ATLANTA — From the moment Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas took the snap on the Yellow Jackets’ first offensive possession, it was obvious they had no chance against third-ranked Clemson’s defensive front.
Defensive lineman Christian Wilkins blew up the right side of the offensive line and threw Thomas, Tech’s leading rusher coming in, for a four-yard loss. The play was recorded as a four-yard loss, but it did more than that. It set the tone for one of the more dominating performances by a Clemson defense in a long time.
“That was really it. We came out early with guns blazing and just ready for anything,” Wilkins said after the Tigers’ 26-7 victory at Bobby Dodd Stadium.