The Yellow Jackets in Atlanta may be turning their game around. Consistently regarded as one of a mediocre team in the ACC (having finished with a winning record only three times since 2015), their schedules will only get harder with the addition of Cal, Stanford, and SMU.
However, some changes made to the defensive staff may pave the way for future success.
In the off-season, the Yellow Jackets added new Outside Linebackers/Edge Coach Kyle Pope, Defensive Line Coach Jess Simpson, and Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Tyler Santucci.
Santucci directed the 2023 Duke Defense under current Texas A&M Head Coach Mike Elko, allowing just 19.0 points per game, the best in the ACC (and 16th nationally). He was a nominee for the Broyles Award, an award that honors the top assistant coach in college football.
Prior to his year at Duke, Santucci was Linebackers Coach at Texas A&M for three years and co-defensive coordinator his final year (2022). While there, he directed the nation’s #1 pass defense (156.2 ypg) and a top 25 scoring defense, a top 10 RedZone defense, and top 20 in interceptions and pass efficiency.
He played at Stony Brook as a standout linebacker from 2006-2009, and coached there from 2010-2013.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2010-11 Stony Brook GA
2012 Stony Brook Safeties
2013 Stony Brook DL
2014-15 Wake Forest GA
2016 Texas State LB
2017 Notre Dame Def analyst
2018 Texas A&M Def analyst
2019 Wake Forest LB
2020-21 Texas A&M LB
2022 Texas A&M Co-DC/LB
2023 Duke DC/LB
2024- Georgia Tech DC/LB
Kyle Pope played linebacker at Jacksonville State from 2010-2014, where he helped lead them to two conference championships and back-to-back FCS playoff appearances.
COACHING EXPERIENCE (Kyle Pope)
2015 Holmes (Miss.) Community College DL
2016 Presbyterian DL
2017-18 Alabama GA
2019 Liberty IL
2020-22 Memphis DL
2023 Los Angeles Chargers Training Camp coaching intern
2023 Memphis Def. Run Game/DL
2024- Georgia Tech OL/DE
Jess Simpson was one of the most successful coaches in Georgia high school football history, compiling a 164-12 (.932) record, winning seven state championships and appearing in 10-straight state title games in 12 seasons as the head coach at Buford H.S (2005-16). He coached the defensive line at Duke under defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci, and they made the move together to Georgia Tech this past year.
Simpson played Tight End at Auburn from 1989-1991.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
1992-93 Auburn Student Assistant
1994 Marietta (Ga.) H.S. Assistant Coach
1995-96 Buford (Ga.) H.S. OC
1997 East Paulding (Ga.) H.S. HC
1998 Buford H.S. OC/S&C Coordinator
1999-2004 Buford H.S. DC/S&C
2005-16 Buford H.S. HC
2017 Atlanta Falcons DA
2018 Miami (Fla.) AHC/DL
2019-20 Atlanta Falcons DL
2021 Miami (Fla.) AHC/DL
2022 Duke Co-DC/DL
2023 Duke AHC/DL
2024- Georgia Tech DL
The immediate impact these experienced coaches will make on the team, I feel, will be seen among the first few games.
Along the recruiting side:
Five-Star IOL Josh Petty committed to the Yellow Jackets on August 12th, choosing them over FSU, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Stanford. As the #2 OT and the #14 prospect in the 2025 class, he is the first five-star to commit to Georgia Tech in the modern era. He is the second-highest rated recruit to commit to Georgia Tech, following famous Detroit Lions Wide Receiver Calvin Johnson.
Petty is from Fellowship Christian School of Roswell, GA, a 30 minute drive from Georgia Tech. He says that the Georgia Tech staff have been impressive regarding his recruitment: “I want to thank them [Georgia Tech] for their consistency,” Petty told 247Sports.
“They were there from the beginning. They were my first offer. They were so consistent with texting me and calling me. They were so consistent. It’s been impressive.”
Georgia Tech is also trending for Four-Star Defensive Tackle Christian Garrett, who decommitted from the Georgia Bulldogs on August 11th. He had committed to them back in June.
Garrett is ranked as the No. 138 player in the 2025 recruiting cycle and plays high school football for Prince Avenue Christian in Bogart, Georgia. Christian Garrett ranks as the No. 17 defensive lineman and No. 17 prospect in Georgia, per 247Sports.
He was Georgia’s top defensive line commitment in the class of 2025. The Bulldogs are still projected to land two five-star recruits along the defensive line in the 2025 class.
The 6’4, 285-pound defensive line recruit would be one of Georgia Tech’s top commitments, joining the likes of the aforementioned Josh Petty.
Though the Yellow Jackets are 51st overall in the 2024 class, they are 20th overall in the 2025 class with Petty, Four-Star CB Dalen Penson, and Four-Star IOL Justin Hasenhuetl, and 19 Three-Star commits.
