This is not comprehensive (or official), but here are some I feel pretty good about - OL Michael Preddy, C Andrew Marshall, DB Jalen Johnson, OL Jake Whitley, OL Jake Stickler, AB Clinton Lynch, QB Matthew Jordan.
I was a little surprised about Morgan Bailey playing, and I don't know everything. I'd think, given the losses Tech had on the line (Finch, Jackson, Beno), Bailey could have returned. I don't know if, at the time the decision was made, he was cleared. It's possible he just wanted a fresh start. That's a good question. I'll try to see what I can find out.
Thanks. It was an interesting one to write, and Paul Johnson provided a lot of detail into what had happened. After I wrote it, I don't know that I've asked coaches specifically about its effect, but it can't help but aid recruiting, as it will give the coaching staff more leeway on who can be recruited.
I'm not sure, to be honest. He's got at least DeAndre Smelter, Micheal Summers and Darren Waller (after suspension) ahead of him, and I think coaches also like Corey Dennis. Plus Ricky Jeune and Antonio Messick are hunting for playing time. It will come down to what sort of contribution he can make on special teams, I think. Coaches have assigned players to the scout team, but they're not permanent (at least not now).
Maybe someone should ask a question about "what do you think about people who give away thousands of shares of Apple stock?"
He knows, certainly. I think he also believes that Tech has to find places where it can play to its strengths. At a news conference a couple weeks ago, he said that what he wants is, at the end of a season, you know that the team left everything out there, took advantage of all its opportunities. I think he realizes that Tech can't be Alabama, but it can also do better than it has. (Which I think most Tech fans would agree with.) Funny, I'm in the GTAA lobby. Bobinski just walked past.
It was obviously very early in his career, but I think it was possible. He's gotten offers from Georgia, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, among others, since leaving Tech.
I don't think so, unless the mandate (unspoken or otherwise) is that SoS is so important to the College Football Playoff poobahs that Tech has to comply. The scheduling philosophy is to play one FCS game, two power five games (including Georgia) and one game against a non-power 5 FBS game (like Tulane). I don't see it changing, unless it becomes obvious they have to. One thing about scheduling an FCS game, aside from the fact it's a W, is that it costs less to schedule than a guarantee game with a non-power 5 FBS team. To keep at least six home games (and ideally seven) you need to have guarantee games. For a school on a budget, FCS is probably the way to go
I did notice Isiah Willis. I thought something similar, that it's a possibility. For those of you who weren't there, he made a phenomenal catch in which, if memory serves, he was out on the right sideline, maybe running a wheel route, and basically had to turn his body around to make the catch. He might be a guy who just has that knack. It probably won't happen this year, and I really don't know much more about him than what I saw Saturday, but bears watching. Coincidentally, he's also from Cobb and also is a 3rd (as in Robert Godhigh III)
the last I heard (and wrote) was that Tennessee was an option (which probably means a likely one) and that a deal could be finalized before the end of August. I'll have to circle back.
That's the truth. They've been working on it quite a bit. I don't know how much or in what way - I suspect they'll primarily be a huddling team - but I'd be very surprised at this point if we don't see it.
They seem confident, but they (and players on every team in college football) are confident. One thing that I've noticed, and this is a little bit of reading tea leaves, is that Johnson has seemed more pleased with the effort that players have been giving thus far.
I talked to Mike Pelton (defensive line coach) yesterday, and he was definitely higher on him than a year ago. He wasn't, like, gushing, but I think things are starting to come together a little bit. He's a little what I mean when talking about Laskey. Everything has to be hitting, including guys like Kallon.
Not a particularly detailed one. Several guys are still out.
For what it's worth, they did have Travis Custis, who I think is the sort of player you're talking about. So to say they can't recruit that type of player isn't entirely correct. And with David Sims, they really should have beaten Georgia. But, to speak to your larger point, Laskey is probably not Jonathan Dwyer, though I think he could be better than people think. And it reduces margin of error, clearly, to win the games (Miami, Clemson, VT) Tech has fallen short in of late. But I can't say they're forever doomed. It just means everything else (line play, quarterbacking, receivers, defense, special teams, etc.) has to be that much better.
As noted in the last question, I do think he's pretty safe going into next year. I guess it's possible that those factors could work in Johnson's favor, particularly the class, but that's a hard one to gauge.
thanks, everyone, for a lot of really good questions. I really appreciate your time and I hope you find it interesting and informative. I'll be back next week, same time. In the meantime, keep up with the preseason here.
I haven't heard much - I've yet to talk to special teams coordinator Ray Rychleski - but I think Tech is in pretty good shape there. I don't know if they can be counted on to win a game or two - you never know how games will go - but I definitely think the potential is there for them to heavily influence some games, no question.
Last question coming up here.
My buddy Rod Mackenzie from Scout from says receiver, B-back and A-back. On defense, DT and DE.
I don't think it's particularly hot. It might change next year.
I don't remember that Johnson say that (not saying that he didn't). I think I've heard him say it's hard or almost impossible to get JC players in. I don't think it's a policy, per se. Whitehead was admitted - bear in mind he was already an NCAA qualifier, having gotten into NC State - so that's why Johnson took him. I imagine it'd be tougher for a player who went straight to JC to get admitted to Tech.
I'm not trying to duck the question, but I don't think I've compared notes with enough writers to really say. I'd hazard a guess Nick Saban is pretty tough.
I'm a little out of my depth here, but I don't think so.
