Georgia Tech Football

The 2012 college football National Signing Day is quickly approaching (February 1), and a few key recruits have yet to make their decisions on where they will commit to play football in the Fall.

For the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, only a few spots still remain in this year's class. Despite not knowing how this year's class will finish, the Jackets have already secured some solid recruits, assuming they sign on the dotted line next week.

Georgia Tech's recent past recruiting classes haven't ended the way many fans would like, but hopefully coach Paul Johnson finishes this year's class strong and brings home tremendous potential for the future of the program. 

The top of this year's class is relatively strong, with committed 4-star prospects Justin Thomas and Francis Kallon. For those of you who haven't heard of these two players, where have you been?

Thomas, an undisputed 4-star athlete according to all of the recruiting services, is a quarterback from Prattville, Alabama. He led his team to the Alabama class-6A state title and won MVP honors in the title game, as well as posting one of the fastest 40-yard dash times in the nation.

A previous commit to Alabama, Thomas decommitted from the Crimson Tide after he found out that he would not be considered to play at quarterback. Afterwards, Thomas quickly committed to Coach Johnson and is poised to be a major weapon in the the spread-option attack.

Kallon, also an undisputed 4-star prospect, is a defensive end from Lawrenceville, Georgia, who just picked up the game of American football one year ago. Kallon has all the measurables Coach Johnson could want in a defensive-end prospect; he quickly recruited and received a commitment from Kallon earlier in this year's class.

Kallon is very intelligent and looks to cement a spot in the Jackets defense in the coming years.

Despite recent rumors, and Kallon remaining a big target for many schools, he has remained loyal to his commitment at Tech, and should provide the game-changing abilities the Jackets have been looking for since the Coach Al Groh has taken over as defensive coordinator. 

Another possible 4-star defensive lineman prospect yet to commit is McDonough, Georgia, standout Dalvin Tomlinson. Dalvin has been a huge target for Georgia Tech and if he commits to the Jackets on National Signing Day, he could provide the strong finish to this recruiting class that fans have been looking for.

Tomlinson is built to destroy and ready to fill an immediate need of defensive-line depth for the Jackets. He will be choosing between Tech, Georgia and Alabama on National Signing Day. 

The remaining members of the 2012 class should provide depth for the Jackets in many key areas.

With recent commitments from punter Ryan Rodwell and lineman Adam Gotsis and long-time commitments like lineman Pat Gamble, running back Marcus Allen and already enrolled quarterback Dennis Andrews, Coach Johnson is certainly actively addressing problem areas his team had last year.

There are far too many recruits to address in one short article, but this year's class is solid for the school off of North Avenue, and has the potential to be the best recruiting class at Georgia Tech since 2007.

There will always be doubters, but this year's recruiting class at Georgia Tech looks very promising to me. If asked for a letter grade, I'd award it an "A."

There are many players who have tons of potential and, if developed the way Coach Johnson has done for players in the past, can become impact players.

There is room for Tech to improve however, but what school can't say that? Well, I guess the school in the Cesspool of the South wouldn't say that. Anyways, look for this class to be a major turning point in the program and provide much-needed optimism to the always cynical Ramblin' Wreck fan base.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets' season ended the same way it has the past six years: with a loss in a bowl game.

This year’s Sun Bowl loss to Utah was especially gut wrenching because they had a 14-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. The Jackets also had a chance to win in the final seconds but missed on a 48-yard field goal. They ended up losing the game in overtime and were left to ponder on a season of what ifs.

Coach Paul Johnson was obviously disappointed in the manner in which the season ended and refused to blame it on injuries to running backs and defensive backs. Overall, this Georgia Tech team exceeded expectations on a whole. But once you start a season 6-0 and are ranked as high as No. 12 in the polls, then you create an overinflated wave of optimism.

The Jackets were picked to finish fourth in the Coastal Division of the 2011 ACC preseason poll. Not only did they finish tied for second in the Coastal Division, but they defeated eventual ACC champion Clemson handedly at home and were a couple of plays away from upsetting Virginia Tech and playing in the ACC title game themselves.

