Georgia Tech QB Haynes King out against Notre Dame; Pyron to start

Georgia Tech will be without quarterback Haynes King on Saturday against No. 12 Notre Dame, giving veteran backup Zach Pyron his third career start.

King was dealing with an upper-body injury and was listed as “fit for daily play” by Georgia Tech coach Brent Key before the game against the Irish (5-1).

He will be replaced by Pyron, a veteran backup who has played in 16 career games and made two starts as a true freshman in 2022. Pyron has played situationally in all seven games for Georgia Tech (5-2) this season, totaling five touchdowns.

Georgia Tech will also be without linebacker Kyle Efford, the team's leading tackler (52), as he battles an undisclosed injury. Freshman Tah'j Butler will start in Efford's place.

Defensive back Rodney Shelley was a game-time decision for the Yellow Jackets.

Pyron is the rare veteran backup who stuck around, embraced his role and was patient in a transitional environment. He also recorded many key snaps for the Yellow Jackets, including a rushing touchdown in Georgia Tech's upset of then-No. 10 Florida State in the opener in Dublin.

He will play in place of King, a redshirt junior who has been a fixture at Tech the past two seasons after transferring from Texas A&M. King has thrown for 5,989 yards in his career and has eight passing touchdowns and just one interception this year. He also rushed for 353 yards and six touchdowns and threw for 1,568 yards last season.

In Pyron, Tech has a bold replacement who brings a dual threat and familiarity with Buster Faulker's offense. He has completed 5 of 7 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown this year. He has 17 rushes and scored four rushing touchdowns in seven games this season.

Pyron's starts in 2022 included a memorable comeback over Virginia Tech that proved to be an important win in coach Brent Key's interim tenure.

Pyron staged a comeback from a 27-16 deficit in the final 10 minutes, completing consecutive scoring drives of 90 yards and 73 yards to give Georgia Tech a 28-27 victory. That included a game-winning 9-yard touchdown run with 3:30 left. Pyron passed for 253 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown in the upset win.

The Yellow Jackets will face a Notre Dame team without their best defensive player, as star corner Benjamin Morrison will miss the remainder of the season with a hip injury.