5 Georgia Tech players every Mississippi State fan needs to know

After more than a month off, Mississippi State returns to the field on New Year’s Eve. The No. 7 Bulldogs are in the Orange Bowl for the first time since 1941, where they’ll meet ACC runner-up Georgia Tech. The No. 12 Yellow Jackets are coming off a 10-3 season and pushed No. 3 Florida State to the brink in the ACC title game.

Who are the Yellow Jackets players that could sting Mississippi State?

• QB Justin Thomas: Thomas is the trigger for Georgia Tech’s triple-option attack. He only completed 51 percent of his 175 pass attempts on the season, but had 17 touchdowns to just five interceptions and averaged 17.9 yards per completion. Thomas was GT’s leading rusher on the season, with 965 yards. He’s not big, at just 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, but Thomas is dangerously fast and makes excellent decisions with the ball.
• RB Zach Laskey: Laskey is the essential fullback in Georgia Tech’s triple-option, the power runner up the gut for the Jackets. He banged out 4.9 yards per carry and piled up 788 yards and nine touchdowns. He had his biggest game of the season against Georgia, with 140 yards and three scores.
• WR Darren Walter: Senior DeAndre Smelter tore his ACL against Georgia, and the Yellow Jackets will need a receiver to step up. Walter was the team’s second-leading receiver this season, with 21 catches for 328 yards. Thomas will need someone to throw deep to, and the 6-foot-5 Walter is the next man up.
• LB Quayshawn Nealy: Nealy is the Yellow Jackets’ best all-around defender and defensive brain, a second-team All-ACC performer. The play maker was second on the team with 90 tackles, recorded two interceptions (one that he took back for a touchdown) and took one of his three fumble recoveries back for a touchdown as well.
• S Jamal Golden: One of the leader’s of the Yellow Jackets defense, Golden tied for the team lead with four interceptions while racking up 53 tackles on the year. Golden is known as a student of the game, so Dak Prescott will have to be careful with his turnover-prone tendencies.

Brett Weisband

A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.