Freshman Spotlight: Jahmyr Gibbs, Georgia Tech

As we get ready for the 2020 season at CFB Saturdays we will be spotlighting some of the key freshman we expect to play a big role for their teams this season. We are looking at highly talented players who have an opportunity to play and make an impact this fall. Today we will focus on Jahmyr Gibbs and breakdown how the star RB fits in at Georgia Tech this coming season.

Background

Jahmyr Gibbs is the #75 ranked player in the country according to the 247Sports Composite. Gibbs starred at Dalton High School in Dalton, Georgia rushing for over 2,500 yards and 40 TD in his breakthrough senior season. Gibbs committed to Georgia Tech in May of 2019. Despite increased interest from schools across the country during his senior season he signed with the Yellow Jackets in February of 2020. The 5’9″ 191 lb Gibbs is the highest ranked recruit in Georgia Tech’s 2020 recruiting class. He will be expected to contribute immediately this fall when he arrives on campus.

Scouting Report

Gibbs is an excellent prospect who can beat a defense in many ways. He has good patience and vision as a runner, waiting to set up blocks and allowing running lanes to develop before attacking. Once he finds a crease his acceleration is excellent reaching top speed in a few steps. Gibbs has good long speed, but he is not a true burner, he reaches that top speed so quickly that defenders lose distance early and have a hard time catching up again. Though Gibbs is not a big back, he maintains good balance and runs through arm tackles effectively. His acceleration makes him hard to tackle as defenders don’t have much time to square him up or get a grip of him.

Jahmyr Gibbs has an uncanny ability to make people miss. He has quick efficient feet, allowing him to changes speeds and directions without any wasted motion. He has excellent lateral quickness to go with that acceleration, leading to missed tackles and embarrassing moments for defenders. Gibbs feels the game around him well, dancing through the defense nimbly. He doesn’t have a go to move or a pattern, he will cut outside, inside or both, back to back, rarely sacraficing time to change directions or get back up to speed. Gibbs may not be a big running back, but it often doesn’t matter, he is impossible to get a good hit on. He would benefit from working on his long speed some and he needs to show he can catch the ball well out of the backfield, but there’s really not much negative to say about Gibbs’ game.

Outlook

Georgia Tech had decent production at the running back position in 2019. There was not a single 1,000 yard rusher on the roster but leading rusher Jordan Mason had 899 rushing yards and averaged over 5 yards per carry. The Yellow Jackets were in their first season under new coach Geoff Collins and were switching back from Paul Johnson’s triple option offense to a more balanced offense. The team needs to find talent that can play in Collins’ system and Gibbs certainly fits the bill. The Yellow Jackets had a strong recruiting class and have attacked the transfer portal as well, bringing in offensive linemen Devin Cochran and Ryan Johnson to provide veteran play on the line. This influx of talent will help the offense produce more in 2020.

Gibbs will have to split time with Mason in 2020, but there should be enough carries to go around. Gibbs has the potential to be a cornerstone player for Georgia Tech, and it serves no purpose to have him on the sidelines. Gibbs has the ability to make game changing plays, creating opportunities where none exist. He will bring a big play threat to the Yellow Jackets offense that defenses will have to account for. The talent level on the roster is going up, but Gibbs is the kind of player that can raise the level of those around him with his presence alone. Even if he is not the starter right away, during the stretch run of the season we expect Gibbs to be the one carrying the ball when the game is on the line. Georgia Tech will have their running back of the future in the backfield soon enough.

To see other Freshman Spotlight Articles click here.

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