Everything From Georgia Tech Defensive End Kevin Harris After Thursday's Practice

Jackson Caudell | Apr 4, 2024

Sep 5, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) runs against Georgia / Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia Tech is hoping to make a big turnaround on defense this season and there might not be a unit in need of a turnaround more than the run defense. Georgia Tech had one of the worst run defenses in the country last year, but they do return some leaders up front and one of those players is defensive end Kevin Harris, who had 27 tackles and one sack last season. Harris is going to be one of the key players on defense and he spoke with the media after practice on Thursday. Here is everything that he had to say.

1. On being the leader in the defensive end group...

"It's definitely a big step I'll have to take. I think I'm prepared for it. Shout out to the guys that are here before. before. And we got some new guys here. You know, we have some death right now. And I think we just got to keep working. You know, I just got to keep on leading the way. Keep leading the way I am."

2. On working with Coach Pope...

"I think he matches my personality really well. So like we're in the meeting rooms, you know, it's always great just hearing his input. And then he likes hearing my input too. Cause like, you know, I might see something or catch something that he might not see. But yeah, it's definitely a great relationship. Um, a little bit of history. I think Pope was, Pope was at Alabama when he was getting recruited. So I just remember seeing his face and I just remember seeing his face and I just remember seeing his face and I just remember seeing his face and I just remember seeing his face then like, you put me on the side, I was like, I remember you. And I was like, yeah, it was like a little spider memory, but like, yeah, it was definitely cool though. He's a great coach, got a lot of energy. It's the loudest one in our own. So like, yes, it's really good for our team."

3. On playing for Coach Santucci...

"like it. I mean, it's just defense, like it's just ball. - Oh, so I mean. mean, this is really nothing to it It's very aggressive. I think our guys gonna be very aggressive."

4. On his goals coming into the spring...

"I want to be a good leader. I want to be a good leader for my team Paved the way for the guys behind me, especially because I know I needed that when I was younger and yeah, just leading the way setting a great example And I really want to go win like as far as improvement like I want to win games I know whatever that takes, you know, just gaming."

5. On Coach Simpson and Coach Pope...

"Five -star coach right there, coach Simpson. Yeah, he's amazing coach. He's been in the league. Guys know his track record. He also recruited me out of high school as well. Had a great relationship with him. And everything he's teaching me is familiar. And I think the guys are gonna definitely have massive gains. Just being with him just like the last couple of three weeks like it's been amazing. Just seeing what he's been able to do with our D -line. line and just moving forward I think that's gonna be a good audition for our defense in our team"

6. On if there are any guys that fans should know about...

"I would say everybody like everybody's good like in my position we got Jordan Boyd, Jacob Cruz we got Ayo, we got Zeke, everyone's good, all the way down to the walk -ons, it's crazy, the improvement that we've seen in the last couple of days, just watching film, everyone's working hard right now. I'll definitely say that, but yeah."

7. On the freshman Jordan Boyd...

"Yeah, big time. That's that's nothing to me like all the things that I needed when I was younger like I try and get back like meet meet up with him after after school all kinds of things um yeah, just making sure we're in our books, you know the right things on and off the field. Yeah, just hopefully we get to see him blossom into a great player this season."