
Haynes finished the day with 44 yards on six carries, only playing early, but that was all he needed. He ran for a touchdown on the opening drive, showing off his quick cutting ability and making many defenders miss. He was great during today's short stint, so I recommend buying Haynes stock heading into this season.
Aidan Barr also looks ready for a big season, and making a 62-yard field goal means that. Bill took over and was one of the most consistent kickers in the ACC last year, and today showed what kind of season is in store for him.
3. We had some defensive playmakers today…
Georgia Tech's defense was one of the worst in the nation last season, but Brent Key responded by overhauling his defensive staff and bringing in several transfers to fix that area. Although not all questions were answered today, there was an encouraging performance.
The linebackers were outstanding in this game. There were a few tackle mistakes, but overall I think our run fit was solid and we were able to play well. Hamilton, Butler and Efford each had four tackles, while Lightsey had three. Georgia Tech has been looking for players to step up alongside Efford this spring, and everyone looked good today.
Warren Burrell is competing for the starting spot opposite Ahmari Harvey, and he showed why the coaching staff was impressed with him this spring. In addition to the pass breakup, Warren also had an interception in the end zone. However, statistics alone do not tell the whole story. He was very healthy in coverage and showed he could be a big factor for Georgia Tech this fall.
