Georgia Tech football camp 2020 began week two on Wednesday as running backs coach Tashard Choice and top backs Jordan Mason and Jamious Griffin spoke with the media via Zoom after practice. All three sang the praises of what is a major strength for the Jackets, the depth at that running back position. They also spoke about the growing legend around freshman Jahmyr Gibbs and what the freshman adds to an already talent mix of players.
Mason said he feels the best he has since his freshman year physically after taking the spring off to rehab his shoulder.
Mason said despite not being in full pads they are getting a ton of reps which he is enjoying.
Mason said the Gibbs is a "freak of nature"
Mason said that Bruce Jordan-Swilling is still learning how to play RB at this level, but is working hard.
Mason said he is ready to play whenever and wherever it may be, now, later in the fall, in the spring, he just wants a football season. He also said he stays off social media intentionally.
Griffin said he is 215-pounds right now. He has continued to work on his pad level and speed to finish runs stronger, said that is something he struggled with as a true freshman and wanted to improve upon.
Griffin, Mason and Choice call their room the RBI (I'm guessing that is the Running Back Institute).
Griffin said the offense looks way better and that if people saw it now compared to last year they would be very surprised how different things look in a good way.
Griffin said if they stay healthy the RB position will be unstoppable this fall.
Choice called Jahmyr Gibbs "an animal" "First, Jahmyr is a is a is the animal. The kid is unbelievable. You know what I mean so for him. It's not if, there is no point of just trying to get ready, he's gonna play. The kid is. He's unbelievable. He works his tail off very humble, not you don't say too many words but he competes on the football field for. So as far as getting them in the game, or getting them into rotation. His work and what he's done is gonna do that by itself."
Choice said that Mason, Devin Ellison and Dontae Smith all came into camp in amazing shape. Smith is still in the 190s.
Choice is very high on Ellison (a guy I was very high on in camp last year before he got hurt) and said he will play a lot of football at Georgia Tech. He may be mostly special teams right now, but he has a role at RB in the future.
Choice said he sets a very high standard for his guys and that the little things make the big things work and he preaches that to his room.
Choice said he tells his guys every day is their opportunity to get better and with what is going on in CFB right now they need to make sure they make the most of this. He said that he has had frank talks with his guys and if they have any concerns about playing during COVID or whatever he is there to talk to them and support them regardless of what they want to do.
Choice said spring football would be a nightmare for teams because of rosters and the NFL and everything, but they will adapt if that became something the league wanted to do. He said he thinks it would be tough on players especially with the quick turnaround for the fall.
I asked him about recruiting and he said the one plus to this is the staff have had more time to get to know kids on a personal level and build those relationships via the phone and social media. He said kids are sending them workout tape now and little things so that has helped with evaluations some. He said it is tough because you have to trust what they send you is legit, but they are making the most of it.
Also Tony Amerson is playing fullback now per my sources. A wrinkle to help get him on the field somewhere.
Mason said he feels the best he has since his freshman year physically after taking the spring off to rehab his shoulder.
Mason said despite not being in full pads they are getting a ton of reps which he is enjoying.
Mason said the Gibbs is a "freak of nature"
Mason said that Bruce Jordan-Swilling is still learning how to play RB at this level, but is working hard.
Mason said he is ready to play whenever and wherever it may be, now, later in the fall, in the spring, he just wants a football season. He also said he stays off social media intentionally.
Griffin said he is 215-pounds right now. He has continued to work on his pad level and speed to finish runs stronger, said that is something he struggled with as a true freshman and wanted to improve upon.
Griffin, Mason and Choice call their room the RBI (I'm guessing that is the Running Back Institute).
Griffin said the offense looks way better and that if people saw it now compared to last year they would be very surprised how different things look in a good way.
Griffin said if they stay healthy the RB position will be unstoppable this fall.
Choice called Jahmyr Gibbs "an animal" "First, Jahmyr is a is a is the animal. The kid is unbelievable. You know what I mean so for him. It's not if, there is no point of just trying to get ready, he's gonna play. The kid is. He's unbelievable. He works his tail off very humble, not you don't say too many words but he competes on the football field for. So as far as getting them in the game, or getting them into rotation. His work and what he's done is gonna do that by itself."
Choice said that Mason, Devin Ellison and Dontae Smith all came into camp in amazing shape. Smith is still in the 190s.
Choice is very high on Ellison (a guy I was very high on in camp last year before he got hurt) and said he will play a lot of football at Georgia Tech. He may be mostly special teams right now, but he has a role at RB in the future.
Choice said he sets a very high standard for his guys and that the little things make the big things work and he preaches that to his room.
Choice said he tells his guys every day is their opportunity to get better and with what is going on in CFB right now they need to make sure they make the most of this. He said that he has had frank talks with his guys and if they have any concerns about playing during COVID or whatever he is there to talk to them and support them regardless of what they want to do.
Choice said spring football would be a nightmare for teams because of rosters and the NFL and everything, but they will adapt if that became something the league wanted to do. He said he thinks it would be tough on players especially with the quick turnaround for the fall.
I asked him about recruiting and he said the one plus to this is the staff have had more time to get to know kids on a personal level and build those relationships via the phone and social media. He said kids are sending them workout tape now and little things so that has helped with evaluations some. He said it is tough because you have to trust what they send you is legit, but they are making the most of it.
Also Tony Amerson is playing fullback now per my sources. A wrinkle to help get him on the field somewhere.
