ATLANTA- Georgia Tech began the final week of spring football practice on Tuesday with a morning session in cool weather. Following practice, it was receivers' day with receivers coach Trent McKnight, quality control coach DeAndre Smelter and receivers Bailey Stockton and Zion Taylor all taking turns speaking with the media.
McKnight’s room has changed a lot from last season, thanks to graduations and the transfer portal. The Jackets added former FIU standouts Eric Rivers and Dean Patterson via the portal while also returning several key contributors from 2024, including leading receiver Malik Rutherford and rotation players Stockton, Isiah Canion, and Zion Taylor, who jumped into the mix late in the year.
In the spring, the receivers group stood out as one of the most impressive units for the Jackets. McKnight said he feels good about where his group is going into the spring game on Saturday.
“I feel good about the depth right now,” McKnight said. “I think right now we’ve got a good two-deep that’ll compete and we’ll be able to get some rotations in there. Part of that is some of the guys that have been here developing and some of the plans we had for them and then part of it will be the newcomers we’ve brought in.”
McKnight said they will miss the Chase Lane, Eric Singleton, Abdul Janneh crew form last year because they knew the offense so well, but the guys here now are very hungry.
I asked him about adding Rivers and Patterson to the room and their comfort level playing together helping them adjust and he said they recruited them independently not thinking they would get both of them, but it has helped that they have some chemistry together. They are very different players and approach things differently and both handle it like a pro. They’ve come in and worked like pros and are very mature guys and know what it takes to be good at the position. They are both hungry to prove themselves at this level as well which he likes.
On Isiah Canion, McKnight said that he gives them size and speed combo that you don’t see a lot and he plays fast especially for a bigger guy. He runs routes and can sink his weight and get out of breaks unlike most bigger WRs. He was mature last year when he got to GT but was limited coming off his injury in the spring so he got mental reps but not the physical ones but was able to still crack the rotation. He can stretch the field vertically and be a physical presence in the run block stuff that they want to do on the perimeter. He can run every route in the route tree as well. He was helped by watching the older guys like Malik Rutherford, Chase Lane and Janneh.
On Zion Taylor, McKnight said he is determined and he said if you looked at the depth chart from day one of spring last year to today it is totally different. He said Zion got better throughout last year with the developmental work he did and having the right mindset and then he got 15 reps in the bowl game in meaningful action. They are very excited about what Zion can do and he will continue to compete and hopefully carry that into fall camp because they want more competition.
McKnight was asked who the two biggest home run threats are in the room and he said that Bailey Stockton would be, he is just consistently open and can stretch the field vertically and then Eric Rivers with just his speed and explosiveness. He said that Zion is another guy who consistently makes plays down the field. He feels good that they have some guys now who can make plays on 50/50 balls.
I asked about Chris Elko and McKnight said that he puts together teach tapes with Buster Faulkner to see what show up in practice, what shows up in games and what shows up in the NFL and Elko is all over those tapes. You can watch any drill today at practice and Elko is working hard and doing it the right way. When he left practice today he as talking to a recruit and Elko was hanging back to get extra work in, those unseen hours he puts in watching film or getting extra balls are what makes him special and Elko is trying to find ways to help the team.
DeAndre Smelter had his first media avail since Pro Day when he was a player here. He is the QC-Wide Receivers Coach
Smelter said that he got into coaching because he wanted to help players and he started off back home in Macon at his HS before he got the opportunity at GT and he wanted to see what level he could take his coaching to.
I asked about his relationship with McKnight and he said that it is great and he has learned a lot from him especially with his background as an OC at Georgia State, he has coached a lot of ball and is very detail oriented and he likes how he interacts with the kids.
Smelter said in practice they typically divide the group into two and he works on side and McKnight coaches the other and they take turns. He also handles any extra work guys want to do to free up McKnight.
I joked with him about how diehard he was against playing FB coming out of HS and was all about baseball so it is funny he is coaching now, he said that baseball had always been his first love and football was on the backburner but things workout how they are supposed to and now it is full circle and he feels like he is in a good position now.
On teaching guys to deflect balls that DBs are trying to intercept he said that is more of a mindset thing than a teaching thing, he said he teaches his guys to always be the aggressor and he is trying to instill that mindset.
