College Georgia Tech Name A. Suggs NFL draft 2004 / Undrafted Height 1.93 m | 1999–2001 Tennessee Weight 98 kg 2002–2003 Georgia Tech Positions Quarterback | |
Date of birth (1980-12-08) December 8, 1980 (age 35) Place of birth Powder Springs, Georgia Education Georgia Institute of Technology | ||
Aaron Joseph "A. J." Suggs (born December 8, 1980) was the starting quarterback for Georgia Tech in the 2002 season, and for the University of Tennessee during portions of the 2000 season. Suggs went to McEachern High School and graduated from Georgia Tech with a B.S. degree from the College of Management in 2004.
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High school
Suggs was a four-year starter at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia. Suggs earned many honors including All-State, All-Region, All-District and AP Player of the Year for the state of Georgia. After his senior season, he was named to the SuperPrep All-American team.
College
Suggs started his career at the University of Tennessee. He was given a redshirt season in 1999. In 2000, he started four games for the Volunteers and played in three others, completing 53.8 percent of his passes for 785 yards, with 5 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He was initially sharing playing time with sophomore Joey Mathews but both ultimately lost out to freshman Casey Clausen.
He transferred to Georgia Tech in 2001 and ushered in the new Chan Gailey regime, being the first skill position player to play for Gailey who was not recruited by previous coach George O'Leary. Due to eligibility transfer rules, he had to sit out the 2001 season. During that time, he apprenticed under former star quarterback George Godsey and eventual Delaware transfer Andy Hall.
In 2002, Suggs posted a 7-6 record as a starter, throwing 12 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 2,142 passing yards, and completed 57.3% of his passes. Suggs's last start was in 2002 against Fresno State University in the Silicon Valley Bowl. He was taken out of the game in favor of redshirt freshman Damarius Bilbo.
Suggs's most notable game was a victory on November 2, 2002 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Georgia Tech was 5-3 headed to face a 9-0 N.C. State squad led by All-American Philip Rivers. Suggs led the Jackets past N.C. State in a dramatic fourth quarter rally that ended Rivers' Heisman hopes and N.C. State's national title run. Suggs passed for 211 yards and a touchdown in the victory.
Suggs lost the starting job in 2003 to true freshman quarterback Reggie Ball. Ball started every game but two for the next four years. Suggs's main playing time as a senior in 2003 came in a loss to Georgia after Ball was injured and in a rout of the Tulsa in the Humanitarian Bowl.