By Luke Fletcher | Atlanta, GA

For the first time in several seasons, Georgia Tech will enter spring practice without a familiar face under center. Haynes King has exhausted his eligibility, and Aaron Philo’s transfer to Florida has further accelerated a full reset at the quarterback position. What remains is a young, largely unproven QB room and one of the most important spring competitions of the Brent Key era.

With no established starter returning, Georgia Tech’s spring camp will be defined by development, evaluation, and long-term planning.

Graham Knowles: The Early Favorite

Among the quarterbacks currently on the roster, Graham Knowles enters spring with the inside track. The 6-foot-7 signal-caller is now the most experienced quarterback remaining in the program and has spent multiple seasons learning the offense, protections, and terminology. He was rated as a four-star prospect and the No. 18 quarterback in the nation by ESPN and threw for 3,195 yards and 21 touchdowns while completing 73% of his passes while leading Southlake Carroll (HS) to a 13-2 record and Texas 6A D-II semifinals as a senior in 2023.

Knowles possesses the physical traits coaches covet—size, arm strength, and the ability to attack defenses vertically. While his in-game experience is limited, his familiarity with the system gives him an early advantage as spring practice opens.

For Knowles, spring camp is about proving he can be more than a capable backup. He must show command of the huddle, consistency with his reads, and the ability to protect the football. If he can do that, he is well-positioned to exit spring as Georgia Tech’s projected starter.

Grady Adamson: The Challenger with Upside

If Knowles represents stability, Grady Adamson represents upside. Adamson brings a more mobile skill set and fits the modern quarterback profile that allows an offense to survive when plays break down. His athleticism adds an element that Georgia Tech has leaned on in recent years. He was rated as a three-star prospect and the No. 25 quarterback in the nation by Rivals and finished his HS career as a three year starter throwing for 7,646 yards and 84 touchdowns while completing 63% of his passes while leading Deer Creek (HS) to the semifinals of the Oklahoma Class 6A-II playoffs in 2022 & 2023.

Adamson is still developing as a passer and decision-maker, but his ability to extend plays and create with his legs gives him a real chance to push for the starting role. Spring practice will likely feature a genuine competition, with Adamson receiving meaningful reps to see if he can pair athleticism with consistency.

If Adamson takes a step forward as a passer, this could become a true 1A–1B battle rather than a clear hierarchy.

Ben Guthrie: Valuable Depth in Transition

Ben Guthrie provides stability in a room undergoing transition. While he may not be expected to win the starting job, his presence matters. Guthrie offers depth, experience in the system, and reliability during spring reps and scout work. A PWO commitment during the 2023 signing class. Ben was the Region 7-6A Player of The Year and is Alpharetta HS Career Passing Leader. He finished his senior year completing 61% of his passes for 3,365 yards and 38 touchdowns.

In a year where development is paramount, having a steady option behind the top contenders is important as the coaching staff evaluates the future of the position.

Cole Bergeron: The Quarterback of the Future

While not yet on campus, Cole Bergeron’s 2026 commitment looms large over the long-term picture. Bergeron flipped his commitment from Virginia Tech to Georgia Tech, a notable recruiting win for Brent Key and his staff. He was rated as a four-star prospect and the No. 20 quarterback in the nation by 247sports and closed his senior season with more than 2,300 passing yards and 27 touchdowns.

Bergeron is viewed as a high-IQ quarterback with leadership traits and accuracy as a passer. His commitment gives Georgia Tech stability beyond the immediate transition year and allows the staff to develop the position with a long-term vision rather than a year-to-year scramble.

Though he will not factor into spring practice, Bergeron represents the next phase of the program’s quarterback plan.

How Spring Camp Will Shape the Depth Chart

With King gone and Philo transferring, spring camp becomes a defining moment. Georgia Tech is no longer managing a quarterback succession—it is starting from scratch.

Projected Spring Depth Chart:

1. Graham Knowles
2. Grady Adamson
3. Ben Guthrie
4. Cole Bergeron (2026 commit)

The staff’s goal will be to identify not just a starter, but a leader who can guide a young roster and anchor the offense moving forward. The outcome of spring camp may also influence whether Georgia Tech explores the transfer portal again for additional quarterback depth.

Georgia Tech’s quarterback room is young, unproven, and full of opportunity. The upcoming spring is about discovery—who can lead, who can grow, and who can carry the offense into a new era.

What emerges over the next several weeks will help define not only the 2026 season, but the trajectory of the program beyond it. Go Jackets, Sting Em!