Zion Taylor was next and Rod asked him why he stuck it out when many guys in his spot hit the portal, he said that he is a big competitor and he always wants to compete and he enjoys the process of getting better and growing and that was more important to him than just PT.
Taylor said his big thing has been getting the details down and not just using his athleticism to beat guys, but learning how to be a complete full WR with the route running and being intentional in what he does.
I asked him how much it helped from a mental standpoint to get those reps at the end of last year in real game time and he said that it was a good feeling to be out there with the guys and be a part of the game in an impactful way for the first time. He just wants to help them win.
I asked who has mentored him here and he said that Chase Lane, Janneh and Malik were the ones who helped him.
Chase Lane was there and asked him about the WR Room and Taylor said he thinks they have a great locker room and great relationships in the WR room and it is a real brotherhood and they are all very close.
Taylor has learned outside and inside receiver and he said his goal is to be as versatile as possible.
Bailey Stockton was last and I asked him about the comeback R-Fr. Year last year after his freshman year got washed out with the hand injury and he said that he feels like he can compete with anyone and they played some great teams last year and he showed up and made plays and that is a credit to all the work the team puts in each and every day not just his work.
On his ability as a vertical threat, Stockton said he has a knack for finding space, he isn’t the fastest guy, but he knows the coverages, the zones and how to attack leverage and that is the biggest part of his WR game.
On returning punts, he said he was nervous at first last year and it is weird being 45 yards deep for four or five seconds waiting on the ball. It isn’t easy but it comes with reps and he feels great doing it now no matter how deep the punt is.
On if 2025 will be a breakout season for him, he said he is confident as a player and as a person and he is confident in the staff and Coach McKnight and Coach Dre (Smelter) and he has been great for them and is an under the radar guy,
I asked if this is the deepest WR room in his time here and he said for sure it is but the big thing is they all cheer each other one too.
On having Haynes and Philo throwing passes, he said it is great and they have the best QB room in the country and he said that Graham Knowles throws a great ball and doesn’t get enough credit and even Ben Guthrie the walk-on QB is good.
Someone asked him about being asked about being related to Gunnar Stockton and he said he gets that a good bit.
On Elko getting put on scholarship, Stockton said that they are roommates and best friends who came in together and he is very proud of him. He worked his butt off to get that ship.
He said he expects Saturday to be a lot of fun for the fans and the players.
McKnight’s room has changed a lot from last season, thanks to graduations and the transfer portal. The Jackets added former FIU standouts Eric Rivers and Dean Patterson via the portal while also returning several key contributors from 2024, including leading receiver Malik Rutherford and rotation players Stockton, Isiah Canion, and Zion Taylor, who jumped into the mix late in the year.
In the spring, the receivers group stood out as one of the most impressive units for the Jackets. McKnight said he feels good about where his group is going into the spring game on Saturday.
“I feel good about the depth right now,” McKnight said. “I think right now we’ve got a good two-deep that’ll compete and we’ll be able to get some rotations in there. Part of that is some of the guys that have been here developing and some of the plans we had for them and then part of it will be the newcomers we’ve brought in.”
McKnight said they will miss the Chase Lane, Eric Singleton, Abdul Janneh crew form last year because they knew the offense so well, but the guys here now are very hungry.
I asked him about adding Rivers and Patterson to the room and their comfort level playing together helping them adjust and he said they recruited them independently not thinking they would get both of them, but it has helped that they have some chemistry together. They are very different players and approach things differently and both handle it like a pro. They’ve come in and worked like pros and are very mature guys and know what it takes to be good at the position. They are both hungry to prove themselves at this level as well which he likes.
On Isiah Canion, McKnight said that he gives them size and speed combo that you don’t see a lot and he plays fast especially for a bigger guy. He runs routes and can sink his weight and get out of breaks unlike most bigger WRs. He was mature last year when he got to GT but was limited coming off his injury in the spring so he got mental reps but not the physical ones but was able to still crack the rotation. He can stretch the field vertically and be a physical presence in the run block stuff that they want to do on the perimeter. He can run every route in the route tree as well. He was helped by watching the older guys like Malik Rutherford, Chase Lane and Janneh.
On Zion Taylor, McKnight said he is determined and he said if you looked at the depth chart from day one of spring last year to today it is totally different. He said Zion got better throughout last year with the developmental work he did and having the right mindset and then he got 15 reps in the bowl game in meaningful action. They are very excited about what Zion can do and he will continue to compete and hopefully carry that into fall camp because they want more competition.
