The second half of the 2024 season did not go as Haynes King had hoped it would.
Georgia Tech’s junior quarterback hurt his shoulder in a win at North Carolina on Oct. 12, missed the next two games, split playing time with freshman Aaron Philo in wins over Miami and North Carolina State, respectively, in November, and then gutted out every offensive snap but one in an excruciating, eight-overtime loss at Georgia on Nov. 29.
King, speaking after the Yellow Jackets finished practice Friday, was asked if the grueling last month-and-a-half of the season made him consider sitting out the Dec. 27 Birmingham Bowl against Vanderbilt to further rest and recover after all he’s been through.
“No,” King said flatly. “It’s just who I am and what this team is about. It starts with the quarterback. If your quarterback isn’t tough, resilient, your team’s not gonna be tough or resilient. That’s not even been a question. If I can go, I’m going. That’s just me. I love the game of football, love to compete. It hadn’t even came up. Coach (Brent) Key knows better than to ask me. If I can go, I’m going.”
King has thrown for 1,910 yards and 11 touchdowns this season while completing 72.5% of his passes — that latter number will be a single-season record when the 2024 campaign ends. He has thrown only one interception, Aug. 31 against Georgia State, and ran for 578 yards and 11 scores.
On that cold night in Athens at Sanford Stadium in November, King won the admiration of Tech supporters (and many who are not) by totaling 110 yards on the ground, passing for 303 yards and accounting for five touchdowns. The time off since that performance has helped the Texan’s confidence in his ability to play in his team’s 13th game.
“The past few weeks, being able to get your body back right with treatment, rehab and all that, it’s helped me a lot,” King said. “I’m back pretty much 100%, ready to go.”
King (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) has one season of college eligibility remaining after being at Texas A&M for three seasons and Tech for two. He has degrees from both institutions and is eligible to enter the NFL draft in April.
On Friday, however, King indicated he plans to remain a Jacket for one more year.
“I’ll probably come back. Nothing’s always official nowadays. I haven’t thought about leaving, haven’t thought about this or that,” he said. “The people that we have in this building, it’s rare. I value relationships with people and the direction that this program is going, it’s by far – you can’t put a digit or a number on it. I’m probably gonna be here next year. Love this team, love the coaching staff, what they’ve done. I’m not one to go back on my word, either.”
Tech is 14-9 in games which King plays behind center. He goes into the matchup with Vanderbilt with 4,752 passing yards, 38 passing touchdowns, 1,315 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns during his time wearing white and gold.
And now he has the chance to lead Tech to back-to-back bowl wins.
“I think he’s one of the toughest teammates I’ve played with,” Tech senior safety LaMiles Brooks said. “I’ve only played with him for two seasons, been here five seasons, and he’s top five one of the toughest guys I’ve played with. His leadership, when he came in last summer, you could tell that he had those qualities and those traits. This year it’s been taken to a completely different level.”
