I spoke with all three seniors today during the breakout sessions, and here are some things they had to say about this summer, what they expect this fall.
C Jared Kaster
*I asked Kaster who had been sticking out to him of the newcomers so far this summer, and he had three players on his brain.
"He's not really a freshman, but it's Paul (Stawarz). He has got great talent. He's going to have a chance, man. He's going to be really good. Then there's Corey (Dauphine). Really fast. Really fast, dude. He's gonna be a great running back just from seven-on-seven. Then, of course you have Breiden. He's just an animal."
*He's been really pleased with the group of true freshman offensive linemen as a whole, too.
"They're doing good. It's hard for any freshman to come in and learn our offense because we don't hardly have a playbook, and it's hard to transition. It was hard for me to transition from high school to college. But, they've done a great job. They've been a great addition to our offensive line. If they can learn the ins and outs of our expectations as an offensive line, they should be really good."
*The coaches have all made notes of how much several seniors have stepped up this summer as leaders, including Kaster. The senior center points right back to his position coach for the way they've worked.
"Coach Hays has kind of told us to stop lifting weights and get into camp mode," he laughed. "We had been lifting weights three times a day, but it's just a part of the mindset he helped us build. He's built into our mind that we need to be hardest working offensive line. It's paid off. We want to be the best offensive line in the country, and it starts with the little things."
*Kaster has also been really proud of Le'Raven Clark and the way he's evolved into a vocal leader for the team.
"He's stepped up. That was one thing. He was a quiet type guy, and over this last year, you can really see it in his eyes. He's really taken that step as a leader. It's our last year, and we don't want it to end like it did last year. We know he's got a bright future ahead, but right now he's worried about Tech, getting to where we've never been before."
One of the true freshmen defensive linemen that the center has really liked so far is Broderick Washington.
"He's good, man. He's eager. He's one of the guys that has been out there every day, has been doing the extra stuff he needs to do to get ready for camp. Pete, B-Jack will take him out there, and all these freshmen's minds are like sponges, which this class that the coaches have brought in are one of the best that Tech has ever brought in. They're eager to learn and eager to play, and that's what you want to see."
*Two other defensive linemen have really impressed the senior, too.
"Outlaw's been really good. Outlaw had a really good spring. He's been getting bigger in the weight room, getting stronger, faster, and Rika has lost weight and is doing good. That whole defensive line is really changing around from last year until now. Coach Smith has done a great job with them."
*As for the player on the defensive line that gives him the most trouble, Kaster points to Levi right now.
"Rika is just a big dude, man. Outlaw is quicker than him. but Rika is just big. He's solid, he's strong, and he's worked on his speed and quickness."
DE Branden Jackson
*The senior defensive end said he's been really happy with the way that the JUCO players that signed with Tech a year ago have progressed since the spring.
"Rika, hee's a big bully, exactly what you want out of a nose tackle. He's lost over 20 pounds. And then you have Keland, and he's finally learning how to play the position as a three. He was an end in JUCO, and he's finally realizing this isn't junior college. This is the big level now."
*Jackson was asked about how he's adjusted to life with Mike Smith as his position coach, and he couldn't be happier with how it's gone so far.
"I have more respect for him than anyone else in this world. I mean, the guy is a class act. He's everything that I would want to be as a man, and Coach Smith, he's hard on me at times, there are times I'm in tears, but other times he makes me so happy that I can't do anything but hug the man. I appreciate the chance to work with him, and him being in charge of this defensive line is perfect, cause he's crazy. As likeable as he is, he's a nut."
*He's also gotten to know DC David Gibbs well over the last few months, noting that the coordinator is a wealth of knowledge with a proven track record.
"I love his pro aspect, his mindset, and where he's been. I love to just pick his brain sometimes, just go in there and talk to him about the schemes his ran, even talked to him about Houston, how he was able to go to a program like that. I told him how I've been here five years including my redshirt year, have seen a lot of defensive coordinators who talk about it, but he's actually done it. So, just to talk to him, pick his brain, and watch his film, he's just an intriguing guy with a lot of knowledge."
*Jackson thinks Gibbs' work is going to pay off for the defense, too.
"I feel like it's going to be a great improvement, and I feel like he's going to be here a while. Just the way he got the whole team to buy in will show this next season."
*Jackson said the freshmen D-linemen are still feeling it out a bit, but he likes their potential. He said they've really bought in though, which he loves. He had specific things to say about Broderick Washington and Lonzell Gilmore.
