Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson acknowledged it was a difficult comparison to make, but graciously went ahead anyway. The question was how freshman defensive end KeShun Freeman measured with former Tech standout Jeremiah Attaochu at the same stage.
Having the benefit of early enrollment and being a year older than Attaochu was in his freshman season, Freeman was ahead, Johnson said.
“I think he’s going to be really good,” Johnson said.
In the Yellow Jackets’ season opener against Wofford on Saturday, Freeman and Roderick Rook-Chungong will take Attaochu’s place at rush defensive end, a critical playmaking position. They are among a handful of players taking the spots of six starters from the 2013 defense, all of whom made it to NFL camps. How they produce is among the biggest variables facing the Jackets as the season begins.
If Rook-Chungong felt any pressure in filling the void left by an All-American, the school’s all-time sack leader and the San Diego Chargers’ second-round pick, and doing so in his first college game, no less, he didn’t share it.
“I’m just trying to play a position that they need me to play and just contribute,” Rook-Chungong said.
Tyler Marcordes’ burden of replacing Brandon Watts, whom Marcordes backed for two years and who was drafted in the seventh round by the Minnesota Vikings, was similarly negligible.
“I don’t really think about it,” Marcordes said. “I just want to play how I play. I think that’s how every guy is out there, playing their game, do their responsibility, don’t worry about other people.”
Elsewhere, returning starter Adam Gotsis now shares the interior of the defensive line with Shawn Green, who has taken Euclid Cummings’ place. Tyler Stargel will replace Emmanuel Dieke at strongside defensive end. In the secondary, Chris Milton has been elevated to starting cornerback, where Louis Young started for three seasons. Isaiah Johnson is back at safety after a redshirt season to rehabilitate his torn ACL. Jemea Thomas finished his stellar career in that spot.
Speaking by phone from San Diego, Attaochu shared his wisdom about following an act like his.
“It sounds like a cliche, but on the field, you’ve got to be yourself as a player,” he said.
He also endorsed Rook-Chungong and Freeman.
“Rod has always been one of the hardest-working guys on the defensive line from the day he stepped on campus,” Attaochu said. “It’s finally his time to show what he can do.”
Attaochu never played with Freeman, but observed him in visits to spring practice.
“He has a great motor,” Attaochu said. “That’s the biggest part of playing that position, being able to play through the whistle and running to the ball. I think early in his career, that’s his biggest strength, being able to have a motor, and with it, the production will come.”
Attaochu’s former coach sees the same things.
“He’s got a great motor, good quicks, he’s tough and he cares,” Johnson said.
To Johnson, the last trait is crucial. He said Freeman takes coaching well and is bothered by his mistakes.
“He wants to be really good, and my experience has been guys who want to be really good, if they’re truly committed, they usually end up being good, especially if you have the ability that he has,” Johnson said. “I think the sky’s the limit for him.”
Johnson tempered his comments by reiterating that Freeman is a freshman and that, while he will make plays for the Jackets this season, he’ll be prone to making mistakes. With Freeman, perhaps the most pressing matter isn’t how his first college snaps go.
“Hopefully he ends up like Jeremiah,” Johnson said. “That’d be a good thing.”
Injury report: Tech released an injury report Thursday for the Wofford game. Listed as out are OL Nick Brigham (concussion), S Jalen Johnson (neck), BB C.J. Leggett (hamstring), OL Michael Preddy (foot), LB Rusty Scott (ankle), QB Brady Swilling (hand) and DB Roderick Tyler. Listed as probable are OL Gary Brown (toe), LB Anthony Harrell (knee) and DL Terrell Lewis (ankle).
