Georgia Tech RBs coach Jimmy Smith ‘blessed’ by character of talented room
Finding a group of players that fit your coaching philosophy can be difficult in the modern era of college football.
First-year Georgia Tech running backs coach Jimmy Smith did just that in one offseason.
Smith, who coach Brent Key hired in January as one of the key additions to his overhauled staff, retained several key pieces in his room in Malachi Hosley, Trelain Maddox and Chad Alexander, alongside second-year backs Shane Marshall and J.P. Powell.
He also added coveted transfer running back Justice Haynes, further elevating the talent level of a formidable corps of backs.
Smith said Friday that he typically seeks out “a certain type of guy” when on the recruiting trail. Fortunately for him, he did not have to look far.
“I was blessed that most of those guys (in the room) are those types already,” he said. “That non-selfish type guys, but guys that, if you get 10 yards, I want to get 20. You get 20, I get 30. You don’t want anybody to do bad, but you just want to do better. And that’s what I have in the room.”
Haynes recorded an impressive 857 yards and 10 touchdowns in just seven games last season and is poised to be the Yellow Jackets’ Week 1 starter. But with Hosley, Maddox and Alexander behind him, he will have no room to get comfy as the lead back in first-year offensive coordinator George Godsey’s offense.
Hosley led all Tech running backs in 2025 with 697 yards and was second behind quarterback and ACC player of the year Haynes King, who tallied 953 yards. Hosley is expected to at least serve as a prevalent No. 2 back behind Haynes, a preseason first-team All-ACC selection.
“Those guys all create competition in the room (and are) all pushing each other,” Key said Monday. “But again, I want guys in the program that want the absolute best. There’s no room to really coast.”
That level of talent has not only fostered intense competition, but also a close relationship among the backs.
Alexander said Friday the competitiveness feeds into “how close we are.”
“We do things off the field, whether it’s eating or we FaceTime,” he said. “We got a group chat. … We’re working on becoming better football players and then just becoming better people.”
Players often spend their summers participating in team-led workouts, which has presented teammates with more bonding opportunities than before. Smith credits the extra work put in as a driving force behind a tighter-knit locker room.
“The beautiful thing about college football now is the guys have a lot of time on their own before (the season),” he said. “You have spring, you have summer, you have a lot of opportunities to practice together and do stuff together. So a lot of times guys do a lot of stuff on their own and do stuff together.”