"Broderick is a lot bigger than I thought. He's quiet, doesn't talk a lot, but when we get out there, he goes to work. He brings a lot to the table, and he'll be a special one. Then Lonzell, that guy is a freak. I thought he was going to play defensive end, but then I saw him play like Pete, drop in coverage, going against Jakeem, I was like, 'god, this guy has talent.' I'm proud they came to our program, and I'll be more than happy to turn the ropes over to then when I'm done."
*The Pennsylvania native has had to evolve into a leader over the last two years, something he wasn't particularly comfortable with at the time. He's learned to love it, though.
"I'm a guy who has never wanted to be the one to stand in front of the team and talk, and it's funny how it's naturally come to me," he said. "I've just been working every day to encourage people, let them know that at the end of the day, you've got to have a little self motivation. I shouldn't have to get you up. Everyone has been buying in."
*Jackson has been as surprised as everyone else with the way that Le'Raven Clark has improved as a vocal leader, too.
"It's a huge surprise. Everyone that knows Le'Raven knows that he's not going to talk much at all," he said. "The fact that he sent out a text and had a team meeting, everyone was in there, and you could hear a pin drop. He's a commanding force, and after he talked to us, everyone kind of kicked it into gear, and he's had about two of those."
*As for a play that has really grown and stepped up, Jackson points to mike linebacker Micah Awe.
"Micah Awe. This year, by far, he's the best linebacker on our team by far," he said. "The thing that has impressed me the most about him is that he's become a comfortable person. He always rubbed people the wrong way, was always just a little nerd. He's an engineer, a little nerd, but now he's kind of learning how to be one of the boys, not be so uptight, so people around him are starting to play better because they're starting to love him more. I mean, I've always loved Micah, but now everyone is really starting to love him more."
*Jackson noted that Kris Williams has really stood out, too. He pushed Pete Robertson hard in the spring according to the senior DE, has looked good at both will and sam linebacker, is competing to start at will right now.
*It's now or never with this D-line group, and the DE believes they'll be much improved because of it.
"We will be different creatures, because we have no choice. The entire defensive line is lead by seniors, and we'll be gone after this. Football isn't promised tomorrow, and we have to leave a legacy so these younger guys will carry it on."
(CONTINUED)
C Jared Kaster
*I asked Kaster who had been sticking out to him of the newcomers so far this summer, and he had three players on his brain.
"He's not really a freshman, but it's Paul (Stawarz). He has got great talent. He's going to have a chance, man. He's going to be really good. Then there's Corey (Dauphine). Really fast. Really fast, dude. He's gonna be a great running back just from seven-on-seven. Then, of course you have Breiden. He's just an animal."
*He's been really pleased with the group of true freshman offensive linemen as a whole, too.
"They're doing good. It's hard for any freshman to come in and learn our offense because we don't hardly have a playbook, and it's hard to transition. It was hard for me to transition from high school to college. But, they've done a great job. They've been a great addition to our offensive line. If they can learn the ins and outs of our expectations as an offensive line, they should be really good."
*The coaches have all made notes of how much several seniors have stepped up this summer as leaders, including Kaster. The senior center points right back to his position coach for the way they've worked.
"Coach Hays has kind of told us to stop lifting weights and get into camp mode," he laughed. "We had been lifting weights three times a day, but it's just a part of the mindset he helped us build. He's built into our mind that we need to be hardest working offensive line. It's paid off. We want to be the best offensive line in the country, and it starts with the little things."
*Kaster has also been really proud of Le'Raven Clark and the way he's evolved into a vocal leader for the team.
"He's stepped up. That was one thing. He was a quiet type guy, and over this last year, you can really see it in his eyes. He's really taken that step as a leader. It's our last year, and we don't want it to end like it did last year. We know he's got a bright future ahead, but right now he's worried about Tech, getting to where we've never been before."
One of the true freshmen defensive linemen that the center has really liked so far is Broderick Washington.
"He's good, man. He's eager. He's one of the guys that has been out there every day, has been doing the extra stuff he needs to do to get ready for camp. Pete, B-Jack will take him out there, and all these freshmen's minds are like sponges, which this class that the coaches have brought in are one of the best that Tech has ever brought in. They're eager to learn and eager to play, and that's what you want to see."
*Two other defensive linemen have really impressed the senior, too.
