ATLANTA- Georgia Tech continued preparing for NC State and the home finale with a practice in shells as the Jackets aim to finish the season undefeated in Bobby Dodd Stadium on Thursday night.
After practice a trio of seniors spoke to the media led by tight end Jackson Hawes who just accepted a Senior Bowl invite capping off a big one-year gamble on Georgia Tech following his transfer from Yale.
"I definitely took a game because I only had one year left, but I think the invite is really just a testament to the offense here," Hawes said. "I knew coming in that it would be a good opportunity for me to showcase my ability blocking wise and I think I've totally done that while I've been here and (the offense) has given me the ability to grow in some ways like playing out on the perimeter which was something I didn't do as much in the past so the invite is a testament to the offense here, I love it."
Getting the invite caps a great one year experiment for Hawes at Georgia Tech and he is still amazed that NFL teams are interested in him and he has the potential to play at the next level now after his one season on the Flats.
"I'm extremely grateful that the organization here took a chance on some nerdy guy up at Yale," he joked. "It has been an absolute blessing and for everything that comes my way I try to not get too high or get too low and just kind of stay even keel and go with the process. It is bittersweet that the season is coming to a close but there are exciting things in the future, but right now I'm just trying to stay focused on the next three weeks."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hawes said he had a lot of respect for the ACC coming into it and he thinks the biggest difference is just speed and technique and being more in tune with that. You won't see a lot guys mess up out there and just athleticism is different from the Ivy League.
Hawes said being on the team has been awesome for him and he said there is a lot of tough love but everyone loves each other and if someone is out of line, the coaches do a good job of holding guys accountable and the team sets the standard in the locker room. He said the culture bit is really promoted from the older players to the underclassmen and it has been cool for him to be a part of that and setting the example for the future of the team.
Hawes said that Buster Faulkner as an OC is very intentional about what the plan is each week and they meet every day as an offense and establish what they need to get better at and what is working and he delegates well to his assistants and lets the coaches handle their business with an umbrella structure to make sure everyone sticks together.
I asked him about Nathan Brock as a TE coach and he said that Brock's background as a former OL has really helped him with blocking. He felt good about his run blocking coming here but they also have some pass blocking and that is something he had never done and Brock has really helped him there with pass pro and the techniques for that and the hand placement and getting your feet and eyes in the right places
Hawes said that coming off the Miami win they aren't concerned about a let down emotionally because of Senior Night and wanting to send the guys out on a good note. He said that what is funny is Coach Key is more intense after a win in practice the following week and more engaged with the team and doesn't want them to be complacent.
Hawes said the Miami game was the first time since Louisville they had everyone in the TE room available who was going to play this season (Seither got hurt in fall camp) and then against Louisville he got hurt and Josh Beetham got hurt and then it got worse for a bit with injuries. He said that it is great having everyone back from the start of the season now and they are able to rotate guys more and everyone can play specific roles with their strengths and weaknesses.
Hawes said that NC State is a solid team that play well together and they like to play physically at the LOS and get in your face a lot more than others. They have a good defensive structure and are disciplined and are big so handling them will be a good challenge that he is excited for. Hawes said NC State has been in every game this year and their record doesn't really reflect how good they are.
We talked to LaMiles Brooks next and I asked him what will his emotions be like on Thursday night for SR Day and he said it will be very emotional and his whole family will be there and it is crazy to think this is it. He feels like he has been at GT forever and he kind of took for granted the opportunities you get to play here so it will be a big one for sure.
Brooks said he isn't trying to make this game any bigger than any other game.
Brooks said CJ Bailey the NC State QB has a lot of arm talent and he has some NFL type balls he throws and is a very good QB in the ACC so it will be an exciting matchup and hopefully they can make some plays on some balls.
Brooks said his first game Bobby Dodd game was UCF in 2020 and it was a white out and he enjoyed the environment at the time.
