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Notre Dame Football: Top 5 running backs Irish will face in 2020

By Jack Leniart

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Travis Etienne #9 of the Clemson Tigers runs the ball against Derion Kendrick #1 of the Clemson Tigers during the first quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Travis Etienne #9 of the Clemson Tigers runs the ball against Derion Kendrick #1 of the Clemson Tigers during the first quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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5. Jordan Mason (Georgia Tech)

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – NOVEMBER 09: Jordan Mason #27 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets warms up before the start of a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – NOVEMBER 09: Jordan Mason #27 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets warms up before the start of a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

A friendly reminder to those who might not be paying close attention to Georgia Tech football: the Yellow Jackets no longer run the triple-option offense. When current head coach Geoff Collins was hired following the conclusion of the 2018 season, he got rid of the triple option and installed his own offense.

Mason was the team’s leading running back when Georgia Tech was still running the triple option in 2018. As a true freshman that year, he ran for 659 yards and seven touchdowns on 108 carries.

Mason was the clear starter heading into the 2019 season and ended up shouldering the majority of the workload. He averaged 5.2 yards per attempt and finished the year with 899 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

He also had seven receptions for 43 yards in 2019. All of those catches came in the first four games of the season. I am not exactly sure why Mason’s role in the passing game vanished after week four, but I am sure that Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea will be taking note of that when the Irish are preparing to face Georgia Tech.

There are high expectations for Mason in 2020. Again, he will be the featured running back for the Yellow Jackets. Additionally, the offense as a whole should improve in their second year under Geoff Collins.

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