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Georgia Tech will open its 2025 college football season in Boulder against Colorado. The Yellow Jackets will not be intimidated by the opposing environment.
Safety Clayton Powell-Lee spoke on his team’s outlook ahead of Week 1. He refuses to back down!
Georgia Tech is a program with big expectations entering the year. The Yellow Jackets won seven games for a second straight season and believe they are a legitimate ACC title contender.
Starting signal caller Haynes King is a big reason why. His return makes the offense dangerous as he led the league in completion percentage last year.
King is one of nine starters coming back to Atlanta. Powell-Lee is another. Like King, the defensive back brings a veteran presence to his unit.
He’s played in 38 games across three seasons. He’s seen numerous hostile environments in that time. Colorado doesn’t scare him. It’s just another game.
Clayton Powell-Lee took a swipe at Colorado’s culture.
The Buffs have been under a spotlight since Deion Sanders’ arrival in Boulder. With his presence comes national attention.
That light has dimmed following the departures of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, but there will still be eyes on the program in Year 3 of the coach’s tenure.
Coach Prime’s fame has sparked interest in the program from celebrities. Former football stars and high-profile entertainers can be spotted on the sidelines at both practices and games.
The coaching staff is filled with notable names like Warren Sapp and Marshall Faulk. Stardom surrounds the football team.
That’s often a positive on the recruiting trail. Players can be around folks that have been there and done that.
It can create negative headlines, however, from outsiders who believe the program is built on “clicks,” not competition. Add Clayton Powell-Lee to the list.
“I know they bring out celebrities, they do all this crazy stuff, but we’re playing football. Ain’t none of them playing. They could hype people all they want to but you’re on the field not them”
Bet. pic.twitter.com/uEYK4eY1Zk
— GUCCE🦬🐦⬛ (@gucceCU) August 25, 2025
Georgia Tech football will not be intimidated, but it could be impacted.
Powell-Lee isn’t worried about noise levels or celebrity presence. His focus is on the game itself. Those outside factors won’t impact his performance.
Interestingly enough, his response came to a question about the elevation, which could have a legitimate effect on the outcome.
Georgia Tech plays at an elevation of 1,050 feet. Boulder sits 5,430 feet above sea level.
The air pressure will be reduced. Fatigue could set in. While the Yellow Jackets will do everything in their power to acclimate, it’s a legitimate concern.
As for Colorado, they now have a bit of bulletin board material for Game 1. They’ve thrived off of making games “personal” in the past.
They’ll use Powell-Lee’s trash talk as motivation in the opener. We’ll see if they can make the safety eat his words.