THE FLATS – Georgia Tech freshman running back Jahmyr Gibbs (Dalton, Ga./Dalton) was one of the 57 multi-talented student-athletes named to the 2021 Paul Hornung Award Watch List, it was announced Thursday. The Paul Hornung Award annually recognizes college football’s most versatile student-athlete.
Gibbs led Georgia Tech in all-purpose yards (968) and scoring (seven TDs) and ranked second on the team in rushing yards (460), rushing touchdowns (4), receptions (24), receiving yards (303) and touchdown receptions (3), compiling the gaudy numbers in just six-and-a-half games in 2020. He also averaged a gaudy 25.6 yards per kickoff return, which would have ranked second in the Atlantic Coast Conference and 22nd nationally if he had enough attempts to qualify for the NCAA’s official statistical rankings.
Since 2000, Gibbs is one of only seven Power Five conference players to compile 450 rushing yards, 300 receiving yards and 200 kickoff return yards in a team’s first eight games of the season, joining an elite list that includes Reggie Bush (USC – 2004), Marion Grice (Arizona State – 2013), Christian McCaffery (Stanford – 2015), Joe Mixon (Oklahoma – 2016), Saquon Barkley (Penn State – 2017) and Lynn Bowden, Jr. (Kentucky – 2019). His feat was made even more impressive by the fact that he missed the season opener at Florida State and left his final game of the season versus Duke before halftime due to injury.
In addition to Thursday’s watch list honor, Gibbs has also been tabbed preseason all-conference at all-purpose back and return specialist by the ACC’s media, as well as Athlon, Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus. He was also named to the 2021 Doak Walker Watch List, which recognizes college football’s top running back.
Following last season, the Dalton, Ga. native was named freshman all-America by The Athletic and was an honorable-mention all-ACC selection.
Gibbs and the Yellow Jackets begin preseason practice on Friday, Aug. 6 in preparation for their Saturday, Sept. 4 season opener versus Northern Illinois. The 2021 opener against NIU will be played under the lights at Bobby Dodd Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and televised nationally on ACC Network.
Fans can get their first glimpse of the 2021 Yellow Jackets when Georgia Tech football hosts First Saturday on The Flats on Saturday, Aug. 7 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. First Saturday on The Flats will include an open practice, followed by an interactive on-field experience for fans of all ages. Gates open at 8:30 a.m. and admission is FREE. Click HERE for more information on First Saturday on The Flats.
2021 GEORGIA TECH FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS
2021 Georgia Tech football season tickets are on sale now. Starting at just $299 per seat, season tickets include reserved seats for all seven games on the Yellow Jackets’ 2021 home schedule, including “Mayhem at Mercedes-Benz Stadium” versus North Carolina on Sept. 25 and the return of “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” versus archrival Georgia on Nov. 27 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. For full 2021 Georgia Tech football season ticket information, visit ramblinwreck.com/footballtickets.
Single-game tickets will go on sale on Aug. 2 with presale opportunities available HERE.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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