Brent Key names Georgia Tech football captains. They might surprise you.

Georgia Tech football coach Brent Key leans into change.

Entering his fourth full season leading the Jackets, Key said he sought feedback from players, current and former, as well as high school and college coaches.

His approach to preparing for the 2026 campaign has evolved, from practice methods to recovery and other subtle aspects of his program.

One change: Key has announced permanent team captains, something he hasn’t done this early in a season. And the choices might not be obvious.

“There’s no rhyme or reason,” Key said of the switch. “It just felt right, about who those guys are and what they’ve done. It just felt right, that’s the reason.”

On Tuesday, Key said kicker Aidan Birr, running back Trelain Maddox and defensive end Jordan Walker will be captains. A fourth will be announced before the season opener Sept. 3 against Colorado in Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Birr, a senior from Kennedale, Texas, has made 81% of his field goal attempts in three years as a starter. His 55-yard field goal to upset Clemson last season tied a school record.

“I’ve talked so many times about Aidan and what a great football player he is and how much he means to the team,” Key said. “When he stands up in front of the team, he commands everyone’s respect. Everyone listens.”

The Jackets have depth at running back. Michigan transfer Justice Haynes and senior Malachi Hosley have received much of the attention. But Maddox, a redshirt sophomore from Stone Mountain with 56 career all-purpose yards, has pushed his way into the rotation with a strong offseason and August camp.

He’s also now a captain, for “not only what he’s done on the field, how he carries himself, how he carries himself as a man, but the adversity he’s overcome,” Key said, referring to injuries that Maddox has suffered dating back to high school.

Walker’s selection is particularly notable given how little time he has spent at Tech.

The 6-foot-4, 275-pound transfer had 28 total tackles and one sack with Rutgers last season. Tech is counting on him to help overhaul the defense under first-year coordinator Jason Semore.

“(Walker) has been here the least amount of time,” Key said. “He’s probably the most vocal. Just to see the dynamics of the team shift, started with him and the defensive line and the defense and now the whole team.

“It’s been different than the last four years, since I’ve been the head coach. It really is.”

Key said he frequently does “deep dive” thinking about leadership, both his own and that of his players. Too often, he said, coaches try to force players to become leaders when they might not be capable of it or might not want the responsibility.