Haynes King injury update: Georgia Tech QB not starting vs. Gardner-Webb

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King will not start Saturday’s game against Gardner Webb, according to Jackets Online’s Kelly Quinlan. Aaron Philo will get the start, instead.

King suffered a lower body injury in last week’s season opener against Colorado. It is not related to a shoulder injury that has been bothering him, though, and Georgia Tech opted to keep him out. King is dressed out for the game, though.

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In last week’s game against Colorado, King completed 13 of 20 passes for 143 yards in the air. He did most of his work on the ground, though, as he ran for 156 yards and three touchdowns to help lead Georgia Tech to the come-from-behind victory over the Buffaloes in Boulder.

The Yellow Jackets struggled with turnovers in the early part of the season opener, but they were able to shake them off and eventually come away with the victory. During an appearance on ACC Huddle last week, Brent Key praised King for his ability to help lead Georgia Tech through the adversity and help spearhead the comeback.

“It’s one of those things where you don’t want that adversity to happen in the football game,” Key said. “You really don’t. You know you usually can’t come back from it, but to see Haynes and his demeanor and truly that next-play mentality that we preach all the time…Haynes is a special, special person and not just a football player. He’s a special person. And there are not a lot of people that know what that feeling is to run the ball like he is, to sit back and throw the ball, to do what he does and then still be able to do it in the fourth quarter, end of the fourth quarter.

“I can’t say enough about Haynes King as a football player, as a person, as a leader, but we’ve also got other people around him now that are stepping up as leaders as well. So it’s not all on his shoulders. It’s not all on him to have to lead and do all those things. So proud of the whole team really rallying around Haynes last night too.”

Georgia Tech has a notable matchup looming next week, though. The Yellow Jackets will take on ACC preseason favorite Clemson.