by Sean Murphy
Monday, Aug 12, 2024The Seminoles and Yellow Jackets head to Dublin, Ireland for an ACC clash to open the 2024 college football season on Saturday, August 24th. Here's a quick look at what to expect from both teams.
Florida State returns four starters on both sides of the football. The Seminoles will have a different look on offense with D.J. Uiagalelei transferring in at quarterback to take over for Jordan Travis. FSU became a little too one-dimensional on offense over the course of last season, certainly for head coach Mike Norvell's liking, so I would anticipate a heavier dose of its ground attack with a loaded backfield out of the gates this season. It's going to take some time for Uiagalelei to acclimate himself with the 'Noles receiving corps and it's worth noting that the offensive line will be replacing two starters from last season as well.
The 'Noles have lock-down potential in the secondary and are loaded up front as well with DE Patrick Payton leading the way following a seven-sack 2023 campaign. They can't sleep on a Yellow Jackets offense that did rank a respectable 42nd in the country in points per game and 12th in rush yards per game last season.
Georgia Tech does return seven starters on both offense and defense. It was a terrific 2023 season by most accounts as the Yellow Jackets went Bowling following a six-win regular season and went on to defeat UCF 30-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Defense should be where the Yellow Jackets focus lies early on. They were repeatedly torched on the ground last year, giving up north of 220 rush yards per contest (128th in the country). Keep an eye on experienced DE Sylvain Yondjouen who returns after suffering an ACL injury that cost him last season (he's on the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year watch list). Thin at linebacker, the Jackets dug into the transfer portal for help. The secondary improved as last season went on and Georgia Tech ultimately finished 53rd in the country in pass yards allowed per game. The building blocks are there but it remains to be seen whether the Jackets can handle an offense as explosive as Florida State's in the opener.
Florida State returns four starters on both sides of the football. The Seminoles will have a different look on offense with D.J. Uiagalelei transferring in at quarterback to take over for Jordan Travis. FSU became a little too one-dimensional on offense over the course of last season, certainly for head coach Mike Norvell's liking, so I would anticipate a heavier dose of its ground attack with a loaded backfield out of the gates this season. It's going to take some time for Uiagalelei to acclimate himself with the 'Noles receiving corps and it's worth noting that the offensive line will be replacing two starters from last season as well.
The 'Noles have lock-down potential in the secondary and are loaded up front as well with DE Patrick Payton leading the way following a seven-sack 2023 campaign. They can't sleep on a Yellow Jackets offense that did rank a respectable 42nd in the country in points per game and 12th in rush yards per game last season.
Georgia Tech does return seven starters on both offense and defense. It was a terrific 2023 season by most accounts as the Yellow Jackets went Bowling following a six-win regular season and went on to defeat UCF 30-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Defense should be where the Yellow Jackets focus lies early on. They were repeatedly torched on the ground last year, giving up north of 220 rush yards per contest (128th in the country). Keep an eye on experienced DE Sylvain Yondjouen who returns after suffering an ACL injury that cost him last season (he's on the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year watch list). Thin at linebacker, the Jackets dug into the transfer portal for help. The secondary improved as last season went on and Georgia Tech ultimately finished 53rd in the country in pass yards allowed per game. The building blocks are there but it remains to be seen whether the Jackets can handle an offense as explosive as Florida State's in the opener.
