Archive for July, 2011

He has an optimistic bent and is perhaps a little biased, but former Georgia Tech center Sean Bedford gives a recommendation to the Yellow Jackets offensive line and his replacement in particular.

“With Jay Finch rolling in at center, he’s infinitely more talented than I ever was,” Bedford said by phone last Friday. “He’s bigger, faster, stronger and he’s just going to need the experience.”

Of his other former cohorts, Bedford said, “I think (guards) Will Jackson and Omoregie Uzzi are phenomenally talented. (Tackle) Phil Smith has the potential to be great, and there’s a lot of guys who have the potential to make things happen. A lot of it is avoiding injuries and getting on the field. The raw materials are there to make it happen. It’s up to them to go out and do it.”

Finch is slated to step in for Bedford, a two-time All-ACC center and the winner of the inaugural Burlsworth Trophy, given to the country’s most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on. A junior …

Continue reading Bedford on Finch: ‘Infinitely more talented’ »

The third in a position group-by-position group breakdown of the 2011 Georgia Tech football team:

A-back Roddy Jones brings his career 7.5 yards-per-carry average back to the Georgia Tech backfield.

Projected starters: BB Preston Lyons (Sr., 6-0, 211), AB Roddy Jones (Sr., 5-9, 202), AB Orwin Smith (Jr., 6-0, 202)

Others to watch: B-back Charles Perkins will challenge Lyons for the starting job. A-backs Embry Peeples and B.J. Bostic backed up Jones and Smith last season and give the Jackets depth at the position. Tony Zenon and Deon Hill are redshirt freshmen who will push to get into the A-back rotation. A-back Marcus Wright is back after missing most of last season due to an injury sustained in a moped accident.

Key losses: B-back Anthony Allen, who ran for nearly 2,000 yards in two seasons at Tech, was selected in the seventh round of the NFL draft. Allen’s backup Lucas Cox, who played 40 games for Tech, graduated.

Key fact: Jones has started all but one game of his career. …

Continue reading Tech secure with A-backs, B-backs »

Greetings-

In the final few weeks of the offseason, we’re taking a look, position group by position group, at the 2011 Georgia Tech team. Coming off of a 6-7 season, Tech’s first losing season since 1996, the Jackets have questions to answer along with hope for an improvement on both sides of the ball. Let’s take a look at the roster…

Projected starters: Stephen Hill (Jr., 6-5, 206), Tyler Melton (Sr., 6-0, 206)

Others to watch: Jeremy Moore is coming back from a season-ending knee injury sustained last summer. Daniel McKayhan is the only receiver on the roster besides Hill and Melton who has caught a pass at Tech, and he has three. Incoming freshman Corey Dennis is one of three who’ll get a good look in fall camp.

Key losses: Starter Kevin Cone and backup Correy Earls had a combined 15 catches last season, two for touchdowns.

Key fact: N.C. State, which led the ACC in completions last season, had seven players with more catches than Hill, who had a team-best …

Continue reading Tech looking for answers at wide receiver »

Former Georgia Tech basketball player Brian Oliver is transferring to Seton Hall. He will sit out the 2011-12 season and have two years of eligibility remaining. He made the announcement via Twitter Wednesday, writing “Going to Seton Hall for the rest of my college days.”

Oliver decided to leave Georgia Tech last month, stating a desire to be closer to home and to find a team that was a better fit for him. While Oliver lived in Delaware in high school, he claims Glassboro, N.J., as his home. Oliver averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game playing power forward for the Yellow Jackets.

Continue reading Oliver transferring to Seton Hall »

Greetings-

In the final few weeks of the offseason, we’re taking a look, position group by position group, at the 2011 Georgia Tech team. Coming off of a 6-7 season, Tech’s first losing season since 1996, the Jackets have questions to answer along with hope for an improvement on both sides of the ball. Let’s take a look at the roster…

THE OFFENSIVE LINE

Projected starters: LT Phil Smith (Jr., 6-5, 292), LG Will Jackson (So., 6-3, 285), C Jay Finch (So., 6-3, 283), RG Omoregie Uzzi (Jr., 6-3, 300), RT Tyler Kidney (So., 6-2, 262).

Others to watch: Ray Beno, Morgan Bailey and Catlin Alford will push for playing time at tackle. Guard J.C. Lanier will try to build on his first spring tackle on offense. Incoming freshmen Trey Braun, Shaq Mason and Errin Joe are candidates to get playing time immediately.

Key losses: The Yellow Jackets graduated two-time All-ACC center Sean Bedford and saw tackle Nick Claytor leave after his junior season for the NFL draft.

Key fact: Alford, Bailey …

Continue reading Depth, inexperience issues for Tech offensive line »