Led by Kyle Efford, Georgia Tech has deep linebacker corps

The tandem of Kyle Efford (6-2, 225) and E.J. Lightsey (6-2, 235) leads a versatile crew.

Slowed by injury in 2024, Efford still led the Yellow Jackets in tackles for the second consecutive season. The junior and Dacula High School graduate has 145 stops over the past two seasons.

Lightsey, a Fitzgerald High School product and Georgia transfer, recorded 22 tackles over nine games in 2024. He graded out as one of Tech’s top run defenders, according to Pro Football Focus, and had arguably his best outing in the Birmingham Bowl against Vanderbilt.

“My confidence is pretty high, man. The biggest thing is going into the season healthy. That’s been a thing I’ve struggled with in the past. But going into the season healthy, knowing the playbook, knowing everything, my confidence level is really high.”

There’s a quartet of players who will back up Efford and Lightsey, though the term backup isn’t quite accurate, given Tech is expected to have multiple players at the position. Eubanks said there could even times where more than two linebackers are on the field at one time.

Cayman Spaulding (6-0, 220), Tah’j Butler (6-1, 230), Jackson Hamilton (6-0, 225) and Melvin Jordan IV (5-11, 230) have all been battling to put themselves in position to get on the field Aug. 29 at Colorado.

Hamilton, who began his career at Louisville, played 13 games for Tech last season and made 26 tackles. As a true freshman, Butler made 25 stops (4 1/2 for a loss) in 13 games.

Spaulding began his career at Tennessee Tech after graduating from Miller Grove High School. He had 11 1/2 tackles for loss last season at Tennessee Tech. Jordan is a junior from Florida who played three seasons at Oregon State before joining the Jackets.

They’ve all been challenged this preseason to contribute on special teams and to be open to filling different roles inside the defense.

“I know someone brought up position flexibility — that’s what I believe in,” Eubanks said. “If you guys watched that practice (Wednesday), I’m rotating five guys or so. And it’s mix and match. And that says a lot about those guys learning multiple positions, too.

“They’re taking the challenge. If you wanna get reps, guess what? You need to learn multiple positions.”

Tech’s security at linebacker was evident in the past recruiting cycle, in which the program did not sign a linebacker out of high school. That equates to a unit with a wealth of experience and expectation to be among the best in the conference.

“We have some guys that can all potentially be All-ACC backers,” Efford said. “It’s a deep room for sure.”