The triple option offense was effective at times, but again, when teams had more than one week to prepare, they were able to make the defensive adjustments and slow down the vaunted Tech running game. In spite of that, the Jackets still finished the season ranked No. 5 nationally in rushing.

The passing game showed signs of progress as junior QB Tevin Washington was often effective through the air and able to exploit defenses that loaded the box on every play. WR Stephen Hill was the beneficiary of most of the passes, and just like previous wideouts in Johnson’s system, he was among the nation’s leaders in yards per catch, averaging almost 30 yards per reception. 

Georgia Tech ranked first nationally in third down conversion percentage, which speaks volumes of their ability to sustain drives and keep opposing offenses off the field.

Two areas which still need to be addressed in the offseason are defense and special teams. Defensive coordinator Al Groh finished his second year with almost identical defensive stats as 2010. According to Groh: “Implementation of a new defense is a three-year system.” So we should start seeing results beginning in the 2012 season. They need to develop more defensive players like Morgan Burnett, Michal Johnson and Derrick Morgan.

Special teams play alone cost the Jackets two crucial victories, including the bowl game against Utah. Missed field goals, huge chunks of return yardage and poor execution of punts and kickoffs cost the team many points. The Miami game outcome could have been very different if not for two muffed punts and a long kickoff return.

Georgia Tech needs to hire a special teams coordinator, because special teams play in close games can swing a season by one or two games. The Jackets could have ended the season 10-3 and made a case for a top-15 ranking.

Georgia Tech seems stuck in a rut of mediocrity, and next season will be more challenging with road games at Clemson, Virginia Tech and Georgia. Johnson will be entering his fifth season at the helm and some changes will need to be made, especially in the passing game. Johnson needs to exploit those deep pass plays more often and keep defenses honest.

Georgia Tech will have several key players returning on offense, including QB Washington, WR Hill, RB Sims, RB Smith and freshmen Synjyn Days. Tech also has a solid recruiting class coming in with 4-star ATH Justin Thomas, who de-committed from Alabama to come to the Flats. He is ranked No. 19 nationally at his position. Georgia Tech also has 4-star recruit DE Francis Kallon coming in, who is nationally ranked No. 21.

They have 14 commitments so far for 2012 and hope to have 17 to 19 players by National Signing Day. One of the top targets is Ramsey, N.J. DB Elijah Shumate, who is ranked the No. 7 safety by Rivals.com. If all of the recruits fall into place and with the returning players, the Ramblin Wreck fan base has plenty to smile about as they approach the 2012 season and look to climb back up to national prominence with an ACC title and BCS bid.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets look to avoid a seventh straight bowl loss as they take on the Utah Utes in the Hyundai Sun Bowl. 

While the Yellow Jackets are tied for fourth among FBS teams with 15 consecutive bowl appearances, they've struggled to find success in recent years. Oddly enough, the start of the losing streak came at the hands of Utah back in the Emerald Bowl in 2005. 

The Utes, on the other hand, have had great success in postseason play, going 6-1 under head coach Kyle Whittingham. His first came as a co-head coach against Pittsburgh in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl, and his most successful victory was over Alabama in the 2007 Sugar Bowl. 

However, Utah was embarrassed by Boise State a year ago, and the Utes are hoping to rebound strong this bowl season. 

Going up against the option attack is no easy task, but with plenty of time to prepare the Utes should be ready. Granted, it's very hard to prep for the speed of the Yellow Jackets. 

With that said, let's take a look at some specifics of this postseason showdown. 

When: Sat. Dec 31 at 2:00 p.m. ET 

Where: Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX 

Watch: CBS 

Betting Line 

The Yellow Jackets are favored by a field goal, and they should be able to cover. The Utes haven't been very successful this season against speed teams, and the Yellow Jackets are loaded with quickness. 

Key Storyline 

Will the Utes be able to stop the Yellow Jackets' dominant rushing attack? 

