Former Dalton standout Jahmyr Gibbs earns national recognition following Saturday's outburst

Staff file photo / Jahmyr Gibbs (1), now a Georgia Tech freshman with a promising college football future, rushed for more than 2,500 yards as a Dalton senior in 2019.
Staff file photo / Jahmyr Gibbs (1), now a Georgia Tech freshman with a promising college football future, rushed for more than 2,500 yards as a Dalton senior in 2019.

Former Dalton High School running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a 75-yard kickoff return on his first collegiate touch for Georgia Tech during Saturday's 49-21 loss to UCF in Atlanta.

Gibbs also had rushing and receiving touchdowns, and that all-around effort did not go unnoticed.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder was named Monday to the weekly Paul Hornung honor roll, which recognizes college football players across the country for their versatile performances. Gibbs was one of three players named and the only freshman.

Gibbs opened Saturday's game with the lengthy 75-yard return and would add a 9-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter and a 33-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. His scoring run briefly pulled the Yellow Jackets within 28-21, and he finished with 219 all-purpose yards.

"Jahmyr did some really good things for us in the return game and out of the backfield and running the football," Tech coach Geoff Collins said afterward.

Gibbs rushed for 4,882 yards and 70 touchdowns during his career with the Catamounts, including 2,554 yards and 40 scores last season. He was the nation's No. 76 prospect overall in the 2020 signing class, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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