The dust has finally settled on the 2025 season at Bobby Dodd Stadium, but the vibes around the flats are, well, complicated. If you were looking for a clean transition from the Haynes King era into a new decade of dominance, I’ve got some news. It’s messy.
Basically, the georgia tech starting qb situation for 2026 is currently a wide-open void that head coach Brent Key has to fill, and he’s doing it while the room he called "the best in the country" just a few months ago is effectively empty.
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Haynes King is gone. He’s out of eligibility. After a massive 2025 campaign where he flirted with the Davey O’Brien Award and kept the Jackets in the ACC hunt, his departure was expected. What wasn't expected? The presumptive heir, Aaron Philo, deciding to pack his bags for the transfer portal.
That’s the reality of modern college ball. You think you’ve got the next guy lined up, then the portal opens, and suddenly you're staring at a depth chart that looks more like a "help wanted" ad than a roster.
Why the presumptive starter left
Honest talk: Aaron Philo looked like the real deal. When King went down with that nagging lower-body injury early in 2025, Philo stepped in against Gardner-Webb and threw for over 370 yards. He was the highest-graded quarterback in the country according to PFF in Week 13.
But with success comes suitors.
Philo announced his intention to enter the portal in early January 2026. It’s a gut punch for fans who saw him lead that gritty comeback win against NC State. Why leave? It usually comes down to two things: NIL valuation or a different offensive vision. With offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner being a hot name for coaching vacancies and staff turnover hitting Brent Key’s assistants hard this winter, Philo likely saw a more stable—or lucrative—path elsewhere.
The current names on the depth chart
So, who is left in the building? If a game started tomorrow, the georgia tech starting qb would likely be one of the younger guys who haven't seen much more than garbage time.
- Graham Knowles: A redshirt sophomore with massive size (6-7) and a big arm. He’s the most "veteran" presence left, though that’s using the term loosely since he only has a handful of career attempts.
- Grady Adamson: The true freshman from Oklahoma who enrolled early in 2025. He’s got mobility and a high ceiling, but putting the keys to an ACC offense in the hands of a kid who just finished high school is a massive gamble.
- Cole Bergeron: A four-star talent who is waiting in the wings, but like the others, he lacks the "Saturdays in the South" experience that Brent Key craves.
Brent Key isn't sitting still, though. He’s been vocal about the fact that "continuity breeds complacency." He’s looking for a veteran in the portal. He has to. You don't bring in a weapon like Michigan transfer running back Justice Haynes—who just committed to Tech—only to have a rookie under center.
What the 2026 season looks like
The search for a new georgia tech starting qb is now a national hunt. Expect the Jackets to target a graduate transfer with at least 15-20 starts under their belt. Key is building a physical, "toughness-first" identity, and he needs a signal-caller who won't blink when Clemson or Georgia comes to town.
The offense will likely still revolve around the run game, especially with Justice Haynes joining Jamal Haynes in what might be the best backfield in the ACC. But without a credible threat at quarterback, defenses will just stack the box.
If you’re a Tech fan, the next few weeks are critical. Watch the portal entries from big-name programs where a starter got beat out. That’s where the 2026 starter is hiding.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Keep a close eye on the Transfer Portal window closing dates; the Jackets need to land a veteran before spring ball starts.
- Watch for the official announcement of the new Offensive Coordinator; the QB decision will follow that hire almost immediately.
- Monitor Justice Haynes' integration into the team, as the new quarterback's primary job will be facilitating one of the nation's most talented backfields.