EJ Lightsey

Established himself as a leading performer on defense, starting all 13 games at linebacker … Ranked second on the team with 76 tackles (39 solo, 37 assisted) … Added one tackle for loss, one quarterback hurry and one pass breakup … Opened the season with three tackles in the win at Colorado (Aug. 29) … Made four stops against Gardner-Webb (Sept. 6) … Recorded 10 tackles versus No. 12 Clemson (Sept. 13), good for his first career double-digit tackle performance … Added eight tackles at Wake Forest (Sept. 27) … Finished with two tackles against Virginia Tech (Oct. 11) … Posted seven tackles at Duke (Oct. 18) … Tallied six stops against Syracuse (Oct. 25) … Registered eight tackles, his lone tackle for loss of the season and a quarterback hurry at NC State (Nov. 1) … Recorded six tackles at Boston College (Nov. 15) … Finished with four tackles versus Pittsburgh (Nov. 22) … Turned in a career-high 12 tackles to help lead Georgia Tech's staunch defensive effort against No. 4 Georgia (Nov. 28) … Closed the campaign with six tackles and a pass breakup in Pop-Tarts Bowl versus No. 12 BYU (Dec. 27) … Totaled 28 tackles in three games against nationally ranked opponents (No. 12 Clemson, No. 4 Georgia and No. 12 BYU). Saw action in nine games in his first season as a Yellow Jacket … Made first two career starts against Virginia Tech (Oct. 29) and in the Birmingham Bowl vs. Vanderbilt (Dec. 27) … Finished the season with 22 tackles, including a tackle for loss … Returned the first interception of his career 21 yards for a key touchdown in 30-29 win over NC State (Nov. 21) … Had solo tackles in wins over No. 10 Florida State (Aug. 24) and Georgia State (Aug. 31) … Missed the next four games due to injury … Returned to make a tackle at North Carolina (Oct. 12) … Had three stops, including a half-tackle for loss, against No. 12-ranked and eventual national finalist Notre Dame (Oct. 19) … Made two tackles at VT … Played a big role in win over previously unbeaten and No. 4-ranked Miami (Nov. 9) with a season-high six tackles … Had a tackle to go along with the INT return for a TD against NC State … Had two tackles in his return game at No. 6 Georgia (Nov. 29) … Made five stops, including a half-TFL, in Birmingham Bowl start vs. Vanderbilt … Named to All-ACC Academic Team in recognition of his performances on the field and in the classroom. Attended Georgia from 2022-23 … Did not see game action in 2023 due to injury … Saw action as a reserve linebacker in four games in 2022, redshirting … Made his collegiate debut in win over Samford and was credited with one solo tackle … Also played in wins over Auburn, Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech … Had two stops vs. Vanderbilt. Rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN … Ranked as the No. 21 inside linebacker nationally by ESPN … Ranked as the No. 52 player in the talent-rich state of Georgia by ESPN … Named Georgia 2A Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-state as a senior in 2021 … Also a first-team MaxPreps Small Town all-American in 2021 … Helped lead Fitzgerald H.S. to the GHSA Class 2A championship with 13-2 record as a senior … Coached by Tucker Pruitt.