Georgia Tech strongside linebacker Brandon Watts was among the first players off the practice field Friday. He was in a hurry to get to the Georgia Dome to see his alma mater, Washington County High, play Buford High in the Class AAA state championship.
“I’m proud of those guys,” Watts said. “They’ve been playing hard all year, and they deserve it.”
Watts had a bet on the game with defensive coordinator Ted Roof, whose sons are freshmen on Buford’s team. With Roof’s team prevailing, Watts will have to wear Buford gear on Monday.
Watts, who will play in his final game for Tech Dec. 30 in the Music City Bowl against Ole Miss, has journeyed a long way from his own days playing for the Golden Hawks. He has played 48 games for the Yellow Jackets, starting 28. He is second on the team in tackles with 59. Saturday, he will receive his management degree at Tech’s winter commencement, one of 11 players graduating.
“When I first got here, it was a transition,” he said. “I had to adjust to college life, how hard Tech was. I just had to focus even more.”
Watts said he is the first in his family to graduate from a “major college.” According to U.S. Census data, 11 percent of Washington County residents 25-years-old or older hold bachelor’s degrees. The state average is 28 percent.
Graduating “is a big thing for me and my county where I’m from,” said Watts, who will likely get a chance at the NFL. “Everybody back home is happy for me.”
Rebels offense: Ole Miss runs an up-tempo spread offense that linebackers coach Andy McCollum compared to North Carolina's. The Rebels average 77.8 plays per game, the highest rate in the SEC.
“They’ve got a lot of good skill players. They rotate a lot of backs, and they all can run,” McCollum said. “The quarterback (Bo Wallace) does a good job of running the offense. It’s a big challenge, and they play fast.”
Tech has played several up-tempo teams this season, but McCollum said that Ole Miss is one of the faster teams the Jackets will have faced. Per usual, the challenge will be to communicate play calls prior to the snap and to win on third downs to get off the field. With Tech’s defense typically not playing backups that frequently, wearing down physically will be a concern.
After an 11-day break between the end of the regular season and the first bowl practice Thursday, the team did conditioning work prior to the first two practices.
Thursday, the team got a bit winded, defensive end Emmanuel Dieke said. But they came out Friday, he said, and “felt fine.”
Award winners: The team held its banquet Friday evening. A-back Robert Godhigh (offense), defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu (defense) and linebacker Tyler Marcordes (special teams) were given the effort awards for their respective units.
Rusty Scott (offense) and Beau Hankins (defense) were named the scout team players of the year. Both are linebackers, but Scott plays tight end for the offensive scout team.
Attaochu, who was named first-team All-ACC by the coaches and second-team by the media, was also named on Friday to the Sporting News’ All-ACC team, along with guard Shaquille Mason.
He was also named to the ACC’s “All-Tough” team, as chosen by Fox Sports South analyst Brian Stann.
Quotable: Offensive lineman Will Jackson on the double-overtime loss to Georgia on Nov. 30:
“That’s one that’ll stick with me forever. It may not show its head during practice this week or workouts in the offseason or getting ready for pro day, but that’s one, 30 years from now, I’m going to be bitter from. That’s not going anywhere.”
Etc.: Ole Miss began its bowl practice Friday evening. … The Jackets will practice Saturday, then Monday through Saturday of next week before being released for Christmas. The team will then reconvene for practice at school on the 27th before traveling to Nashville. … Linebacker Daniel Drummond, who suffered a lower-leg injury against Alabama A&M and missed the Georgia game, has been practicing in hopes of playing in the final game of his career. "He's moving around a little bit better," McCollum said.
