DB Room Post Portal Entry

RamblinRed

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6,535
GT's secondary was not very good last year, though some of that might have been scheme as our DB's never seemed to be close to receivers.
Overall GT was 94th Pass Efficiency Defense and 96th in Passing yards allowed. The secondary had 3 of the 4 INT's by the team. The 4 INT's was T121st nationally.
This was a deep position with 8 players getting starts and 10 players getting at least 100 snaps. GT did lose 5 of its top 6 DB's based on tackles and snaps.
Among DB production we lost 63% of our snaps, 73% of our starts, 66% of our tackles, 72% TFL, 100% sacks, 100% INT, 76% pass breakups and 100% of QB hurries.

Losses
Clayton Powell Lee - 12 games, 12 starts, 637 snaps, 65 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 1 QB hurry, 48.0 PFF
Omar Daniels - 13 games, 11 starts, 619 snaps, 61 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 pass breakup, 75.2 PFF
Rodney Shelley - 11 games, 7 starts, 395 snaps, 38 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 INT, 3 pass breakups, 63.8 PFF
Jy Gilmore - 9 games, 8 starts, 414 snaps, 35 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 3 pass breakups, 1 QB hurry, 65.5 PFF
Amari Harvey - 10 games, 8 starts, 442 snaps, 26 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 7 pass breakups, 75.5 PFF

Returnees
Sr Zachery Tobe - 13 games, 12 starts, 404 snaps, 30 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 64.8 PFF
So Tae Harris - 13 games, 0 starts, 163 snaps, 21 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 72.5 PFF
Jr Kelvin Hill - 13 games, 4 starts, 359 snaps, 20 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 60.5 PFF
Sr Daquan White - 11 games, 0 starts, 268 snaps, 16 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 pass breakup, 67.4 PFF
R-So Jon Mitchell - 7 games, 0 starts, 101 snaps, 9 tackles, 66.5 PFF
So Fenix Felton - 3 games, 1 start, 60 snaps, 12 tackles, 58.6 PFF

others returning - R-Jr Will Kiker (43 snaps, 72.5 PFF), So Elgin Sessions (40 snaps, 63.3 PFF), So Dalen Penson (29 snaps, 50.5 PFF), R-Sr Savion Riley (12 snaps, 49 PFF)

Portal In
R-Jr Joseph Duclona (USF) - 13 games, 5 starts, 581 snaps, 35 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 4 pass breakups, 74.6 PFF
Jalen Mbakwe (AL) - 12 games, 0 starts, 15 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 2 pass breakup as a FR at AL (listed on GT roster as a CB)

GT has updated its 2026-27 roster and it has Mbakwe as a CB, not a WR.
Tobe should be one CB starter and Duclona the other.
Harris is likely 1 safety starter and probably Felton as the other.
Hill and White provide 3rd CB and backup snaps. We will see who else steps up for 2026.

I think alot of this position group will rely on what Semore wants to do. This unit never seemed to cover anyone close next year. Will we be more aggressive this season - I am expecting it to.
For now I will say probably expect about the same level of performance but hope for improved play due to defensive scheming.
 
LongforDodd

LongforDodd

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3,676
Was the "scheme" to just stay in the vicinity of any receiver? Maybe the DB's (or just some of them) just didn't have what it took to cover any closer. I hope there is improvement with a different "scheme".
 

Gtech50

Ramblin' Wreck
Messages
566
I hope to see more of Kiker this year. He was a difference maker on special teams and always seemed to be in the right place on defense in limited snaps.

Overall, we have a good young core. Some of the True Frosh DBs can also play.
 
UgaBlows

UgaBlows

Helluva Engineer
Messages
8,142
Gtech50 said:
I hope to see more of Kiker this year. He was a difference maker on special teams and always seemed to be in the right place on defense in limited snaps.

Overall, we have a good young core. Some of the True Frosh DBs can also play.
Click to expand...
Was just thinks the the same thing, get that kid on the field more
 
stinger78

stinger78

Helluva Engineer
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10,593
Jerry the Jacket said:
We have not had good defensive backfield play in over a decade. Morgan Burnett was one of the last quality defensive backs to play for Georgia Tech. There has been a lot of potential but little production.

Go Jackets!
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MB was our last AA DB, but we have had some good ones since. I’d say Jemea Thomas, DJ White, Jamal Golden, among a handful of others, were all good DB’s.
 
apatriot1776

apatriot1776

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UgaBlows said:
Any idea on who will play the hybrid nickle/lb spot?
Click to expand...
My guess is Savion Riley. He has the size (6-2 215) and a good bit of experience at prior stops in Vanderbilt and Colorado.

Unfortunate he got hurt last year. We could've used his size. Subbing a bigger DB in the box allows you to size up against the run without needing to switch to 4-3. Could’ve been a difference maker when we're getting shredded both on the ground and in the air like against NC St and Pitt.
 
CousCous

CousCous

Georgia Tech Fan
Messages
99
Location
Braselton, GA
apatriot1776 said:
My guess is Savion Riley. He has the size (6-2 215) and a good bit of experience at prior stops in Vanderbilt and Colorado.

