By Luke Fletcher | Atlanta, GA

Georgia Tech made a major statement in the transfer portal, landing running back Justice Haynes, a move that could reshape the Yellow Jackets’ offense heading into the 2026 season. Among portal additions nationwide, few come with Haynes’ blend of pedigree, production, and game-breaking ability.

Haynes arrived on the college football scene with rare acclaim. As a high school prospect, he was regarded as one of the nation’s premier talents at any position. He earned five-star status from 247Sports and On3, was ranked the No. 1 running back in the country by Rivals.com, and checked in at No. 29 on the Rivals100 list. ESPN placed him No. 21 overall on the ESPN300, naming him the No. 2 running back, the No. 2 player in Georgia, and the No. 11 recruit in the Southeast. Both the 247Composite and On3 Consensus echoed that elite standing, each ranking him among the top 35 players nationally.

That lofty ranking was backed up every Friday night. Haynes finished his high school career with 7,574 rushing yards and 95 touchdowns, numbers that put him among the most productive backs in recent memory. He rushed for 1,754 yards as a freshman and earned MaxPreps Freshman All-America honors in 2019. He followed that with 1,750 yards and 25 touchdowns as a sophomore, then exploded for 2,375 yards and 29 scores as a junior. As a senior, he capped his prep career with 1,695 yards and 23 touchdowns in just 13 games, averaging 11.1 yards per carry.

At the college level, Haynes showed he could translate that dominance against elite competition. He earned third-team All-Big Ten honors and was named a midseason All-American by Sporting News after a productive stretch in which he rushed for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 121 carries. Despite appearing in only seven games, he topped the 100-yard mark six times, posting standout performances against New Mexico, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Michigan State. 

Injuries limited his season, but not his impact. Haynes returned from a midseason setback to earn Big Ten co-Offensive Player of the Week honors following a dominant outing against Michigan State, only to be sidelined again later in the year. Even so, his ability to take over games was evident whenever he was on the field.

Now, he brings that talent to the Flats, where expectations are understandably high. Haynes is a runner who consistently makes defenders miss, hits holes with urgency, and has the burst to turn small creases into long touchdowns. In the ACC, that skill set is especially dangerous. His presence alone will force defenses to commit extra bodies to the box, opening up opportunities in the passing game and giving Georgia Tech’s offense a different level of balance.

It’s not a stretch to call Haynes an NFL-caliber talent. Georgia Tech fans have seen this type of ability before in Jahmyr Gibbs, who began his career in Atlanta before becoming a star at the next level. Haynes has a similar ceiling, with the size, speed, and instincts to follow a comparable path.

For Georgia Tech, this is more than just a portal addition. Justice Haynes gives the Yellow Jackets a true difference-maker, a player who can change how opponents game plan and who brings electricity every time he touches the ball. If healthy, he has the potential to be one of the most exciting players in the conference and a cornerstone of Georgia Tech’s push forward in 2026.