JOL Mailbag 12/18 Sponsored by Auto-Owners Insurance
- The Buzz - Members Only
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Any idea when our 2024 football schedule will be released? dates and all
KQ- Typically sometime in January.
Any updates or timeline on adidas decision… either staying with adidas or switching to a new brand?
Maybe he can get a better deal with adidas and resign?
KQ- On the list of things I care about this is very low. The way these deals are going to work in the future is changing dramatically right now because of NIL. The companies can make individual deals with players they are interested in and the major cash will only go to a couple of national brands and everyone will be getting much smaller deals and I expect GT will be among those getting a smaller deal. I know there is interest in Nike/Jumpman and others on the GT side to gauge interest.
With Kennard having transferred out, who do we look to slow down UCF’s run game?
KQ- Kevin Harris who did just as good of a job against the run as Kennard did hence why Harris started over him for four out of the final six games. They have Noah Collins as well. It depends on how UCF runs the ball who exactly is involved the most in the run game. They may favor attacking the field or the weakside or up the middle so there is no telling, but Kennard's absence isn't going to change their game plan or GT's.
With the portal & draft exits are the opponents in the Orange Bowl going to have enough players to play the game? Is it going to look more like a JV game? Is this one of the by products of NIL & the portal? What are your thoughts for the future of the bowls (those not in the playoff mix) going forward?
KQ- I said from the jump I'd take UGA"s twos and threes over FSU's backups and it is likely to be a mix and match of that. UGA I think is in better shape there. I don't think this will be as big of an issue as we move to the 12-team playoff format unless you are a team like USC that shit the bed.
Is it likely that CJ Heard will stay in Atlanta since he decommitted from fsu the day after coming to GT for his OV? Saw his name on the GHSA champ game players to watch thread
KQ- He is a tweener kid and that has his stuck in a weird position with a lot of teams looking at him. He would be smart to try to sign somewhere this week IMO. I'm not sure where GT stands, Russell can give an update on that later I'm sure.
How’s does Key and Staff fill about the WR position? No portal commits as of now.
KQ- Well they have everyone back now for next year that played this year and there is an entire portal window that opens post-spring and guys they can add at any time that are already in the portal. They have Canion coming in along with Horne who everyone is sleeping on. They have Zion Taylor and Bailey Stockton who both redshirted this year as well. I think they are okay at WR, but it is a nice to add situation and oh yeah they get Leo Blackburn back too.
How has bowl practice been going with so many of the coaches out on the road?
KQ- I've heard it is going well. The staff are often there for a bit of practice and then dip out and some of the staff are not around, but they will have a full week of practices under their belt with the full staff before they play UCF on Friday.
I’m hearing from some of my friends who are former players that CBK is getting former players excited about the future. Have you been hearing the same?
KQ- You can see it on here, there are several former players who like the direction things are going and yeah Key does a nice job of connecting with lettermen and keeping them engaged. He understands what the gig is and how those people can help and support GT.
Kelly, do you know the teams travel plans yet ahead of the game (how many practices/walk throughs in Tampa?). Separate but related question, over/under that UCF dawns fatigues at an official bowl function ala 1987 fiesta bowl style?
KQ- That Miami question is hilarious, I don't think Gus will do that, but he is not happy about his bowl draw and has been a shithead dealing with the bowl people and media so far. They will have three practices in Tampa, but I don't think they will get in the stadium until game day.
Kenyatta Watson, Sr. Question. The buzz generated by him being back on the road is palpable and clear that he has developed incredible HS relationships. did his previous role not allow this before the recent switch? Seems like we weren’t leveraging his strengths? I have been a little disappointed since he was added to the staff, I thought we’d hear about his influence more than we have.
KQ- I have a good relationship with KWat so you are putting me on the spot here. No he is normally not allowed on the road, only on the field coaches are allowed to go on the road unless you designate someone else ineligible to be on the road and tap someone to replace them. Typically that is only done for an older coach or someone with medical issues.
Like all people he has his sphere of influence and the kids have to make sense for GT and want to come here as well so there is a limit to what anyone can do with connections.
Why do players, on bowl teams, who get the majority of the snaps at their position enter the transfer portal prior to the next window?
KQ- If you go in now you cast a wider net as a starter or key role player compared to the spring when teams have tighter roster numbers and are generally looking for specific needs. You can enroll in school and go through spring ball now too.
Q's Take: Sponsored by Inteleca: Big decisions ahead for Key in the offseason
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Thanks to our new sponsor Inteleca for helping bring back Q's Take my weekly look at things around GT and college sports from my vantage.
Last year around this time, Brent Key was trying to put a bow on a hybrid recruiting class and getting ready to overhaul his staff particularly the offensive side of the ball. That ended with the hiring of Buster Faulkner after a very thorough interview process and then the staff was built around Faulkner and retained quarterbacks coach and co-OC Chris Weinke shortly thereafter. That was around this time last year as well.
Key overhauled his offense and it paid huge dividends with a massive jump in production in every category. Now he has to repeat that process on the other side of the ball.
Key relieved defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker of his playcalling duties midseason promoting linebacker coach and co-DC Kevin Sherrer into the play caller spot. Thacker moved back to work with Travares Tillman in the secondary again and then Key decided to move both of them off the field for the bowl game as both will aim to seek full-time opportunities elsewhere this offseason.
