Georgia Tech playing it close to the vest with Haynes King ahead of Clemson game

If the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets want the best shot at beating the No. 12 Clemson Tigers in Week 3 of the 2025 college football season, they'll probably need redshirt senior Haynes King on the field.

The problem for GT is that even after sitting out last weekend's 59-12 rout of FCS opponent Gardner-Webb, it appears as if King has not yet fully recovered from the lower-body injury he suffered during the Yellow Jackets' season-opening win over Colorado.

Head coach Brent Key does sound hopeful, but it also doesn't sound like anything is guaranteed when it comes to King.

"Looks good, feels good," Key said on Tuesday, according to ESPN. "We'll make a determination this weekend."

The Tigers are certainly beatable in this matchup for GT, especially since the game is at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.

Clemson lost to LSU in Week 1, 17-10, and then the Sun Belt's Troy Trojans gave Clemson everything it could handle in Week 2. The Tigers won that game, 27-16, but Troy led, 16-3 heading into halftime.

King was a big-time and dynamic player for the Yellow Jackets in Week 1 against Colorado. He completed 13-of-20 passes for 143 yards (with an interception), but he was exceptional with his feet in the power running game. King rushed 19 times for 156 yards and three touchdowns against the Buffaloes, and if he's healthy, he has the potential to do the same thing against the Tigers.

He's just that type of power-running quarterback, but it's a catch-22 because that's arguably also the reason he's banged up right now.

Either way, we'll find out King's status soon enough. Georgia Tech is going to play this close to the vest so as not to give Clemson an advantage, but the Yellow Jackets will have to provide an update.

"We'll follow the procedures and get it in," Key said. "We'll do what we're required to do."