What Kirby Smart said about Georgia Tech's sixth-year QB

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart spoke on the challenge of facing Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King. Smart knows that King, who was a Heisman contender before Georgia Tech's loss to Pittsburgh last week, wants nothing more than to beat Georgia.

King helped Georgia Tech force eight overtimes against Georgia in a heartbreaking loss last season where he fumbled late in the fourth quarter to give Georgia some much-needed momentum. King, a Texas A&M transfer, is the engine that runs the Georgia Tech offensive attack.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound quarterback is ready to rebound after throwing two interceptions last week (for the first time since 2023) in Georgia Tech's 42-28 loss to Pittsburgh.

"Just look at the numbers, right?" Georgia coach Kirby Smart said on King. "Anytime you have a quarterback that has the experience he has, I don't know if he's played five years, six years, I don't know what it is."

For the record, King has played college football for six seasons. He spent three years at Texas A&M and three years at Georgia.

"He's extremely experienced, extremely tough," Smart continued. "How many people understand how fast this guy is? He can run, and he was a great athlete in high school, track guy. The stories are all over his success and of where he's been and the injuries he's been through. You see the hits he takes, he just gets stronger with each hit.

"He's extremely valuable in terms of what they do and what they ask him to do. He's hard to defend on all levels, throwing the ball. People think, 'well, he doesn't throw the ball,' he throws the ball really well, and he's really efficient."

Haynes King stats

Haynes King passing stats: 2,518 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, four interceptions and 78.8 QBR (No. 15 in nation)

Haynes King rushing stats: 168 carries for 883 yards and 15 touchdowns (all are most on the team)

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Kirby Smart breaks down sixth-year Georgia Tech QB Haynes King