2025 Georgia Tech Football Preview: Key Returners and Ticket Info
Running back Jamal Haynes has been a cornerstone of Georgia Tech’s offense over the past two seasons, amassing 2,003 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. Despite dealing with multiple injuries during his redshirt junior campaign in 2024, Haynes still ran for 944 yards and nine touchdowns. He became the first Yellow Jacket to post back-to-back 900-yard rushing seasons since quarterback TaQuon Marshall (2017-18), and the first Georgia Tech running back to do so since Jonathan Dwyer (2008-09). Haynes also contributed a career-best 28 receptions for 166 yards and three touchdowns out of the backfield, bringing his total to 1,110 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns for the season. He earned honorable mention all-ACC honors in 2024 and was previously named third-team all-conference at running back and honorable mention all-purpose performer in 2023.
Offensive lineman Joe Rutledge is also back after a standout junior season in which he earned first-team All-America recognition from Sports Info Solutions (SIS). Rutledge ranked among the nation’s top 10 offensive linemen in SIS’s Total Points metric, including a top-five spot for run-blocking. In pass protection, he was credited with just two blown blocks across nearly 400 regular-season snaps. He anchored a Georgia Tech offensive line that finished third nationally in fewest sacks allowed (nine over 13 games) and helped pave the way for an ACC second-best rushing attack (187.0 yards per game).
Defensive tackle Ze’Vian van den Berg made an immediate impact in his first season with the Yellow Jackets, earning second-team all-ACC honors as a junior in 2024. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound interior lineman was instrumental in Georgia Tech’s top-30 national finish in rushing defense (122.2 yards allowed per game). He tallied 23 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. His recoveries tied for 19th nationally, and he delivered one of the season’s most clutch plays—securing a late-game fumble by eventual No. 1 NFL Draft pick Cam Ward—to help seal a 28-23 upset over previously undefeated No. 4 Miami (Fla.).
Linebacker Kyle Efford emerged as one of the ACC’s top defenders in 2024, earning third-team all-conference honors as a sophomore despite being limited to 10 games due to injury. He led the team in tackles for the second straight year with 64, recorded 3.0 sacks (also a team-high), and tied for third with 5.5 tackles for loss. Efford was averaging 7.4 tackles per game through the first seven contests before missing three of the final six, including the Birmingham Bowl against Vanderbilt.
2025 Season Opener and Ticket Information
Georgia Tech kicks off the highly anticipated 2025 football season on Friday, Aug. 29, with a marquee non-conference road matchup at Colorado (8 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Yellow Jackets’ home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 6 against Gardner-Webb (3:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra).
Season tickets, mini-plans, and single-game tickets are on sale now.
Season ticket holders receive access to the best seats at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field for Georgia Tech’s six-game home slate, which includes ACC matchups against Clemson, Pitt, Syracuse, and Virginia Tech. Season ticket members also receive priority access to tickets for the 2025 edition of “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” against archrival Georgia on Nov. 28 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Mini-plans include tickets for three marquee games: the home opener against Gardner-Webb, Hall of Fame Weekend versus Virginia Tech, and Senior Day against Pitt. Mini-plans offer better value than purchasing individual game tickets and provide flexibility without requiring a full season commitment.
Leave a Reply