A few things left over from my interviews this week. Nothing earth-shattering, but hopefully interesting.
1. Defensive back Domonique Noble has been tried out at a variety of spots – nickel back, both safety spots and "Bronco," which is the name for one of the linebacker positions in the nickel defense. "I'm just trying to find my place on the field," he said.
Noble’s favorite uniform is last year’s throwback.
2. Linebackers coach Andy McCollum gives freshman Terrell Lewis a chance to play this season. He said he has a lot of ability and could contribute on special teams, but it'll depend on his mental toughness and how quickly he can adjust. "So Terrell may have an opportunity to do that," he said.
3. Backup linebacker Tremayne McNair is improving, but McCollum wants a little more.
“I think he’s stepped up to the point that he can help this football team,” McCollum said. “But Tremayne’s got to be a guy that does it every day.”
4. The athletic department has created a new mobile application for game days that will replace the current version.
It will include free live game audio, real-time Instagram and Twitter feeds from the team and fans, a game-day guide with information on parking, event times and stadium maps, updates and stats on conference and top 25 games, alerts for weather and play-by-play information.
It is a free download. Another element of the app is a program that allows fans to purchase game-day experiences including leading the team down Yellow Jacket Alley and high-fiving players as they run out of the stadium tunnel behind the Ramblin’ Wreck.
5. Coach Paul Johnson's radio show will begin Monday and will continue weekly through the season. The show will air on 680 the Fan (and simulcast on 93.7 FM) in Atlanta, as well as on 22 stations around Georgia and Alabama. The show will be broadcast from Hudson Grille Midtown (942 Peachtree St. NE).
6. Johnson gave some praise to defensive tackles Patrick Gamble and Francis Kallon Wednesday.
“Pat’s had a really good camp,” Johnson said. “Once he came back from injury, he’s had a good camp. And Francis has worked really hard. I think he’s gotten better. He’s still got a ways to go, but he’s gotten a lot better.”
7. I think walk-on wide receiver Brandon Oliver could end up playing a little bit this season. I've heard him mentioned on two separate occasions as a possibility. Oliver is a junior who played five games last season. He is also the author of a tweet that Tech fans might find encouraging.
Credit: Ken Sugiura
Credit: Ken Sugiura
8. Defensive backs coach Joe Speed on what he looks for in a nickel back: "Gotta be able to cover and then physically play like a linebacker. Not only (good) hips and feet, they've also got to bring some physical elements to the game against the sun."
9. Tech's freshman class is, according to the school, the highest achieving and most diverse in school history. It was the first class for which Tech accepted what is known as the Common Application, which caused a 46 percent increase in applications. The school admitted 33 percent (8,560), and 2,800 enrolled. (The school's admission rate in 2012 was 55 percent and 41 percent last year.)
The average SAT score of incoming students improved to 2134 and 94 percent of freshmen have taken at least AP Calculus or an equivalent course. The class is 51 percent Caucasian, 28 percent Asian, 7 percent Hispanic, 6 percent African-American and 4 percent multi-racial. The class is 61 percent male and 39 percent female. The students come from 47 states, 63 countries and 87 Georgia counties (out of 159).
10. An insight into quarterback Justin Thomas from A-back Charles Perkins: "You won't hear him yell at all. But you know if he gives you a look or he'll come over and tell you something, you'd better do it right the next play."