Georgia Tech's run game ranks third in the nation, but Utah ranks seventh in the country against the run, so it should be a tough battle in the trenches. The option could be devastating for Utah, but it could also do the same for the Yellow Jackets if the Utes are able to shut them down. 

The Utes will also be without offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who recently took over as head coach for the Hawaii Warriors. It will be interesting to see how the Utes handle life without Chow to help the offense out.

Who Might Not Play for Georgia Tech 

According to USA Today

LB Morgan Carter (undisclosed): Questionable 

CB Louis Young (disciplinary): Doubtful 

Who Might Not Play for Utah 

According to USA Today

DL Dave Kruger (ankle): Probable 

RB John White IV (ankle): Probable 

OL Sam Brenner (neck): Probable 

WR DeVonte Christopher (chest): Questionable 

WR Anthony Denham (hamstring): Questionable 

What It Means for Georgia Tech 

A win would get the monkey of the Yellow Jackets' back, so to speak. However, a seventh straight bowl-season loss would be cause for major concern. 

Georgia Tech desperately needs to win in the postseason. Mediocre seasons lead to odd bowl-game sites, but the more the Yellow Jackets lose the less likely their fans are to travel and support the team.

Head coach Paul Johnson can't afford to lose this game. 

What It Means for Utah 

As expected, the Utes had a decent season in the first year in the Pac-12. With recent success in the postseason, the Utes need to show that it's a common trend for them to win, and that a rough and vigorous season won't hurt them in the bowl game. 

A victory over a quality ACC opponent will give the Utes program a good boost in confidence moving forward, but a loss could hurt them in recruiting. 

What They're Saying 

Kurt Kragthorpe writes for The Salt Lake Tribune, and he tweeted how unsuccessful the Yellow Jackets have been in recent bowl games.

When teams have a long period of time to prep for the option attack, it doesn't help the Yellow Jackets very much and the evidence is seen in their last few bowl games. Still, Georgia Tech has to get past this and stay focused. 

The lack of postseason success for Paul Johnson is on the minds of many, and if he and his team fall short once again it could raise a few questions about his future with the program.  

Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham told the Desert News that playing against the Yellow Jackets will be tough but his team will be ready. 

We've got our hands full. We've got our work cut out for us — without a doubt. Fortunately we've got a little background in it. In all those years [against Air Force], you never truly stop a option offense. You just try to slow it down. 

Utah didn't play against the option this season, but Whittingham and his squad know the proper ways to approach a game against the rushing attack, which is what will make this such a good game. 

It's a battle of a strong run defense versus a dominant run offense, and it remains to be seen which one will prevail. 

With so much time to get ready, one would think the defense has the edge, but you never can tell until the game starts. 

Georgia Tech Player To Watch 

Tevin Washington is what makes the Yellow Jackets offense go. The junior quarterback has had his ups and downs in the passing game, but he does lead the team in rushing. He has 10 passing touchdowns and 14 rushing touchdowns.  

A smart game from him is needed if Georgia Tech wants to end their bowl-game losing streak. Washington needs to follow the game plan and execute in big moments in order for the Yellow Jackets to win. 

Utah Player To Watch 

While all the talk surrounds the Utes run defense versus the Yellows Jackets option attack, keep an eye on John White IV. 

The junior running back should be good to go on Saturday, and the Utes will need him to deliver on the big stage. Keeping the option attack on the sidelines is one of the best ways to shut them down. 

If White IV can perform at a high level, it will greatly increase the Utes' chances of pulling the upset. 

Key Matchup 

It's no secret that the Utes have to slow down the Yellows Jackets run game. Georgia Tech averages 317 rushing yards per game, but if Utah can keep them under the 300 mark then it has a great shot at winning. 

A slow start from the Yellow Jackets will bode well for Utah, as Georgia Tech has a very difficult time playing from behind. Look for the Yellow Jackets to try to get an early lead, which means Utah has to come out strong right from the start. 

