Young Players, Transfers Making Big First Impression For Georgia Tech This Spring

Jackson Caudell | Mar 31, 2024

Oct 21, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key looks on from / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia Tech is halfway through spring practice and the Yellow Jackets held their first scrimmage of the spring yesterday morning. It was a long scrimmage (155 plays) and plenty of guys got to rotate in and show their ability. This spring is the first one for several Georgia Tech freshmen and incoming transfers and the spring is an opportunity for them to try and get early playing time.

After the scrimmage yesterday, Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key spoke with the media and highlighted several young players and transfers that had a standout scrimmage:

"Yeah, I don't want to miss anybody, I'm trying to go through. Jameson Riggs played left tackle with the ones today for 100 and whatever plays.  I thought he did against a pretty static defense for the most part. I'll have to watch the tape and see, but I thought he didn't show up as making those killer mistakes out there.  So I'll no more than I have a chance to watch it all. He was running with the ones, Anthony (Carrie). Evan's (Dickens) not a newcomer, but he was good to see him out there. Jackson Hawes-- I mean, he's a big old sucker across the middle now, especially down when you get down in the red area. That's a big old target, and they can fall forward for you. Tana,  working with the twos at center, have been impressed with him so far. I think Harrison Moore, I think all those young O-linemen have a chance to be really good. I think Harrison Moore working with the twos.  So I'm glad to see Leo (Blackburn)  back out there. I know he's not a freshman, but he is a newcomer right now. So it's good to see Leo out there. I mean, he's not just making plays,  but he's trying to play physical and imposes will in all that he's doing. So it's good to see him up. 

 Warren Burrell and Syeed Gibbs on the defensive side. Jackson (Hamilton)  has flashed throughout the weeks.  Didn't notice him as much today. That's not because I wasn't just one watching him in particular. All in all, we've got to get off blocks better on the defensive side. We've got to be able to strike and use our hands. Didn't notice him as much today. That's not because I was just one watching him in particular. All in all, we've got to get off blocks better on the defensive side. We've got to be able to strike and use our hands. 

I think the guys have been rolling with that group you know Jackson, Kyle,  Tren, and Tah'j, I mean all four of those guys have a chance to really help us and play a lot of really good football for us but a lot of reps in front in front of them between now and you know now in August so I need everyone up we can get whom I'm missing,  some of the new guys out there. Jordan Boyd, Jordan flashes, they can run. He's athletic. 

He's going to be a really, really good football player every day's a new day for those guys right now, though. So it's good to see him in a little more of a simulated scrimmage out there where it's not the full playbook, and really see who can go play. Because the next one will be a bit different when it comes in regards to that."

Key also praised the two freshman quarterbacks for how they have done this spring.

Georgia Tech is a veteran team and they don't need to rely on freshman players this year, but that does not mean that someone can't break through and find playing time. Building depth is one of the most important things for a program in case of an injury and that can be on thing that spring practice can show you.

The young freshmen on the offensive line are not likely to play this year barring an injury, but the quicker they come along and improve, the better the transition will be when Georgia Tech loses starters up front. Georgia Tech has a stud running back with Jamal Haynes, but they are in need of finding someone to step into the role Dontae Smith had last year. It was good to hear Anthony Carrie, Evan Dickens, and Chad Alexander have good days yesterday.

The most encouraging thing to hear might be about the defensive players that stood out. Warren Burrell and Syeed Gibbs are going to be competing for a starting spot in the secondary and it should be a good sign that they seem to be excelling early. Jordan Boyd and Tah'j Butler were two of the most underrated signees in Georgia Tech's 2024 class and they can compete for playing time this year.

It is just two weeks into spring practice and there is a long way to go for this team to identify new impact players for the upcoming season. At the very least though, things seem to be off to a good start for Brent Key's program.