Georgia Tech Stock Report: Two Rising and Two Falling After Week 7
Georgia Tech’s Week 7 loss to Virginia Tech (34-24) left the Yellow Jackets with mixed signals about their turnaround efforts, as two players showed flashes of improvement while two key areas of their game continued to falter. Quarterback Alberto Mendoza, a first-year starter navigating one of the ACC’s worst offensive lines, delivered his best performance of the season with a career-high in passing yards despite two costly turnovers.
His ability to elevate the offense—even with limited weapons—became the team’s bright spot, though the lack of a functional ground game and inconsistent execution kept Georgia Tech from capitalizing on his progress. On the other side of the ball, the defense showed glimpses of promise with five sacks and eight tackles for loss, but their inability to stop Virginia Tech’s early drives—including a 75-yard opening sequence—highlighted persistent vulnerabilities.
The unit’s inconsistency, particularly in preventing big plays, remains a major concern heading into their homecoming matchup with Boston College.
The Yellow Jackets’ offensive red-zone struggles further complicated their day, as a fumbled endzone snap and a missed 32-yard field goal cost them critical points in a 10-point defeat. Wide receiver Jordan Allen, however, provided a rare bright spot in an otherwise thin receiving corps, hauling in 10 of 13 targets for over 100 yards and proving himself as the team’s most reliable pass-catcher.
With Allen and Mendoza as the lone reliable contributors, Georgia Tech’s ability to sustain momentum will hinge on addressing their defensive lapses and improving red-zone efficiency before their next challenge.