Brooks said he is proud to be a part of the rebuild of Georgia Tech football and he said the first two years he started to lose faith and then in the third season when Coach Key took over they went 5-7 and started to turn it around and when Coach Key officially got the job his faith was instilled and what coach Key instilled in the team is now coming to fruition.
I asked about the Sharks thing and now them starting to look like the safety room they were hoping to have and Brooks said that they have a strong brotherhood and everyone is unselfish in that room and they've gotten closer and closer and that has allowed them to play better and they have their own celebrations and they link up outside football and talk constantly and that love is what is allowing them to play better.
Brooks on Taye Seymore said that he flies around and that speed and how fast he can play is something special and he was really determined in the offseason to get into the rotation and get things to slow down for him and he was asking questions to Brooks and CP Lee and he is excited to see him play like that.
I asked Brooks why he never transferred out and he said that he made a promise to himself he would graduate from Georgia Tech and that he was going to stick it out and be a part of the turnaround here and he has completed both of his goals but that is why he stayed.
It was Jordan Williams' birthday and he got dunked by some teammates in the cold tub.
After that we spoke to him, Williams said that NC State is a little different defensively than most of the teams they've faced this year so they are focusing more on techniques this week and landmarks and making sure their hats are in the right spot with good hand placement.
I asked about Senior Night and he said it is going to feel insane and he feels like time just flew right by and he might get a little emotional.
Williams said he felt like the program turned a corner when Coach Key took over and they are making steps in the right direction now and it is starting to click and from the time Key officially got the job he laid a new foundation down and the first thing he really harped on was discipline and anyone who saw their first conditioning that offseason saw that discipline being instilled during that conditioning.
Williams said that Trey Cooley has really leaned on the team and they've leaned on him to help him through a rough season to make sure he kept his head on straight and the whole team was impressed with Cooley last week playing like that without being able to take all the reps in practice, he has a lot of respect from the team and his performance against Miami made it go up even more.
Williams said that the thing he will remember the most from the Miami game is the students rushing the field and running out of the tunnel before the game compared to when they were struggling in the early years and he has always been thankful to the fans and their support over the years and he is happy they are finally giving them something to be happy about on the field.
After practice a trio of seniors spoke to the media led by tight end Jackson Hawes who just accepted a Senior Bowl invite capping off a big one-year gamble on Georgia Tech following his transfer from Yale.
"I definitely took a game because I only had one year left, but I think the invite is really just a testament to the offense here," Hawes said. "I knew coming in that it would be a good opportunity for me to showcase my ability blocking wise and I think I've totally done that while I've been here and (the offense) has given me the ability to grow in some ways like playing out on the perimeter which was something I didn't do as much in the past so the invite is a testament to the offense here, I love it."
Getting the invite caps a great one year experiment for Hawes at Georgia Tech and he is still amazed that NFL teams are interested in him and he has the potential to play at the next level now after his one season on the Flats.
"I'm extremely grateful that the organization here took a chance on some nerdy guy up at Yale," he joked. "It has been an absolute blessing and for everything that comes my way I try to not get too high or get too low and just kind of stay even keel and go with the process. It is bittersweet that the season is coming to a close but there are exciting things in the future, but right now I'm just trying to stay focused on the next three weeks."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hawes said he had a lot of respect for the ACC coming into it and he thinks the biggest difference is just speed and technique and being more in tune with that. You won't see a lot guys mess up out there and just athleticism is different from the Ivy League.
Hawes said being on the team has been awesome for him and he said there is a lot of tough love but everyone loves each other and if someone is out of line, the coaches do a good job of holding guys accountable and the team sets the standard in the locker room. He said the culture bit is really promoted from the older players to the underclassmen and it has been cool for him to be a part of that and setting the example for the future of the team.
Hawes said that Buster Faulkner as an OC is very intentional about what the plan is each week and they meet every day as an offense and establish what they need to get better at and what is working and he delegates well to his assistants and lets the coaches handle their business with an umbrella structure to make sure everyone sticks together.