Prediction 

This game will be close throughout, as neither team will allow the other to run away with it. Georgia Tech and Utah are evenly matched, which makes for a great game to watch on New Year's Eve. 

In the end, the Yellow Jackets' postseason woes will continue as the Utes take the lead in the second half and manage to hang on to win a close one. 

Utes 33, Yellow Jackets 27 

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are playing the Utah Utes in what could be one of the better games all bowl season. It could be a shootout as well.

With a stellar group of defensive players on each team, there could be an occasional stops but it will be a high scoring affair. This game takes place on New Year’s Eve so even if it’s bad, you’ll be too stewed to remember.

Where: Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX

When: Saturday, December 31, 2:00 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS

Listen: ESPN Radio

Betting Line: Over/Under: 50.5, Spread: Georgia Tech -2.5

With Georgia Tech boasting a stellar run offense and neither defense being all that good, this game will go over the 50 point mark by the end of the third quarter. The Yellow Jackets will win by a touchdown so take the spread as well.

Injuries:

Georgia Tech

Morgan Carter, LB, Questionable

Louis Young, CB, Doubtful

Utah

Dave Kruger, DL, Prob

John White IV, RB, Prob

Sam Brenner, OB, Probable

DeVonte Christopher, WR, Questionable

Anthony Denham, WR, Questionable

BCS/Top 25 Implications

While the Utah Utes want to show the BCS that they can upset the Yellow Jackets party, this is Georgia Tech’s game to lose. This will be the Yellow Jackets audition for next season’s BCS championship campaign.

What They’re Saying

TODAY.com contributor Scott Stump is reporting on twitter:

Key Matchup: Tevin Washington vs. Utes Defense

Washington is the biggest playmaker the Yellow Jackets have, and the dual-threat quarterback will be the key to the team’s success in their bowl appearance. If Washington gets loose, expect a big day for the Yellow Jackets.

Prediction: Georgia Tech 42, Utah 30

Check back for more on the NCAA Football as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s College Football Page to get your fill of College Football.

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Georgia Tech heads into the Sun bowl game against Utah with an 8-4 record.

By most estimations the Yellow Jackets slightly overachieved this season following a forgettable 2010. Most folks had the Jackets going 6-6 or 7-5. They started the year a surprising 6-0, but that’s when things started going south.

Remember it’s how you finish and not how you started. Losers of four of their last six games, including another loss to arch rival Georgia has some Jacket fans wondering just how much this team has improved.

Swap the Kansas win over the inexplicable loss last year to the Jayhawks, and the only difference from last year was defeating ACC champion Clemson.

Paul Johnson won’t be on any hot seat with a loss but more than any other ACC coach he needs to come out of the bowl season with a win. Why?

The Yellow Jackets haven’t won a bowl game since 2004. Another bowl loss would mark the fifth time in the past seven years that Georgia Tech ended the season with two consecutive losses, against Georgia and the bowl game. That would be seven straight years that the season ended without a win, and we still haven’t discussed Johnson’s bowl record (0-3).

Johnson bristles when anyone questions the viability of his triple-option offense. I know it works and I believe given the right players you can win big with it. The fact remains when you keep losing bowl games you feed into the notion teams that have a month to prepare for the triple option will slow it down. I think that’s a myth, but until you win a bowl game the myth will only continue to grow.

There’s a big difference between a 9-4 finish with a Top-25 ranking and a 8-5 season without a significant second half victory other than Clemson. Throw in the third consecutive loss to Georgia, and like I said Johnson isn’t on any hot seat, but you might find that some Georgia Tech faithful will be getting just a little restless.

This article is also feature All Sports Discussion

The job security of the following coaches is riding on their team's performances in upcoming bowl games. These guys may or may not lose their job at the conclusion of this season, but they will definitely be starting next season on the hot seat if they lose.

Brian Kelly, Notre Dame

Since Lou Holtz left in 1996, Notre Dame has gone through four coaches. The three coaches preceding Kelly in that span lasted between three and five seasons. Kelly will be entering his third season next year.

