Key's 2024 team has already undergone a number of changes since he last took the field in December at the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa, Florida. There are new assistant coaches, a true freshman who enrolled at the Institute in January, and several transfers already on the roster.
Key hinted that the roster will continue to evolve further by the start of the '24 campaign.
“The name of the college football game is always trying to build depth on your football team. You want to build your roster and always build that roster from the bottom up,” he said. said. “Improving that part of the football team means improving the competition, which will continue to improve the overall competition. The depth we have (Saturday), and we're starting to build. I think I understand that.”
With Tech's spring practice officially in the books, let's take a closer look at what we learned about the Jackets and what we can expect from the new season on the horizon.
offense
The biggest questions for Tech's offense heading into the spring were who would be the team's starting right guard and what depth they would use at the tight end spot.
If it's the former, the Jackets will likely turn to Corey Robinson (6-foot-5, 305 pounds) or Keelan Rutledge (6-4, 310 pounds), a transfer from Middle Tennessee, but both are injured. He missed spring practice. Ethan McKennie (6-4, 292), the team's starting left tackle, has been moved inside for added versatility, and the coaching staff has been replaced by freshman Harrison Moore (6-5, 260). He praised the play of Jameson Riggs (6-6, 305).
At tight end, senior Brett Sizer did not participate in the spring game. This allowed former Mississippi State and Georgia playmaker Ryland Gaudet to gain 25 yards on his three catches. Earlier in the spring, Key also praised the abilities of Yale transfer Jackson Hawes.
Tech also shows depth with running backs Jamal Haynes, Trey Cooley and rookie Anthony Carey, and wide receivers Eric Singleton, Malik Rutherford, Chase Lane, Christian Leary and Abdul-Jhaneh. Ta. And, of course, the offense is firmly in the grip of quarterback Haynes King, who returns as the starter.
“The first one is the standard and you have to hold everyone to the standard. The second one is the details,” King said of what the offense's focus will be heading into the summer. “Maybe a good play is called and someone gets open and something doesn't happen. Now you have to go back and look at the details. What was that? That play didn't happen. Why? After all, if you can make four or five big game-changing plays, you have a good chance of winning the game.
“We don't want to lose offensively. We want to minimize losses, minimize turnovers. The details apply to that. We go into summer training with standards and responsibility as a team.”
defense
Before Tech wears a different colored jersey, it will be difficult to assess whether the Jackets have improved under the new defensive staff. Coordinator Tyler Santucci definitely has some key pieces that will be highlights at all three levels in 2024, but if that unit goes to Florida State, Louisville, Notre Dame, Georgia, etc. Whether the pace of universities can be slowed is an unanswerable question. answered at the moment.
Until that happens, stacking depth at all defensive positions will continue to be a talking point for Tech's program.
“I liked the fact that even early in the game (Saturday), the first group was running toward the football. That's what I want to see,” Key said. “We had some good players in the first group. We have to add more defensive depth. That's what we wanted to see (Saturday), we haven't gotten that many reps so far. We wanted to see a lot of guys get there who might not have been able to, and the main focus for us moving forward is to develop depth.
“You may have 11 starters who are good players, but on defense you have to have 25 to 30 players who can step in there. This can add depth to the defensive side of the football. That's something that's very important to us moving forward.”
Tech's defense will be anchored in center by Zeke Biggers (6-6, 333) and Horace Lockett (6-6, 341). This duo will primarily be flanked by ends Josh Robinson (6-6, 253) and Kevin Harris (6-4, 245).
Linebacker may be Tech's most abundant position, with returning starters Kyle Efford and Trenillius Tatum locking down that spot. Tech also acquired EJ Lightsey (Georgia) and Jackson Hamilton (Louisville), and freshman Taj Butler has been a consistently touted name throughout the spring.
On the back end are veteran safeties LaMyles Brooks and Clayton Powell-Lee. Tennessee transfer Warren Burrell, who had an interception Saturday, and Ahamari Harvey will slot in at cornerback alongside nickelback Rodney Shelley or Saeed Gibbs.
“The game is all about confidence. When you're learning a new defense, you don't have a lot of confidence, so it's hard to play fast,” Efford said. “One of the things we did well is just slowly build up and slowly progress each day. (Saturday) we felt very comfortable with this new defense, we played outside. I started to reach a point where I became more comfortable.”
special teams
Kicker Aidan Barr made it clear this spring that he wants to set the Tech record for longest field goal in program history. If Saturday's 62-yarder had come during the regular season, he would have fulfilled his promise.
Thanks to Barr's big feet, Tech's placekicking duties are solidified heading into this year, as is the return of punter David Shanahan. However, with Gavin Stewart announcing his intention to transfer after the spring, there will be a new addition to take on kickoff duties.
Special teams coordinator Ricky Brumfield will have Shelley attempt a punt return. Leary, a senior, returned 21 kickoffs for 463 yards in 2023.