McKnight was asked who the two biggest home run threats are in the room and he said that Bailey Stockton would be, he is just consistently open and can stretch the field vertically and then Eric Rivers with just his speed and explosiveness. He said that Zion is another guy who consistently makes plays down the field. He feels good that they have some guys now who can make plays on 50/50 balls.
I asked about Chris Elko and McKnight said that he puts together teach tapes with Buster Faulkner to see what show up in practice, what shows up in games and what shows up in the NFL and Elko is all over those tapes. You can watch any drill today at practice and Elko is working hard and doing it the right way. When he left practice today he as talking to a recruit and Elko was hanging back to get extra work in, those unseen hours he puts in watching film or getting extra balls are what makes him special and Elko is trying to find ways to help the team.
DeAndre Smelter had his first media avail since Pro Day when he was a player here. He is the QC-Wide Receivers Coach
Smelter said that he got into coaching because he wanted to help players and he started off back home in Macon at his HS before he got the opportunity at GT and he wanted to see what level he could take his coaching to.
I asked about his relationship with McKnight and he said that it is great and he has learned a lot from him especially with his background as an OC at Georgia State, he has coached a lot of ball and is very detail oriented and he likes how he interacts with the kids.
Smelter said in practice they typically divide the group into two and he works on side and McKnight coaches the other and they take turns. He also handles any extra work guys want to do to free up McKnight.
I joked with him about how diehard he was against playing FB coming out of HS and was all about baseball so it is funny he is coaching now, he said that baseball had always been his first love and football was on the backburner but things workout how they are supposed to and now it is full circle and he feels like he is in a good position now.
On teaching guys to deflect balls that DBs are trying to intercept he said that is more of a mindset thing than a teaching thing, he said he teaches his guys to always be the aggressor and he is trying to instill that mindset.
Zion Taylor was next and Rod asked him why he stuck it out when many guys in his spot hit the portal, he said that he is a big competitor and he always wants to compete and he enjoys the process of getting better and growing and that was more important to him than just PT.
Taylor said his big thing has been getting the details down and not just using his athleticism to beat guys, but learning how to be a complete full WR with the route running and being intentional in what he does.
I asked him how much it helped from a mental standpoint to get those reps at the end of last year in real game time and he said that it was a good feeling to be out there with the guys and be a part of the game in an impactful way for the first time. He just wants to help them win.
I asked who has mentored him here and he said that Chase Lane, Janneh and Malik were the ones who helped him.
Chase Lane was there and asked him about the WR Room and Taylor said he thinks they have a great locker room and great relationships in the WR room and it is a real brotherhood and they are all very close.
Taylor has learned outside and inside receiver and he said his goal is to be as versatile as possible.
Bailey Stockton was last and I asked him about the comeback R-Fr. Year last year after his freshman year got washed out with the hand injury and he said that he feels like he can compete with anyone and they played some great teams last year and he showed up and made plays and that is a credit to all the work the team puts in each and every day not just his work.
On his ability as a vertical threat, Stockton said he has a knack for finding space, he isn’t the fastest guy, but he knows the coverages, the zones and how to attack leverage and that is the biggest part of his WR game.
On returning punts, he said he was nervous at first last year and it is weird being 45 yards deep for four or five seconds waiting on the ball. It isn’t easy but it comes with reps and he feels great doing it now no matter how deep the punt is.
On if 2025 will be a breakout season for him, he said he is confident as a player and as a person and he is confident in the staff and Coach McKnight and Coach Dre (Smelter) and he has been great for them and is an under the radar guy,
I asked if this is the deepest WR room in his time here and he said for sure it is but the big thing is they all cheer each other one too.
On having Haynes and Philo throwing passes, he said it is great and they have the best QB room in the country and he said that Graham Knowles throws a great ball and doesn’t get enough credit and even Ben Guthrie the walk-on QB is good.
Someone asked him about being asked about being related to Gunnar Stockton and he said he gets that a good bit.
On Elko getting put on scholarship, Stockton said that they are roommates and best friends who came in together and he is very proud of him. He worked his butt off to get that ship.
He said he expects Saturday to be a lot of fun for the fans and the players.
