Ranking The ACC Coastal Division Teams: Georgia Tech

There is good news. Calvin Johnson will be playing football. The bad news is that it won't be for Georgia Tech. The heralded receiver is now in the pros and the defending Coastal Divison champs will be playing without him. However, the Yellow Jackets will still be contenders in 2007.

Georgia Tech who won the Coastal Division title but lost to Wake in the ACC championship game has some notable returning players. Tashard Choice, with his ACC-leading 1,473 rushing yards, returns with four starting linemen, including tackle Andrew Gardner, who's switching from the left side to the right to protect the blind side of QB Taylor Bennett, a lefty. Says Choice,"If they want to ride me, they can ride me all day." This clearly an indication that he and other players welcome the challenge of being the focus of the offense without Johnson.

The Yellow Jackets lost twelve letterman but have a nucleus that should have them in contention for 2007 in the Coastal Division. Junior QB Taylor Bennett should be a welcome addition with the departure of an awful Reggie Ball at QB. The Yellow Jackets seem to have few worries when it comes to the kicking game.Ray Guy Award candidate Durant Brooks booted three punts for an average of 50.3 yards and senior placekicker Travis Bell was 3-of-3 on field goal attempts in a recent scrimmage.On defense, Georgia Tech lost a minimal number of stsrters and should be solid.

Their first test comes in their first game of the 2007 season when they play at Notre Dame on September 1.

FSU It's Time Ranking Prediction: Georgia Tech is solid and should challenge Virginia Tech and Miami. They should fiinish at #2 in the Coastal Division.