Geoff Collins, an Atlanta area native and one of college football’s most successful and innovative coaches, is in his second season as Georgia Tech football’s head coach. He was named the 20th football head coach in Georgia Tech history on Dec. 7, 2018.

Despite the challenges associated with overhauling Georgia Tech’s football culture, including the monumental switch from its previous optionbased offense to a pro-style, spread attack, highlights from Collins’ 1st year on The Flats included:

•A thrilling 28-21 overtime win at Miami (Fla.), the Yellow Jackets’ firstever win over the Hurricanes at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

•4 players named all-Atlantic Coast Conference — all of which were underclassmen and return to The Flats in 2020.

•Tyler Davis, who Collins recruited to Georgia Tech as a graduate transfer, being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 6th round of the 2020 National Football League draft. He was highest-selected tight end in program history and the 1st Yellow Jacket tight end taken in the NFL Draft in 28 years.

•A team grade point average of 3.0 at the conclusion of the 2020 spring semester - the highest team GPA in program history.

His impact has also been felt in his prowess as a recruiter. Most notably, Georgia Tech’s first full recruiting class under Collins, the incoming class of 2020, was ranked No. 24 nationally by Rivals.

It was the 2nd top-25 recruiting class in school history and the 1st since 2007, a class that was compiled when Collins served as the Yellow Jackets’ director of player personnel.

A total of 12, 4 and 5 star recruits have joined the Yellow Jackets since Collins’ arrival as head coach in December 2018.

Yellow Jackets on Offense: Dave Patenaude is in his 2nd season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Georgia Tech.

Given the monumental task of transitioning Georgia Tech’s offense from an option-based scheme to a prostyle, spread attack, Patenaude’s accomplishments in his 1st season as the Yellow Jackets’ offensive coordinator included:

•2 Jackets earning all-ACC accolades — RB Jordan Mason and OL Jack DeFoor.

•WR Ahmarean Brown tying Calvin Johnson’s Georgia Tech freshman record (2007) with 7 touchdown receptions.

•QB James Graham tying Shawn Jones’ Georgia Tech freshman record (1989) with 12 touchdown passes.

Yellow Jackets on Defense: Andrew Thacker is in his 2nd season as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Georgia Tech, where he directed a unit that ranked among the nation’s top 40 in pass defense and the top 25 in red zone defense in 2019.

In his 1st year with the Yellow Jackets, Thacker’s defense produced two all-ACC honorees (LB David Curry and CB Tre Swilling), ranked among the nation’s top 40 in pass defense (207.7 ypg), and ranked among the top 25 nationally in red zone defense (.774).

The Clemson/Georgia Tech game will air at noon Saturday on ABC.