He won't lose his job before next year, but he will be starting that season with a burning hot seat if he can't coach the Irish to a victory in the Champs Sports Bowl against Florida State.

A loss would drop Notre Dame to their second consecutive 8-5 season. And the powers at Notre Dame will at least want to see some signs of progress.

The Irish flashed some real potential this year, and they turned things around after an 0-2 start. However, they played an exceptionally weak schedule. They ended with just three games against BCS ranked opponents and they lost two of them. Throw in USC, who is not eligible for the BCS, and they lost three of four games against ranked opponents.

Their win against Michigan State was the only quality win of the season. The other seven wins were against teams they should easily beat. Kelly needs to prove he can beat top tier competition.

Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech

Paul Johnson is in his fourth year at Georgia Tech. While he is not in jeopardy of losing his job this season—he is in danger of being in a position to lose it next year.

Johnson had his best season with the Yellow Jackets in 2009 when he went 11-3. He followed that up by going 6-7 the following season and then 8-4 this year.

That 8-4 mark is solid, but it is the way that Georgia Tech finished the year that has his seat warming up. They lost four of their last six games, and his one-dimensional offense looked completely overmatched.

They will be playing a Utah team they should be able to handle easily in the Sun Bowl. It will raise some serious eyebrows if he can't coach his team to victory there.

Jim Grobe, Wake Forest

Grobe is in his 11th season as the head man at Wake Forest. He hit is high point in 2006 when the Demon Deacons went 11-3 and he was named the ACC Coach of the Year.

It has been a steady decline since then. His win totals dropped in the following years, from nine wins in 2007 to just three in 2010.

Grobe and Wake Forest slowed that trend by posting six wins and qualifying for a bowl game this year, but the way they ended the season is not going to inspire any job security.

They lost five of their last seven games, and looked completely uninterested in their finale losing to Vanderbilt 41-7.

They are now headed to the Music City Bowl to take on Mississippi State, and Grobe needs to coach his team to a far better effort than the ones they displayed at the end of the season if he wants to hold onto his job.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-4) will take on the Utah Utes (7-5) in the 2011 edition of the Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

The game will be a matchup of two contrasting styles, between Georgia Tech's triple-option attack and Utah's pro-style offense.

Both teams had hoped for more successful finishes to their seasons; Georgia Tech comes in having dropped its last two games, and Utah was upset by lowly Colorado with a trip to the Pac-12 Championship on the line. The game gives each team a chance to head into the offseason on a positive note.

Here is all you need to know about this New Year's Eve matchup between two programs who look to be very much on the rise.

Where: Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas

When: Saturday, Dec. 31, 2 p.m. EDT

Watch: CBS

Listen: Sportstalk 790 The Zone, Georgia Tech; ESPN Radio 700 AM, Utah

Key Storyline:

Both teams are primed to be contenders in their respective conferences next season.

Georgia Tech will lose just six starters this offseason, two on offense and four on defense, and according to head coach Paul Johnson, 31 of 44 spots on the Yellow Jackets' two-deep depth chart are freshmen or sophomores.

Utah will see the return of star quarterback and three-year starter Jordan Wynn next season, who was lost for the year in the Utes' fourth game due to injury. Utah was forced to turn to unproven backup Jon Hays in Wynn's absence and endured a stretch in which they lost three out of four games while they adjusted their offense to Hays' strengths. A four-game winning streak before dropping the shocker to Colorado gave Utah fans hope for next season.

The winner of this game will carry a lot of momentum into the offseason and certainly garner consideration for preseason accolades in 2012. Both coaches stressed the importance of winning the game, as the resulting confidence boost for their returning players is invaluable.

Key Injuries: Georgia Tech

Fortunately for head coach Paul Johnson, his squad enters the game largely intact and healthy except for a few reserves who aren't slated to make an appearance in the game either way.

