With his third consecutive game with 200 yards or more of all-purpose yardage and sixth in a row with 150 yards or more, Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs moved up into second place in FBS in all-purpose yards per game.
“It’s cool and stuff, but I’m more worried about winning and focusing on the team’s success, and not mine,” he said of his exploits after the Yellow Jackets’ 41-30 loss to Boston College Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
With an average of 168 yards per game, Gibbs trails only wide receiver Deven Thompkins of Utah State at 169.9. Gibbs moved ahead of Syracuse running back Sean Tucker (160.1). Against Boston College on Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Gibbs returned the Eagles’ first kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown (his first career kickoff return for a touchdown) and added 96 rushing yards and 29 receiving yards for a total of 223 yards.
“That was a middle return, so I was looking at the middle, and then it was just a crease that opened from the left side, so I just hit that,” Gibbs said.
Such was Boston College’s concern with Gibbs as a returner that the team planned to not kick off to Gibbs at all, Eagles coach Jeff Hafley said. The first kickoff, sent deep to Gibbs, was a mistake.
Gibbs was surprised, too.
“I didn’t think they’d kick to me at all,” Gibbs said. “But once I got it, I was like, this is my one chance to take it back, because I didn’t think they’d kick it to me.”
Gibbs’ streak of five consecutive games with a play from scrimmage of 50 yards or more ended against Boston College – his longest play on offense was a 14-yard carry. But, the 98-yard kickoff return does extend to six his streak of games with a play (from scrimmage or otherwise) of 50 yards or more.
Said Hafley, “I think he’s the most explosive guy we’ve played all year.”
Among others, Boston College has faced Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham, Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross and Tucker this season.
Gibbs’ season total of 1,680 all-purpose yards (687 rushing, 519 returning and 474 receiving) is fourth all-time in Tech history for a single season, behind only Eddie Lee Ivery (1978, 1,879), Kelly Campbell (2000, 1,777) and Jonathan Dwyer (2008, 1,775). Ivery reached his total – with the help of his then-NCAA record 356 rushing yards against Air Force – in 11 games.
Continuing his pace in the Jackets’ final two games will be, at the least, a significant challenge. Both No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 1 Georgia may be apt to kick away from him, as Boston College ultimately did, and Georgia is No. 2 in FBS in rushing defense.
By moving ahead of Syracuse’s Tucker, Gibbs now also leads the ACC in all-purpose yardage. The last Jackets player to lead the conference in that category was Jerry Mays in 1989. (Robert Lavette also led the league in 1981 and 1982.) He’s also second in the ACC in kickoff returns, at 26 yards per return.
Daily Jackets: The AJC presents a daily look at one news item about Georgia Tech athletics to start your morning.
About the Author
