LaMiles Brooks on DC Andrew Thacker: "I don't think he gets enough love"

Brooks praised his defensive coordinator at ACC Media Days

Tuesday marked the start of the 2023 ACC Media Days and Georgia Tech was one of the first four teams taking the stage today. 

Yellow Jackets safety LaMiles Brooks was one of the players selected to attend this year and one of the most interesting questions he received was concerning his transition with the coaches on the defensive side of the ball, as well as having coaches like defensive backs coach Travares Tillman and defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker retained from the previous coaching staff. 

Brooks took the opportunity to give both coaches praise, particularly Thacker:

"It's been great. Myself as well as all my teammates have maximum trust in both of them. For Coach Tillman it was nice having him last year. He has been in our shoes, Georgia Tech grad, played in the NFL. He has played where all of us want to play. So just taking small gems from him, the different techniques he teaches us and allows us to go out there and perform has been amazing. And for Coach Thacker, I don't think he gets enough love. I think he is a very underrated defensive coordinator in college football. He rarely calls bad games, if any at all, to be honest."

Safety LaMiles Brooks had a lot of praise for his defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker today :: Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Brooks is going to be the leader of the defense this season with veterans such as Keion White, Ace Eley, and Charlie Thomas off to the NFL. 

He finished as the highest-graded player on Georgia Tech last according to PFF (Pro Football Focus) and his coverage grade of 86.8 was good for 21st in the country and fourth in the ACC. He finished as the 23rd highest-graded safety in the country according to PFF last season.

Brooks finished the season with 52 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions. His best performance came in a loss to Virginia when he finished with nine tackles and a pick-six. Brooks was the best player on the field that night and I expect more performances like that from Brooks in the future.

He possesses the size to be a first-round pick as well at 6'2 192 LBS and is a physical tackler. 

The defense for Georgia Tech saw improvement over the last part of the season after former head coach Geoff Collins was fired. Thacker was one of the only holdovers from the previous staff and he will have plenty of experience on the roster back in 2023. Georgia Tech is likely to take a leap on defense and I think both Thacker and Brooks are big reasons for that. 

Georgia Tech vs Louisville will kickoff on Sept. 1st at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. 

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