Georgia Tech’s football program received significant recognition with the announcement of nine players earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) honors on November 28, 2023. This marks the highest number of All-ACC selections for the Yellow Jackets in 16 years. Among the honorees, four players were named to the first team, showcasing the team’s strong performance throughout the season.
Leading the group is quarterback Haynes King from Longview, Texas. King has emerged as a frontrunner for the ACC Player of the Year award, leading the conference and ranking third nationally in total offense with an impressive average of 329 yards per game. Throughout the season, he received the title of ACC Quarterback of the Week five times, solidifying his impact on the team. Notably, King is the only player from a power conference to achieve an average of at least 240 passing yards and 80 rushing yards per game this season, according to data from sports-reference.com.
Alongside King, Keylan Rutledge earned a place on the first-team offense as a right guard. Rutledge played a crucial role in protecting King and enabling the Yellow Jackets to lead the ACC in fewest sacks allowed, with only nine in 12 games. The team also ranked second in the conference for rushing yards, averaging 203 yards per game, and had a total offense average of 466.3 yards per game.
On the defensive side, Jordan van den Berg secured a first-team spot, leading the ACC and all power-conference defensive tackles with 11 tackles for loss this season. His standout performance contributes significantly to the Yellow Jackets’ defensive strength.
Special teams also showcased their talent, with kicker Aidan Birr being named a first-team specialist. Birr, a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, leads the nation with 25 field goals made and is tied for first in kick scoring with 117 points. His contributions include crucial game-winning field goals against Clemson and Boston College, highlighting his value to the team. Punter Marshall Nichols, averaging 47.2 yards per punt, would rank fourth nationally if he had enough attempts to qualify.
The Yellow Jackets also celebrated the achievements of running back Malachi Hosley, who ranked second on the team with 634 rushing yards and 740 total yards from scrimmage, scoring seven touchdowns in his first season with the program. Offensive linemen Malachi Carney and Ethan Mackenny were recognized as honorable mentions, contributing to an offensive line that was among the ten semifinalists for the prestigious Joe Moore Award.
Defensive linebacker Kyle Efford also received honorable mention status. With a team-leading 72 tackles, Efford is on track to become the first player since Recardo Wimbush (1999-2001) to lead Georgia Tech in tackles for three consecutive seasons.
Overall, the nine All-ACC selections reflect a successful season for Georgia Tech, culminating in only the 16th nine-win regular season in the program’s 133-year history. The Yellow Jackets finished the season with a record of 9-3 and will learn their postseason destination when bowl selections are announced on December 3, 2023. The ACC is set to reveal its individual awards, including Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, on November 29, 2023.