The same scenario from the offensive culling last December is ahead of the Jackets post-Christmas.
Per sources, Key has been working very hands-on with defensive recruiting and trying to wrap the class up before getting into the fine details of hiring his new defensive coordinator. Key has vetted some people, but he is taking his time with the process to hire the right person for the job.
Buster Faulkner wanted the Georgia Tech job a year ago and fought for it ultimately winning over Key and while he did not have the resume of some of the other candidates, Key trusted himself and made the hire and it paid off immediately.
Now he has to find a similar person to helm the defense. As I've said many times on JOL, Key would fire his mom if he thought it would help GT win more football games, so everything is on the table short of hiring people like his friend Jeremy Pruitt who is under show cause from the NCAA.
The good news is the offense is stacked and in a position to level up in year two under Faulkner so the bar isn't having a top 30 defense like they have a top 30ish offense right now, the bar is getting to average again on defense like the 60s in the NCAA.
If GT had an average defense this past season they'd have won nine games possibly.
I know there has been some consternation over the defensive recruiting on the site, as well as Key, adjusting some things and the collective allocating resources, but keep in mind there is a second signing window in Feb and a whole other portal window post-spring that will be full of options to help fill gaps.
The one thing I know about Key is he has a plan and a backup plan and a backup to the backup plan. That is how his mind works from running the gauntlet of a Georgia Tech education.
There will be a lot of moving parts as this unfolds, changes and personnel additions and subtractions, but this is the process of building something from the ground up and establishing a culture and that is what Key is trying to do and what I've seen other successful coaches do and it is not always going to look like a straight line up, but will move in various directions until you start to reach your goals. Key has lofty ones for the Jackets and hopefully, for Tech fans he has similar results to his OC hire last offseason.
Time will tell.
Last year around this time, Brent Key was trying to put a bow on a hybrid recruiting class and getting ready to overhaul his staff particularly the offensive side of the ball. That ended with the hiring of Buster Faulkner after a very thorough interview process and then the staff was built around Faulkner and retained quarterbacks coach and co-OC Chris Weinke shortly thereafter. That was around this time last year as well.
Key overhauled his offense and it paid huge dividends with a massive jump in production in every category. Now he has to repeat that process on the other side of the ball.
Key relieved defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker of his playcalling duties midseason promoting linebacker coach and co-DC Kevin Sherrer into the play caller spot. Thacker moved back to work with Travares Tillman in the secondary again and then Key decided to move both of them off the field for the bowl game as both will aim to seek full-time opportunities elsewhere this offseason.
The same scenario from the offensive culling last December is ahead of the Jackets post-Christmas.
Per sources, Key has been working very hands-on with defensive recruiting and trying to wrap the class up before getting into the fine details of hiring his new defensive coordinator. Key has vetted some people, but he is taking his time with the process to hire the right person for the job.
Buster Faulkner wanted the Georgia Tech job a year ago and fought for it ultimately winning over Key and while he did not have the resume of some of the other candidates, Key trusted himself and made the hire and it paid off immediately.
Now he has to find a similar person to helm the defense. As I've said many times on JOL, Key would fire his mom if he thought it would help GT win more football games, so everything is on the table short of hiring people like his friend Jeremy Pruitt who is under show cause from the NCAA.
The good news is the offense is stacked and in a position to level up in year two under Faulkner so the bar isn't having a top 30 defense like they have a top 30ish offense right now, the bar is getting to average again on defense like the 60s in the NCAA.
If GT had an average defense this past season they'd have won nine games possibly.
I know there has been some consternation over the defensive recruiting on the site, as well as Key, adjusting some things and the collective allocating resources, but keep in mind there is a second signing window in Feb and a whole other portal window post-spring that will be full of options to help fill gaps.
The one thing I know about Key is he has a plan and a backup plan and a backup to the backup plan. That is how his mind works from running the gauntlet of a Georgia Tech education.
There will be a lot of moving parts as this unfolds, changes and personnel additions and subtractions, but this is the process of building something from the ground up and establishing a culture and that is what Key is trying to do and what I've seen other successful coaches do and it is not always going to look like a straight line up, but will move in various directions until you start to reach your goals. Key has lofty ones for the Jackets and hopefully, for Tech fans he has similar results to his OC hire last offseason.
Time will tell.
***COMMIT*** Rhode Island DB Syeed Gibbs
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JacketsOnline - Tech lands coveted portal CB Syeed Gibbs from Rhode Island
Georgia Tech landed FCS All-Freshman corner Syeed Gibbs out of the transfer portal. Gibbs was in town last weekend for
georgiatech.rivals.com
HOOPS My story on the GT win over Penn State 82-81
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Story on the #GaTech win over Penn State in Madison Square Garden 82-81 on Saturday afternoon to start a long 4-game stretch on the road that will cover NYC to Hawaii for the Yellow Jackets through Christmas Eve.
georgiatech.rivals.com
JacketsOnline - Tech win wild overtime thriller over Penn State 82-81in MSG
NEW YORK- Georgia Tech used almost every second of regulation and overtime, but they pulled off an 82-81 win over PSU.
georgiatech.rivals.com