By Luke Fletcher ｜ Atlanta, Georgia

There’s one sentence Georgia Tech fans have probably heard more than any other this offseason:

“But they have to replace Haynes King.”

It’s definitely true that evaluating the 2026 Yellow Jackets is getting trickier. Georgia Tech has lost some key players from last season, including Haynes King, who was a major part of the team’s identity under Brent Key. However, the landscape of college football has changed, and the old ways of building a roster no longer apply. With the transfer portal acting like an offseason free agency, teams can now fill gaps and strengthen their squads much more quickly than before. Georgia Tech has taken advantage of this opportunity, and after fall camp, there’s a strong case to be made that the 2026 roster might actually be more robust and well-rounded than the previous one.

Look at the defensive line

Georgia Tech has lost a standout player from their defensive line, but the bigger question is how the entire unit will perform. Instead of focusing on finding a single replacement, Key and defensive coordinator Jason Semore have approached the situation by enhancing the team through recruiting, the transfer portal, and developing existing talent. Semore is confident that the team now boasts solid depth in the defensive front. Amontrae Bradford has shown significant improvement, while Christian Garrett has emerged as a standout during fall camp. Noah Carter adds another reliable option, allowing the Jackets to rotate players effectively instead of relying on just a few key individuals. While Georgia Tech may not have one player who can fully replace their lost talent, they potentially have eight who can collectively create a stronger defensive line, which changes the game entirely.

The same thing could be happening at quarterback

There’s no need to downplay Haynes King to get pumped about Alberto Mendoza. King played a key role in transforming Georgia Tech football, but George Godsey isn’t looking for Mendoza to mimic him. The offense is evolving, and Mendoza has shown great promise during camp with his ability to process plays, prepare, and take charge at the line of scrimmage. He brings a fresh style as a quarterback, fitting into a new system with a different group of teammates. Mendoza’s move to Georgia Tech could turn out to be one of the offseason’s standout additions. He doesn’t have to be Haynes King; he just needs to be himself: Alberto Mendoza.

And then Georgia Tech added Justice Haynes

When talking about what Georgia Tech has lost, it’s easy to overlook some key additions. The team didn’t just lose offensive talent; it also brought in one of the top running backs in college football, Justice Haynes. He has the potential to be a game-changer and the focal point of the offense. Plus, he’s not the only one to watch—Malachi Hosley is back, and Trelain Maddox has been making a name for himself during camp. This means Georgia Tech can now approach defenses with a strong lineup of running backs, rather than relying solely on the quarterback to make plays when things go off-script. It’s a shift in strategy, not necessarily a downgrade.

And then there’s Brent Key’s offensive line

Coach Key has definitely earned some trust in this role. Georgia Tech had a lot to fill in, but Ethan Mackenny has stepped up as a leader, while Alabama transfer Joseph Ionata brings valuable experience to the center. Kevin Peay Jr. has also been a nice surprise during camp, and it looks like the starting lineup is starting to take shape.

However, the depth of the offensive line is still something to keep an eye on. Unlike in previous years, Georgia Tech isn’t scrambling to find five offensive linemen as September approaches; instead, they’re focused on figuring out how all the pieces fit together. That’s a significant shift in their approach.

Maybe we’ve been asking the wrong question

The big question surrounding Georgia Tech this preseason is how they’ll fill the void left by Haynes King and the production that departed from Atlanta. However, a more pressing inquiry might be whether Brent Key has crafted a stronger 85-man roster. As September rolls in, we’ll start to get some answers. While the Jackets may not have a single standout defensive lineman like the one they lost, they could actually boast a more cohesive defensive line overall. Similarly, Mendoza might not replicate the jaw-dropping plays King made, but if Haynes, Hosley, and the offensive line can help Georgia Tech control the game differently, it might not matter. There may not be one receiver who can match last year’s output, but with options like Isaiah Fuhrmann, Jordan Allen, Dalen Penson, and Kevin Roche Jr., Mendoza could have plenty of targets to work with. This Georgia Tech squad is intriguing because it doesn’t seem to be a typical rebuilding year; instead, it feels more like a year of reallocation. Key and his team seem to have assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the roster and made adjustments accordingly. Now, we’ll see if their strategy pays off when Colorado visits Bobby Dodd Stadium on September 3. The plan is clear: rely on Justice Haynes and Malachi Hosley, lean on the offensive line, and rotate the defensive front to test Colorado’s physicality. After all, one of Brent Key’s core beliefs is that bigger players dominate smaller ones. If Georgia Tech can establish this approach right from the start, the narrative about what they lost could quickly shift to something much more promising. What did Georgia Tech gain? Go Jackets!