Although North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky projects as the No. 1 quarterback taken in the 2016 NFL Draft by analyst Mel Kiper Jr., the Yellow Jackets aren't intimidated to face him in Chapel Hill on Saturday.
Even after allowing 305 passing yards and touchdowns on four consecutive possessions against Duke on Saturday, Georgia Tech linebacker Brant Mitchell isn’t fazed by facing Trubisky or the versatile Tar Heels offense.
“(Trubisky) is a good player,” Mitchell said. “We’re just going to go out there and defend him just like anyone else.”
Trubisky enters Saturday’s game with a passer rating of 160.7, better than Miami’s Brad Kaaya (144.8), Clemson’s Deshaun Watson (145.9) and Pitt’s Nathan Peterman (152.3) — three quarterbacks who Tech (5-3, 2-3) lost to this season in conference play.
Trubisky’s pass-completion percentage of 71.2 is the highest in the ACC this season, third best among active NCAA quarterbacks and highest among any starting North Carolina quarterback in program history, according to CFB Sports Reference.
“I think that he is very accurate, and he knows what he wants to do on offense,” coach Paul Johnson said. “The nature of their offense has a lot of check-downs, so their quarterbacks are going to complete a high percentage of throws. He is very talented. He has been in the program for a long time, and he understands what they are trying to do and knows what he wants to do.”
A 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior who threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns against Virginia on Saturday, Trubisky is listed at No. 16 among NCAA quarterbacks this season in passing yards (2,378), behind FBS quarterbacks such as Louisville’s Lamar Jackson, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield and Ole Miss’ Chad Kelley.
Trubisky has thrown for 2,378 yards in eight games, with 18 touchdowns and two interceptions. Before this season (6-2, 4-1), Trubisky had 1,364 career passing yards.
“He’s a great player,” Tech linebacker P.J. Davis said. “I see a lot from him. I just know we have a game plan for him and we’ll go from there.”
With North Carolina one win away from bowl eligibility, the Yellow Jackets are focused beyond Trubisky on the multifaceted Tar Heels offense that includes wide receivers Ryan Switzer and Bug Howard as well as running backs Elijah Hood and T.J. Logan. The Tar Heels demonstrate skill in moving the ball through the air and on the ground, averaging 301 passing yards per game and 136.6 rushing yards per game this season.
The Jackets enter Saturday’s ACC Coastal matchup allowing 222.4 passing yards per game and 154.3 rushing yards per game.
“They got a lot of balance,” defensive coordinator Ted Roof said. “They read coverages very well. They’re hard to fool. The quarterback sees things very well and just makes adjustments accordingly, so it’s a lot of balance.”
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