I asked him about Nathan Brock as a TE coach and he said that Brock's background as a former OL has really helped him with blocking. He felt good about his run blocking coming here but they also have some pass blocking and that is something he had never done and Brock has really helped him there with pass pro and the techniques for that and the hand placement and getting your feet and eyes in the right places
Hawes said that coming off the Miami win they aren't concerned about a let down emotionally because of Senior Night and wanting to send the guys out on a good note. He said that what is funny is Coach Key is more intense after a win in practice the following week and more engaged with the team and doesn't want them to be complacent.
Hawes said the Miami game was the first time since Louisville they had everyone in the TE room available who was going to play this season (Seither got hurt in fall camp) and then against Louisville he got hurt and Josh Beetham got hurt and then it got worse for a bit with injuries. He said that it is great having everyone back from the start of the season now and they are able to rotate guys more and everyone can play specific roles with their strengths and weaknesses.
Hawes said that NC State is a solid team that play well together and they like to play physically at the LOS and get in your face a lot more than others. They have a good defensive structure and are disciplined and are big so handling them will be a good challenge that he is excited for. Hawes said NC State has been in every game this year and their record doesn't really reflect how good they are.
We talked to LaMiles Brooks next and I asked him what will his emotions be like on Thursday night for SR Day and he said it will be very emotional and his whole family will be there and it is crazy to think this is it. He feels like he has been at GT forever and he kind of took for granted the opportunities you get to play here so it will be a big one for sure.
Brooks said he isn't trying to make this game any bigger than any other game.
Brooks said CJ Bailey the NC State QB has a lot of arm talent and he has some NFL type balls he throws and is a very good QB in the ACC so it will be an exciting matchup and hopefully they can make some plays on some balls.
Brooks said his first game Bobby Dodd game was UCF in 2020 and it was a white out and he enjoyed the environment at the time.
Brooks said he is proud to be a part of the rebuild of Georgia Tech football and he said the first two years he started to lose faith and then in the third season when Coach Key took over they went 5-7 and started to turn it around and when Coach Key officially got the job his faith was instilled and what coach Key instilled in the team is now coming to fruition.
I asked about the Sharks thing and now them starting to look like the safety room they were hoping to have and Brooks said that they have a strong brotherhood and everyone is unselfish in that room and they've gotten closer and closer and that has allowed them to play better and they have their own celebrations and they link up outside football and talk constantly and that love is what is allowing them to play better.
Brooks on Taye Seymore said that he flies around and that speed and how fast he can play is something special and he was really determined in the offseason to get into the rotation and get things to slow down for him and he was asking questions to Brooks and CP Lee and he is excited to see him play like that.
I asked Brooks why he never transferred out and he said that he made a promise to himself he would graduate from Georgia Tech and that he was going to stick it out and be a part of the turnaround here and he has completed both of his goals but that is why he stayed.
It was Jordan Williams' birthday and he got dunked by some teammates in the cold tub.
After that we spoke to him, Williams said that NC State is a little different defensively than most of the teams they've faced this year so they are focusing more on techniques this week and landmarks and making sure their hats are in the right spot with good hand placement.
I asked about Senior Night and he said it is going to feel insane and he feels like time just flew right by and he might get a little emotional.
Williams said he felt like the program turned a corner when Coach Key took over and they are making steps in the right direction now and it is starting to click and from the time Key officially got the job he laid a new foundation down and the first thing he really harped on was discipline and anyone who saw their first conditioning that offseason saw that discipline being instilled during that conditioning.
Williams said that Trey Cooley has really leaned on the team and they've leaned on him to help him through a rough season to make sure he kept his head on straight and the whole team was impressed with Cooley last week playing like that without being able to take all the reps in practice, he has a lot of respect from the team and his performance against Miami made it go up even more.
Williams said that the thing he will remember the most from the Miami game is the students rushing the field and running out of the tunnel before the game compared to when they were struggling in the early years and he has always been thankful to the fans and their support over the years and he is happy they are finally giving them something to be happy about on the field.