"Outlaw's been really good. Outlaw had a really good spring. He's been getting bigger in the weight room, getting stronger, faster, and Rika has lost weight and is doing good. That whole defensive line is really changing around from last year until now. Coach Smith has done a great job with them."
*As for the player on the defensive line that gives him the most trouble, Kaster points to Levi right now.
"Rika is just a big dude, man. Outlaw is quicker than him. but Rika is just big. He's solid, he's strong, and he's worked on his speed and quickness."
DE Branden Jackson
*The senior defensive end said he's been really happy with the way that the JUCO players that signed with Tech a year ago have progressed since the spring.
"Rika, hee's a big bully, exactly what you want out of a nose tackle. He's lost over 20 pounds. And then you have Keland, and he's finally learning how to play the position as a three. He was an end in JUCO, and he's finally realizing this isn't junior college. This is the big level now."
*Jackson was asked about how he's adjusted to life with Mike Smith as his position coach, and he couldn't be happier with how it's gone so far.
"I have more respect for him than anyone else in this world. I mean, the guy is a class act. He's everything that I would want to be as a man, and Coach Smith, he's hard on me at times, there are times I'm in tears, but other times he makes me so happy that I can't do anything but hug the man. I appreciate the chance to work with him, and him being in charge of this defensive line is perfect, cause he's crazy. As likeable as he is, he's a nut."
*He's also gotten to know DC David Gibbs well over the last few months, noting that the coordinator is a wealth of knowledge with a proven track record.
"I love his pro aspect, his mindset, and where he's been. I love to just pick his brain sometimes, just go in there and talk to him about the schemes his ran, even talked to him about Houston, how he was able to go to a program like that. I told him how I've been here five years including my redshirt year, have seen a lot of defensive coordinators who talk about it, but he's actually done it. So, just to talk to him, pick his brain, and watch his film, he's just an intriguing guy with a lot of knowledge."
*Jackson thinks Gibbs' work is going to pay off for the defense, too.
"I feel like it's going to be a great improvement, and I feel like he's going to be here a while. Just the way he got the whole team to buy in will show this next season."
*Jackson said the freshmen D-linemen are still feeling it out a bit, but he likes their potential. He said they've really bought in though, which he loves. He had specific things to say about Broderick Washington and Lonzell Gilmore.
"Broderick is a lot bigger than I thought. He's quiet, doesn't talk a lot, but when we get out there, he goes to work. He brings a lot to the table, and he'll be a special one. Then Lonzell, that guy is a freak. I thought he was going to play defensive end, but then I saw him play like Pete, drop in coverage, going against Jakeem, I was like, 'god, this guy has talent.' I'm proud they came to our program, and I'll be more than happy to turn the ropes over to then when I'm done."
*The Pennsylvania native has had to evolve into a leader over the last two years, something he wasn't particularly comfortable with at the time. He's learned to love it, though.
"I'm a guy who has never wanted to be the one to stand in front of the team and talk, and it's funny how it's naturally come to me," he said. "I've just been working every day to encourage people, let them know that at the end of the day, you've got to have a little self motivation. I shouldn't have to get you up. Everyone has been buying in."
*Jackson has been as surprised as everyone else with the way that Le'Raven Clark has improved as a vocal leader, too.
"It's a huge surprise. Everyone that knows Le'Raven knows that he's not going to talk much at all," he said. "The fact that he sent out a text and had a team meeting, everyone was in there, and you could hear a pin drop. He's a commanding force, and after he talked to us, everyone kind of kicked it into gear, and he's had about two of those."
*As for a play that has really grown and stepped up, Jackson points to mike linebacker Micah Awe.
"Micah Awe. This year, by far, he's the best linebacker on our team by far," he said. "The thing that has impressed me the most about him is that he's become a comfortable person. He always rubbed people the wrong way, was always just a little nerd. He's an engineer, a little nerd, but now he's kind of learning how to be one of the boys, not be so uptight, so people around him are starting to play better because they're starting to love him more. I mean, I've always loved Micah, but now everyone is really starting to love him more."
*Jackson noted that Kris Williams has really stood out, too. He pushed Pete Robertson hard in the spring according to the senior DE, has looked good at both will and sam linebacker, is competing to start at will right now.
*It's now or never with this D-line group, and the DE believes they'll be much improved because of it.
"We will be different creatures, because we have no choice. The entire defensive line is lead by seniors, and we'll be gone after this. Football isn't promised tomorrow, and we have to leave a legacy so these younger guys will carry it on."
(CONTINUED)
