By Evan Woolard
Georgia Tech's Campus Correspondent
TheRoadtoTampaBay.com

When head coach Paul Johnson arrived on the Flats of Georgia Tech in late 2007, there was speculation about whether his style of play would work against a high level of competition. After nine wins in 2008, there's a new question: "If that was only his first season, how much better would the team be with a year of experience in Johnson's system?" Scary thought... In a season where the Yellow Jackets were predicted to win as few as three games, Johnson lit a fire under a team with 76 freshmen and sophomores and guided it to a share of the ACC Coastal Division title. As college football's biggest surprise of 2008, Georgia Tech had a record of 9-4. This season, no one is taking Georgia Tech lightly. Returning 16 starters, including last season's ACC Player of the Year in Jonathan Dwyer, the Ramblin' Wreck is projected as a Top 25 team in nearly every poll. Though it will be difficult to get through its schedule unscathed, Tech has enough talent on both sides of the ball to have everyone thinking about a BCS Bowl.

Quarterback

Junior Josh Nesbitt proved to be more than a leader last year in Johnson's spread option offense. Though it took several months for him to adjust to the new style of play, the 214-pound Nesbitt's size and speed made him the prototypical spread option quarterback. If the offensive line can give him the protection he needs, watch for the Davey O'Brien Award candidate to toss the ball around the field more often than last year. Should Nesbitt get hurt, sophomore Jaybo Shaw and redshirt freshman Tevin Washington provide depth at a position that was pencil-thin a year ago. Shaw was a more than capable backup during Nesbitt's injury last year, when he led the Yellow Jackets to wins over Mississippi State and Duke. Washington showed flashes of brilliance in Tech's spring game, where he ran for two touchdowns and threw for another.

Running Back Jonathan Dwyer

It is too exciting not to mention the fact that Georgia Tech ranked fourth in the nation in rushing yards in 2008, or that Jonathan Dwyer led the conference in rushing yards and earned All-ACC honors behind an offensive line still adjusting to the new scheme. While he may be the most talented, Dwyer is definitely not the only target for opposing defenses. The Ramblin' Wreck returns Roddy Jones, the outstanding A-Back who dazzled Georgia's Sanford Stadium with 214 yards, including a 52-yard scamper to beat the Bulldogs last season. Marcus Wright, who was intended to redshirt until midseason, showed fans and coaches alike that he could be brilliant. The same can be said of Embry Peeples who provides excellent depth at a position stacked with talent. Lucas Cox, whose size and skill allow him to play at both A- and B-back, is a terrific blocker. The powerful Richard Watson should also be an excellent backup for Dwyer at B-Back. Also providing depth is transfer Anthony Allen, who had 13 touchdowns for Louisville in its marquee 2006 season. Add Daniel Drummond, a bruising B-Back recruit out of Flowery Branch, Ga., into the mix, and you've got quite possibly the best running back corps in the country.

Receiver

Though somewhat unsung last season, the receiver position for Tech is not without its share of talent. Junior Demaryius Thomas may be one of the best receivers in the conference. In an offense where the receivers are primarily called upon to block, the 6'3" Thomas averaged 16.1 yards per catch and accounted for almost half of the team's receiving yardage. He's definitely not afraid to get physical with defenders, a skill that allows for Tech's backs to make big plays in the open field. Sophomore Tyler Melton has the soft hands to line up opposite of Thomas, but he missed most of last season with a knee injury. Incoming freshman Stephen Hill has already shown he has the talent to become a big-play receiver for the Jackets should the coaches decide not to redshirt him this season.

Offensive Line

The most growing pains in last year's transition to the spread option were felt by the offensive line. As good as the offense was in running the ball, the line often struggled to grasp the new system. That should change now that those linemen have a year of experience under their belts. The starters from the last four games all return, paced by second-team All-ACC pick Cord Howard. Howard, who plays right guard, is one of two seniors on the line, along with center Dan Voss. After missing the off-season with shoulder surgery, Voss will have to fend off junior Sean Bedford for the starting position. Nick Claytor, Austin Barrick, and Joseph Barrick, on the other hand, should all be safe at their positions, and provide Nesbitt the protection that he didn't really have a year ago.

Defensive Line

Any team that loses three front-four players to the NFL, figures to suffer. How well Georgia Tech can replenish its defensive line will define the season. The only holdover from last year is junior Derrick Morgan at defensive end, who with seven sacks was named honorable mention All-ACC. Expect Morgan to get double-teamed almost every play this season. That means that the new guys need to step up in a big way. Junior Robert Hall is expected to line up at the end opposite Morgan. Junior Ben Anderson and redshirt freshman TJ Barnes should clog up the middle at tackle. At 6'7" and 325 pounds, Barnes may have more potential than anyone else on the entire defense, and coaches are expecting big plays out of him in the future.

Linebacker

An inexperienced and injury-plagued linebacking corps last year has now become a group with talent and depth. Sedric Griffin, a senior, will be the leader of the group. Junior Brad Jefferson is expected to start, and may be the team's strongest player. Kyle Jackson, the 2008 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, suffered a foot injury in the spring, but hopes to play in the season opener against Jacksonville State. Should he not be healed by the time September comes around, there should not be much drop off talent-wise when Steven Sylvester and Anthony Barnes step in. Once again: talent and depth.

Defensive Back Morgan Burnett

The secondary is by far the strength of the defense. Junior safety Morgan Burnett was a first-team All-American, and tied for first nationally in interceptions with seven. A physical defender who punishes both quarterbacks and receivers alike, Burnett will be looked to for leadership in the secondary. Yet if teams try to avoid throwing to Burnett's side of the field, then the ball could end up in the hands of another ball-hawking safety in Dominique Reese. Sophomore Cooper Taylor, whose forced fumble at the goal line secured victory against Florida State, provides needed depth in the secondary. Mario Butler, Rashaad Reid, and Jerrard Terrant take up the cornerback positions with the talent to shut down most receivers in the ACC.

Special Teams

Tech fans are still waiting for this group to gel. Last season, then-sophomore Scott Blair handled all the kicking duties for the Jackets, but he needs to improve and become more consistent. With their big-play capabilities, Terrant and Jones will most likely be on the field to return kicks.

2009 Prediction

Everyone on the Flats is interested to see what kind of an encore performance Johnson can pull off after raising expectations last season. An ACC Championship and BCS berth is not by any means impossible, but it will be difficult. Five days after the season opener, the Jackets open ACC play against what should be an improved Clemson team. Then they play another Thursday night game at Miami, only to come home and face off against a North Carolina team that is due to have a breakthrough season. This portion of the schedule will show just how serious Tech is about winning a championship in 2009.

The Florida State game will be an exciting one as well, as the Seminoles try to get back at Tech for "stealing one" last season. The game against Virginia Tech looms very large, as it will likely decide the winner of the Coastal Division. Georgia Tech has not won in Charlottesville since 1990, so the Virginia game looms large as well. Then there's that game on Nov. 28, when Georgia rolls into Atlanta.