Key Injuries: Utah

Jordan Wynn, QB: Out (Shoulder). Wynn was expected to lead the Utes to the top of the standings in their first season in the Pac-12, but he injured his non-throwing shoulder in week four against Washington. The junior required surgery and will not be back in time for the bowl game. Juco transfer Jon Hays has started in Wynn's place.

What It Means for Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets started the season 6-0 before dropping a close game against Virginia. Including that loss, they finished the season on a 2-4 skid. However, they did upset then-No. 5 Clemson in that time. Two of those four losses came against opponents ranked in the Top 15 (then-No. 10 Virginia Tech and then-No. 13 Georgia).

A win against Utah would help head coach Paul Johnson's young team regain much-needed confidence headed into next season.

Georgia Tech will return most of their team next year. With a win, look for Georgia Tech to make an appearance in the preseason Top 25 for 2012 and enter the season as a favorite to contend in the ACC.

What It Means for Utah

2011 was Utah's first season as a member of a BCS conference. Given the early-season injury to their star quarterback Jordan Wynn, the Utes were unable to make the splash they had hoped for in their inaugural Pac-12 season.

A win against Georgia Tech would give head coach Kyle Whittingham's crew a signature win for the season and certainly provide momentum headed into 2012, when Wynn will be back under center.

What They're Saying

Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that there is more on the line than just momentum for the future for the Yellow Jackets. As they look to avenge a 2005 loss to Utah in the Emerald Bowl, they will also hope to break a six-game bowl losing streak.

The game offers a few incentives for the Jackets, who will begin bowl practice on Monday. First, they can end their six-game bowl losing streak. Ironically, it was the Utes who started the slide, beating the Jackets 38-10 in the 2005 Emerald Bowl in San Francisco. Second, the Jackets have a chance to finish in the final poll of the season.

According to Bret Bloomquist of the El Paso Times, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is less than ecstatic about having to face Georgia Tech's signature triple-option.

As a football coach, the Utes' Kyle Whittingham could add another reason he was happy to be leaving the Mountain West Conference. That meant he was also was waving goodbye to Air Force's triple-option offense.

"When we left Air Force, I thought, 'We're done with this,' " Whittingham said. "Now it's rearing its ugly head again. It's an offense you never really shut it down, you just hope to get a handle on it.

"As a former defensive coordinator, if you can pick one team you don't want to have to deal with, it's the triple option. I know our defensive coordinator (Kalani Fifita Sitake) was excited to move to the Pac-12.

"Now here we go again."

Georgia Tech Player to Watch: QB Tevin Washington

Georgia Tech's triple-option offense relies heavily on junior quarterback Tevin Washington. It is Washington who makes the offense go based on the reads he makes after the ball is snapped.

Washington has been quite the dual threat for the Yellow Jackets this season. Not only has he racked up 1,515 yards passing to go along with 10 touchdown throws this season, he also leads the team in rushing with 890 yards on the ground. He has found the end zone 14 times as a runner.

As Washington goes, so does Georgia Tech. Keep an eye on him from the start.

Utah Player to Watch: RB John White IV

In the absence of star quarterback Jordan Wynn, Utah offensive coordinator Norm Chow has relied heavily on junior running back John White IV to keep the ball moving.

White IV has carried the ball 290 times this season for 1,404 yards and 14 scores. The Utes are 7-0 this season when White has had more than 100 yards rushing. In Utah's five losses, White hasn't had more than 85 yards.

If Utah expects to have a chance to win, it will require a steady dose of White.

Key Matchup: Utah Defense vs. Georgia Tech Offense

How Utah's defense fares against Georgia Tech's unique offense will decide the outcome of this game. If Georgia Tech is able to control the clock and march down the field for scores with ease, it will be a long day for the Utes given that their offense is less than explosive behind backup quarterback Jon Hays.

However, if Utah's defense can keep Georgia Tech's offense at bay, the powerful running of John White IV will have a chance to keep the Utes in the game with an opportunity to win at the end.

Prediction: Georgia Tech 31, Utah 17

In the end, Georgia Tech's offense will be too much for the Utes, who lack the firepower to keep up.