Do we think we have built up the support around Dongo needed to be a better team next year?
KQ- It is harder to say because I think some of the pieces like the freshmen are unknowns right now, but they have a better outside shooter in Kam Craft, you get Reeves back, who can shoot and dribble drive from the corner that was sorely missing. They added Lamar Washington who basically replaces Nait George with slightly better overall shooting and better rebounding and defense. Davi Remagen and Eric Chatfield are coming in as rookies to aim to replace Javian McCollum and Lance Terry along with Akai Fleming as well. I think the center spot is better with Mohaumed Sylla over Souare and they you have an interesting wild card in Peyton Marshall who has a shit ton of potential. The key thing here is the potential of the lineups. Brandon Stories is a big-scoring forward who is a little undersized. I think they may be more talented overall.
Why isn't Brent interested in recruiting/obtaining a 230 lb. two-way athletic/physical RB/LB for short yardage offense and defense - much in the mold of Paul Johnson's RBs?
KQ- They have one they signed named Shane Marshall, who is 5'10" 200 pounds and still growing and another in Trelain Maddox is 6-1 210-215 now and still growing. They are pretty much there. That Heze Kent kid that key wants in the 2026 class could also be a fullback/wildcat QB. He does that now and GT is selling him on using him that way in addition to TE.
We get King, Jamal Haynes, and Rutherford back. What is the ceiling for this offense in 2025?
KQ- They have the potential to be a top 15 offense in the country and among the best in running and fairly up there in passing as well. I have a few different questions that I'll want to see answered in the fall like how Haynes King's shoulder holds up and if/how they plan to use Aaron Philo. How all of that works together could make it pretty dynamic.
How has the new strength and conditioning program impacted player development?
KQ- They look much more physically impressive and you can see the gains and the lack of injuries as a good marker of what AJ Artis and his staff are doing there in the offseason. Key has a very demanding bar for the S&C program and it shows in how the guys train and build up their bodies.
Are there any position groups the staff is still trying to bolster via the portal?
KQ- They would still take a snapper and a DL if someone they like becomes available. There are some guys who haven't committed anywhere who I believe are trying to fix some academic issues at their current school that could come on to the market in the next week or two or this summer as they fix their grades.
How many football transfer portal additions do you think we may get before the start of the season?
KQ- Not much, only have one or two spots at most. Remember the 105 cap is in play and they've budgeted spots based on that.
How is Key’s reputation in the college coaching ranks?
KQ- I think guys respect what they are doing and how he has built up his program. He is still a very young head coach and building out his legacy.
How many HS football commits do we expect between now and end of June?
KQ- Not sure, I would guess they will be in the high teens by the end of June though.
Who are the top 2026 recruits Tech is seriously in play for?
KQ- Read the WAR ROOM, but just the first two posts, not the CPJ vs Chan suckers debate.
How does the staff handle NIL conversations during the recruiting process?
KQ- From what the kids have told me and what I know from Key they are very upfront about how they handle it, what it looks like and what is realistic. Circumstances play a big part of it too so Christian Garrett is getting a bigger NIL deal than say Carrington Coombs or Blake Belin.
Which local high schools are becoming key pipelines for Tech?
KQ- Key doesn't want to do the pipeline thing, that is something that is really messing up some programs like Clemson. They over use that and fall off their evals. It is more about key areas like getting Mathis helped unlock the Southeast coast of Georgia.
What’s one underrated or under-the-radar move the staff made this offseason?
KQ- Overhauling the recruiting office has been a pretty significant shakeup but isn't seen by most people. Key really likes the way it is set up now.
How has Brent Key’s culture been received by current and incoming players?
KQ- I think most people dig it and understand and like how cut and dry everything is. You generally know exactly where you stand and what is expected with few exceptions. That is a far cry from the previous regime.
If you had to name one “X-factor” on the football roster this year, who would it be and why?
KQ- Brayden Manley, I think everyone sees Mercer and has lowered expectations, but he could have a Keion White level impact as a pass rusher at the spot that has been the real Achilles Heel of the defense since Jeremiah Attaochu.
How was Key able to retain so many important players?
KQ- He got ahead of things and made sure the NIL and their expectations and roles were defined well before the portal opened.
What are realistic expectations for Damon Stoudamire in year three?
KQ- They've got to be on the bubble at least. Anything short of that really puts Stoudamire in jeopardy IMO.
Is the basketball team done with the portal?
KQ- No they added Duncan Powell late as hell last year and Nait George, Ibrahima Sacko and Ibrahim Souare in the summer in year one. They have 13 spots filled as of today (two walk-ons) for a roster of 17 possible spots.
What’s the long-term plan for improving fan engagement and game day atmosphere at Bobby Dodd and McCamish? I assume winning?
KQ- Winning cures all. Hoops needs to win again and be consistent. I think football is getting there.
We’ve focused a lot on what the players do to get ready and get better. What does a guy like Buster Faulkner do to take his game to the next level? IMO we need to make the leap to a top 20 offense and that means not taking our foot off the gas and developing a killer instinct. A lot of thats on the players but it’s on CBF too.
KQ- I'm curious about this as well. His biggest struggle has been adapting in-game at times when the defense reacts to his game plan or they are struggling to execute the plan. That is the big thing that makes for a great OC or DC think CPJ in-game or a Bud Foster at VT on the D side of things or Saban/Kirby as a DC/HC combo at Bama or Lanning at Oregon running his D with his DCs. Those tweaks are the difference between putting someone away and having the NC State game or the UNC game or the down side of those where GT didn't come out on top.
Can you put it into Alex's contract that he is not allowed to attend any more GT sports events in person until the demons have been exercised? Seriously, this jinx thing is starting to look real.
KQ- I'm thinking about it. Maybe I should go to the baseball regional, even though I do not want to.
