First things first, if the 2020 team morale was a "5" on a 1-10 scale, this year's team is a "9" at this point. It's truly night and day.
Overall, it was a really good 15 practices.
QB -- Luke Anthony was out, obviously. Aaron Allen continues to work hard, you can see areas that he has improved in, but you can also see other areas that sometimes hold him back. JD Head is much further along than Higgins, Smith & Allen were as TR FR/RS FR. He's got a real chance to be something special. I think he's a 3-4 year starter. Holstein has some talent, probably a little unfair to truly judge him though. Easy to see that he was still getting a feel for things throughout most of the spring.
Entering the summer, do I think Tech targets a QB? Hard to say, I lean towards no right now, I can see a strong argument for rolling into camp with those 3, deciding on the top 2 after a week or so and then letting them battle it out leading up to Miss State. If Luke isn't healthy by June 1, then I think adding a transfer becomes more realistic, at a minimum Tech would need more depth.
RB -- Marcus Williams rose to the top the further things got into the spring. Harlan Dixon is a game breaker, big play guy. Garner will be the power back, goal line type. I think they'll play in that order as well. Keldric Moody and Jordan Myles were two walk-ons that were ok at times. May play some special teams.
WR -- Tre Harris was the guy that shined. Pure and simple, he's a dude. Tahj Magee had a nice spring as well with Smoke out. I think he's a contributor in his career. Hebert and Graham were solid. We know what they can do. I probably wanted to see a little more from Kyle Maxwell, but he's still young and needs more strength. Okorie is maybe a guy that makes one big play down the field in season, but he's not a major two-deep type guy. McWilliams missed most of spring, undisclosed injury. Smoke, Johnson, and Means missed most or all of spring, they'll be 1's when the season gets here. Possible Tech adds a WR from the portal at some point.
OL -- Sam Williams was a big addition. He's not an All-American by any means, but when he's locked in, he can be very good. Key for him will be being locked 100% of snaps because when he isn't, he isn't athletic enough to make up for it. Dakota White is a future star at LT. Hankinson missed most of spring. Gordon missed 4-5 practices, but I like his potential. He'll like slide back into G, be in the two-deep. Christian Henderson, just not a guy. Rossell was solid at G, if Hollins can start at G and allowed Rossell to be a swing guy, that would be big. Delfin and Mote are rock solid inside. Delfin will be the C. Jerren Gilbert really came along as the spring went on. He had major snapping issues, then moved to G and was good. Doubt he's a two-deep guy this year though. Bert Hale = need more toughness. If Gause will lock in, he can play, but he hasn't shown the ability to truly want to grab a spot yet. Ray Kelly has a shot to earn a two-deep spot at C, he's a walk-on.
I think this is an offense that leans on its run game more than you might anticipate, which will then open up things for the QB through the passing game. The RBs are that good, the OL is going to be just fine.
Defense coming in a bit.
Overall, it was a really good 15 practices.
QB -- Luke Anthony was out, obviously. Aaron Allen continues to work hard, you can see areas that he has improved in, but you can also see other areas that sometimes hold him back. JD Head is much further along than Higgins, Smith & Allen were as TR FR/RS FR. He's got a real chance to be something special. I think he's a 3-4 year starter. Holstein has some talent, probably a little unfair to truly judge him though. Easy to see that he was still getting a feel for things throughout most of the spring.
Entering the summer, do I think Tech targets a QB? Hard to say, I lean towards no right now, I can see a strong argument for rolling into camp with those 3, deciding on the top 2 after a week or so and then letting them battle it out leading up to Miss State. If Luke isn't healthy by June 1, then I think adding a transfer becomes more realistic, at a minimum Tech would need more depth.
RB -- Marcus Williams rose to the top the further things got into the spring. Harlan Dixon is a game breaker, big play guy. Garner will be the power back, goal line type. I think they'll play in that order as well. Keldric Moody and Jordan Myles were two walk-ons that were ok at times. May play some special teams.
WR -- Tre Harris was the guy that shined. Pure and simple, he's a dude. Tahj Magee had a nice spring as well with Smoke out. I think he's a contributor in his career. Hebert and Graham were solid. We know what they can do. I probably wanted to see a little more from Kyle Maxwell, but he's still young and needs more strength. Okorie is maybe a guy that makes one big play down the field in season, but he's not a major two-deep type guy. McWilliams missed most of spring, undisclosed injury. Smoke, Johnson, and Means missed most or all of spring, they'll be 1's when the season gets here. Possible Tech adds a WR from the portal at some point.
OL -- Sam Williams was a big addition. He's not an All-American by any means, but when he's locked in, he can be very good. Key for him will be being locked 100% of snaps because when he isn't, he isn't athletic enough to make up for it. Dakota White is a future star at LT. Hankinson missed most of spring. Gordon missed 4-5 practices, but I like his potential. He'll like slide back into G, be in the two-deep. Christian Henderson, just not a guy. Rossell was solid at G, if Hollins can start at G and allowed Rossell to be a swing guy, that would be big. Delfin and Mote are rock solid inside. Delfin will be the C. Jerren Gilbert really came along as the spring went on. He had major snapping issues, then moved to G and was good. Doubt he's a two-deep guy this year though. Bert Hale = need more toughness. If Gause will lock in, he can play, but he hasn't shown the ability to truly want to grab a spot yet. Ray Kelly has a shot to earn a two-deep spot at C, he's a walk-on.
I think this is an offense that leans on its run game more than you might anticipate, which will then open up things for the QB through the passing game. The RBs are that good, the OL is going to be just fine.
Defense coming in a bit.
