Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 31, 2020 37 BY TODD D. BURLAGE GEORGIA TECH RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE One bright spot for Georgia Tech in 2020 was the return of bruising junior tailback Jordan Mason after he rushed for 899 yards in 2019, with 85 per- cent of his yardage coming after contact. The enthusiasm was tempered when Mason played in only one of his team's first five games because of injury and other undisclosed reasons. In Mason's absence, freshman tailback Jahmyr Gibbs started and delivered, averaging 74.8 yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry. Through five contests, Gibbs had 61 carries for 299 yards and two scores, plus reeled in 11 receptions for 169 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman quarterback Jeff Sims (228 yards and three scores) provides a quality complement to Gibbs in the Yellow Jackets' running attack — espe- cially near the goal line and in short-yardage situ- ations — and backup sophomore tailback Dontae Smith has averaged 6.9 yards per carry in limited tries. Mason's availability remains a week-to-week decision for Georgia Tech. After struggling with rush defense during its first four games in 2019, the Irish ground stoppage ex- celled through its first four outings in 2020, ranking No. 19 in the country in rush defense, allowing just 107.5 yards per game. As advertised, this unit is anchored by its two All-America candidates — sophomore safety Kyle Hamilton and senior rover Jeremiah Owusu-Kora- moah. This duo was tied for the team lead with 20 tackles heading into the Pittsburgh game. Advantage: Notre Dame GEORGIA TECH PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE After starting for Georgia Tech as a freshman all of 2019, sophomore quarterback James Graham was expected to retain his job in 2020. However, that didn't hold together when dual-threat Sims won a four-player camp competition and claimed the opening-day assignment. Sims remained the starter through the first five games this season, but the quarterback situation remained unsettled. During Georgia Tech's 2-3 start, Sims completed 71 of 132 passes (53.1 per- cent) for 1,025 yards with six touchdowns and nine interceptions. Inexperienced redshirt freshman Jordan Yates has backed up Sims this season. No single Georgia Tech pass catcher has stuffed the stat sheet. Senior wide receiver Jalen Camp (15 receptions for 201 yards and two touchdowns), junior wideout Malachi Carter (14 for 213 and two) and the aforementioned Gibbs (11 for 169 and three) are targets worth watching for whoever starts at quarterback against the Irish. Similarly to its work against the run, the Notre Dame passing defense is also showing weekly im- Freshman Jahmyr Gibbs has stepped into the starting running back role, and produced 468 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns during Georgia Tech's 2-3 start. PHOTO BY DENNIS NETT, SYRACUSE.COM GAME PREVIEW: GEORGIA TECH On PaPer