Georgia Tech’s Taylor improving at safety

Dominique Reese remains the starter at free safety for Georgia Tech, but true freshman Cooper Taylor is coming on strong.

In fact, against Boston College, Taylor played about twice as many snaps as Reese. Taylor has nine tackles and a forced fumble in two games, while Reese, a redshirt sophomore, has made eight tackles.

“Cooper can really cover a lot of ground,” coach Paul Johnson said of the 6-feet-4, 195-pounder. “He’s got good speed ,and he’s got good innate football sense. For a true freshman, he doesn’t get rattled.

“He’s a good tackler and we feel confident in Cooper back there. I think he’s going to be a really good football player.”

Taylor said he’s used to playing in big games from his days at Marist.

But before the Boston College game, he acknowledged he was a “wreck.”

“It’s bad before the game,” said Taylor, who had six tackles against the Eagles. “Once I get that first snap, that first hit, everything goes away and I’m ready to play.”

Etc.

Tech led the nation in sacks last year with 3.69 per game. So far the Yellow Jackets have seven, which ranks ninth nationally. Sophomore end Derrick Morgan leads the team and the ACC with 2 1/2 sacks; tackles Darryl Richard and Vance Walker and linebacker Tony Clark each have one. … Linebacker Anthony Barnes (shoulder) and wide receiver Correy Earls (hamstring) did not practice Tuesday.