Unfortunate he got hurt last year. We could've used his size. Subbing a bigger DB in the box allows you to size up against the run without needing to switch to 4-3. Could’ve been a difference maker when we're getting shredded both on the ground and in the air like against NC St and Pitt.
Click to expand...
Can we work up a "Trigger Warning" tag for threads where the Pitt game is referenced for those of us still dealing with the PTSD.
 
AugustaSwarm

AugustaSwarm

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,459
I think we have some serious young talent in our secondary. Harris, Penson, Felton are all outstanding physical freaks. Mbakwe fits that same mold. Mitchell was a big get for us. We have a lot of great athletes. If we can scheme them better to put them in position to make plays, we should be good in the secondary for the next few years.
 

alagold

Helluva Engineer
Messages
4,592
Location
Huntsville,Al
RamblinRed said:
GT's secondary was not very good last year, though some of that might have been scheme as our DB's never seemed to be close to receivers.
Overall GT was 94th Pass Efficiency Defense and 96th in Passing yards allowed. The secondary had 3 of the 4 INT's by the team. The 4 INT's was T121st nationally.
This was a deep position with 8 players getting starts and 10 players getting at least 100 snaps. GT did lose 5 of its top 6 DB's based on tackles and snaps.
Among DB production we lost 63% of our snaps, 73% of our starts, 66% of our tackles, 72% TFL, 100% sacks, 100% INT, 76% pass breakups and 100% of QB hurries.

Losses
Clayton Powell Lee - 12 games, 12 starts, 637 snaps, 65 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 1 QB hurry, 48.0 PFF
Omar Daniels - 13 games, 11 starts, 619 snaps, 61 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 pass breakup, 75.2 PFF
Rodney Shelley - 11 games, 7 starts, 395 snaps, 38 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 INT, 3 pass breakups, 63.8 PFF
Jy Gilmore - 9 games, 8 starts, 414 snaps, 35 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 3 pass breakups, 1 QB hurry, 65.5 PFF
Amari Harvey - 10 games, 8 starts, 442 snaps, 26 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 7 pass breakups, 75.5 PFF

Returnees
Sr Zachery Tobe - 13 games, 12 starts, 404 snaps, 30 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 64.8 PFF
So Tae Harris - 13 games, 0 starts, 163 snaps, 21 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 72.5 PFF
Jr Kelvin Hill - 13 games, 4 starts, 359 snaps, 20 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 60.5 PFF
Sr Daquan White - 11 games, 0 starts, 268 snaps, 16 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 pass breakup, 67.4 PFF
R-So Jon Mitchell - 7 games, 0 starts, 101 snaps, 9 tackles, 66.5 PFF
So Fenix Felton - 3 games, 1 start, 60 snaps, 12 tackles, 58.6 PFF

others returning - R-Jr Will Kiker (43 snaps, 72.5 PFF), So Elgin Sessions (40 snaps, 63.3 PFF), So Dalen Penson (29 snaps, 50.5 PFF), R-Sr Savion Riley (12 snaps, 49 PFF)

Portal In
R-Jr Joseph Duclona (USF) - 13 games, 5 starts, 581 snaps, 35 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 4 pass breakups, 74.6 PFF
Jalen Mbakwe (AL) - 12 games, 0 starts, 15 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 2 pass breakup as a FR at AL (listed on GT roster as a CB)

GT has updated its 2026-27 roster and it has Mbakwe as a CB, not a WR.
Tobe should be one CB starter and Duclona the other.
Harris is likely 1 safety starter and probably Felton as the other.
Hill and White provide 3rd CB and backup snaps. We will see who else steps up for 2026.

I think alot of this position group will rely on what Semore wants to do. This unit never seemed to cover anyone close next year. Will we be more aggressive this season - I am expecting it to.
For now I will say probably expect about the same level of performance but hope for improved play due to defensive scheming.
Click to expand...
The one thing that jumps out at me is C. P/Lee ,a 3? yr DB starter than basically was bad last yr. Was he hurt? If so ,why play him?
Daniels and Harvey are going to be tough to replace as seen by their PFF. Playing young guys with a new coach is going to be interesting. .
 
UgaBlows

UgaBlows

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8,142
alagold said:
The one thing that jumps out at me is C. P/Lee ,a 3? yr DB starter than basically was bad last yr. Was he hurt? If so ,why play him?
Daniels and Harvey are going to be tough to replace as seen by their PFF. Playing young guys with a new coach is going to be interesting. .
Click to expand...
He was our best tackler, maybe his skills were valued against the run, idk though
 
forensicbuzz

forensicbuzz

21st Century Throwback Dad
Messages
10,622
Location
North Shore, Chicago
alagold said:
I'm not sure I agree with you as he had to miss a bunch of tackles to get that grade.Even he was our best tackler--a dubious postive -like been the biggest ant in the room.
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He was money early in the season tackling, then he got nicked up. Seemed his tackling wasn't as good after that. No proof, just my feeling.
 
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