Jackets’ loss of Gibbs leaves big hole to fill

Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs, easily the top player during coach Geoff Collins’ three-year tenure and possibly its most talented since Calvin Johnson, has decided to transfer. Gibbs made the announcement from his Twitter account Monday, two days after the Jackets’ season ended in a 45-0 loss to No. 1 Georgia at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

The decision is a substantial loss for Tech and Collins, who goes into the offseason under significant pressure to produce his first winning season after three consecutive three-win seasons.

Gibbs ranks third in the FBS in all-purpose yards per game (150.4) and was a dynamic playmaking threat as a rusher, receiver and kickoff returner. He electrified Tech fans this season with a remarkable string of six consecutive games with a play of 50 yards or more, an assemblage of plays that included three catches, two runs and one kickoff return in a testament to his versatility.

Moreover, he has been a symbol of what Collins has envisioned and touted in his administration — recruiting elite players, especially within the state of Georgia, to compete with the heavyweights in college football. Collins mentioned it as recently as Saturday following the loss to Georgia, the second half of which Gibbs sat out with an injury.

“Jahmyr Gibbs, I think, is one of the best players in college football,” Collins said. “Proud that he chose to come here and play for us.”

Gibbs’ announcement continues a series of disruptive events within Collins’ team. On Saturday, the Jackets lost their second consecutive game to archrival Georgia by 45 points (following a 52-7 defeat in 2019), the Jackets’ largest margin of defeat in the series. On Sunday, Collins dismissed three assistants — offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude, co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Nathan Burton and cornerbacks coach Jeff Popovich.

Matt Land, Gibbs’ coach at Dalton High, told The Atlanta Journal-constitution that transfer decisions for a player of Gibbs’ caliber typically involve the pursuit of the best path to the professional level, the stability of the coaching staff and the competitiveness of the team.

“I don’t know specifically what really was the straw that broke the camel’s back, but I would certainly say those three things were probably considered at some point,” Land said.

Land said Gibbs had “an unbelievably great relationship” with Collins and running backs coach Tashard Choice. Asked about the impact that back-to-back three-win seasons might have had on Gibbs, along with the prospect of a 2022 season in which the Jackets would seem to have little chance of becoming an elite team, Land said Gibbs is “an intense competitor who has always challenged himself to be the best.” Land said Gibbs is “one of the most competitive kids that I’ve ever been around in my 29 years of coaching.”

Gibbs’ decision was a concern for Tech fans who feared that, seeing a bleak outlook for the Jackets in the coming season, the star running back might opt to finish his career with a team that had a better chance of winning. He should have no shortage of suitors for his remaining eligibility. Before Tech’s Nov. 20 game against Notre Dame, Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly proclaimed Gibbs the ACC player of the year based on his talent and impact.

“I think he’s going to be a great NFL back,” Boston College coach Jeff Hafley said after Gibbs gained 223 all-purpose yards against the Eagles in a 41-30 Jackets loss on Nov. 13. “I think people are going to talk about that guy for a long time. And I think (in the) ACC and nationally, people should talk about him more.”

Amid this upheaval, Collins and his staff will visit with prospects committed to the 2022 signing class, high school seniors who undoubtedly are hearing from rival coaches trying to sow doubt about their decisions to play for a coach whose job security past next season is uncertain and whose star player just decided to finish his career elsewhere.

As for solutions, Collins does have three solid running backs on his roster with eligibility remaining: Jordan Mason, Dontae Smith and Jamious Griffin. Mason, however, took part in Senior Day activities before Saturday’s game and may be leaning toward turning pro. Smith’s 5.6 yards-per-carry average was the highest on the team. Griffin, Collins’ first significant recruit after his hire in December 2018, was little-used and elected to redshirt this year.

Collins also has commitments from two running backs for the 2022 signing class, Terron Kellman from Baltimore and Antonio Martin from Langston Hughes High. Martin is a four-star running back rated the No. 28 prospect in the Georgia (247Sports Composite).