Georgia Tech football’s offensive line is changing. Brent Key’s standard isn’t.
Georgia Tech football coach Brent Key wasn’t happy during practice one day earlier this month.
He approached his offensive linemen and let them know they weren’t moving fast enough after plays.
Tackle Ethan Mackenny said it felt like Key was speaking directly to him.
“He was like, ‘If y’all don’t run to the ball and then run back to the huddle, I’m going to make Ethan run,” the redshirt junior said. “I’m going to make Ethan run until he dies.”
Mackenny laughed as he told the story. But the message was serious. There’s a high standard for Georgia Tech’s offensive line.
Key played guard and was a team captain at Tech. He later coached offensive linemen at Central Florida, Alabama and his alma mater before taking over the Yellow Jackets in 2022. The line has remained a central part of his program and will always fall under his scrutiny.
The challenge this season is doing it without two players who lived up to that standard for years.
Keylan Rutledge, a two-time All-American, became the first Georgia Tech player in 15 years selected in the first round of the NFL draft this summer. Joe Fusile, another longtime starter, is gone, too.
Names have changed. Expectations haven’t.
“We’ve got to lead as a group,” Mackenny said. “Because it starts with us. If we can’t get it right, no one else can, you know?”
Mackenny is listed as the starting left tackle on the depth chart Tech revealed this week. Returning starter Malachi Carney, a 6-5, 350-pound senior, is listed at right tackle.
Alabama transfer Joseph Ionata and redshirt freshman Kevin Peay Jr. are set to start at guard.
Redshirt sophomore Jameson Riggs, who saw action in all 13 games last season, is slated to start at center.
Tech’s center position was in flux last season, and Harrison Moore, who started eight games there, transferred to Florida.
That puts Riggs in an important spot.
“Outside of quarterback, there’s one person that touches the football every play,” Key said. “That’s the center. It’s not easy. It’s not an easy position. Not only athletic ability, skill sets that you have to have, but there’s a mental approach to the game that I look for in a center.”
The Jackets offense experienced plenty of turnover after quarterback Haynes King was named ACC Player of the Year last season.
George Godsey was named offensive coordinator in January, a month after Allen Mogridge became the offensive line coach.
Quarterback Alberto Mendoza will start his first career game Thursday against Colorado after arriving from Indiana.
One thing, however, is expected to remain.
“We know everybody is going to be looking at us to run the football, right?” said Chris Weinke, quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator. “And we’re going to run the football. Whether they know we’re going to run it or not, we’re going to run it around here.”
Tech listed Michigan transfer Justice Haynes, senior Malachi Hosley and redshirt sophomore Trelain Maddox all as starters at running back on the depth chart.
For all the new pieces on offense, the offensive line remains the foundation.
Key told Mogridge earlier this month he should win an award for the progress the line made after the first scrimmage of camp. Tech has worked most of its linemen at multiple positions and in different combinations, building depth and preparing for whatever the season might bring. Sophomore Josh Petty, the former five-star recruit, is expected to return from injury at some point this fall.
With the season opener approaching, Key said he’s encouraged by what he sees.
“I’ve been really, really happy with the offensive line,” he said last week. “You’re seeing the accumulation of double teams and body blow and they just work with each other. Really starting to add up now and the production of the offense obviously is going to come along with it.”