Tech went 0-3 when he was injured. Now, Kyle Efford is back, ready to lead.
Credit: Nell Redmond/ACC
Kyle Efford admits he was in a dark place not too long ago.
“The worst part for me is gone now. I haven’t had to take off my pads … ever? So I was in a hard spot," he said. “Coach (Blake) Gideon (Tech’s defensive coordinator) was there to really help me get out of it, just in my ear talking, ‘When you get back just realize that you’re the same player and you’re gonna come back the same.’”
Efford was in much more jovial spirits Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, at ACC Football Kickoff. Georgia Tech’s junior linebacker, looking dapper in a navy blue suit and wearing glasses for a self-described Clark Kent look, was sorely missed in 2024 when he couldn’t be on the field with the Yellow Jackets.
A labrum injury in his shoulder forced Efford to miss Tech’s Birmingham Bowl loss to Vanderbilt in December. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound graduate of Dacula High School also missed games against Notre Dame and Virginia Tech in October.
Tech went 0-3 in games when their defensive leader — who led the Jackets in tackles the past two seasons — was sidelined.
“Kyle Efford, he’s a big part of — if not the biggest part of — the reason we had the biggest turnaround in run defense that we’ve ever had,” Tech coach Brent Key put it bluntly in defining Efford’s importance.
Efford’s absence in the heart of Tech’s defense was just as glaring as when quarterback Haynes King couldn’t play for the offense. Efford’s injury just wasn’t as publicized.
Without Efford on the field, Tech allowed 137.7 rushing yards per game. In the 10 other contests when he was patrolling the middle of the field in his familiar No. 44 jersey, the Jackets held opponents to 117.5 rushing yards per game.
Thus, Tech needs Efford, to remain healthy. He missed spring practice to recover from the shoulder surgery and only recently was cleared medically.
He said he leaned on family, Gideon and Tech’s mental health professionals to try to stay positive through the recovery. And with that part of his career behind him, he’s looking forward to being back on the field Tuesday when Tech starts preseason practice and looking forward to making sure his teammates know he’s back and ready to go.
“One of my major things going into this year was becoming a more vocal leader. I’ve always been somebody who preferred to lead by example and kind of get things done and just following by default,” he said. “But I’m to that point now where I’m not going to sit back and watch anything anymore. If I see an issue, I’m going to address it.”
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