Graves returned to the college ranks as a defensive assistant at Georgia Tech under head coach Bobby Dodd. Under Dodd, Graves and offensive coach Frank Broyles, the Yellow Jackets won Southeastern Conference championships in 1951 and 1952, the 1951 Orange Bowl, the 1952 Sugar Bowl and the 1952 national championship. Graves is widely credited with creating what was then known as the "monster defense"—the modern alignment of the free safety and strong safety in the defensive backfield—while coaching under Dodd. In turn, Graves credited Dodd with serving as his role model of a "player's coach" who built relationships with players and coaches to get the most out of his team.