The Andy McCollum reunion tour concludes Saturday in Raleigh with Georgia Tech’s game against N.C. State.
Tech’s defensive line coach returned three weeks ago to Middle Tennessee State, where he was head coach from 1999 to 2005 and an assistant several years prior.
He was N.C. State’s linebackers coach from 2007-09 before Tech hired the Marietta High grad to be line coach and recruiting coordinator. It will be his first time at Carter-Finley Stadium since leaving.
“Some of the greatest people I’ve been around,” McCollum said. “I know how passionate their fans are, and I know what kind of enthusiasm it’s going to be.”
With his state ties, McCollum recruited several N.C. State players from Georgia, including three starting offensive linemen — guards Duran Christophe (Woodstock High) and Zach Allen (Tift County) and center Camden Wentz (Lassiter). McCollum said he has stayed in touch with players that he either recruited or coached.
“It’s a good bunch of kids,” McCollum said.
McCollum’s other previous employers — Texas-El Paso, Baylor and the Tennessee Titans — do not figure to come up on Tech’s schedule anytime soon.
Roster moves
Friday, coach Paul Johnson said he thinks A-back B.J. Bostic will redshirt. Bostic, who figured to be in the rotation coming into the season, suffered a right arm injury in the preseason and has yet to play. Having played as a freshman a year ago, Bostic will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Johnson also said the time is approaching to decide on a redshirt for freshman quarterback Vad Lee.
“Hopefully we can go through the year like we’re going right now with him, and he can take reps and learn and be able to compete in the spring,” Johnson said.
The kickoff return team will have new personnel, possibly including Tony Zenon as a replacement for return man Orwin Smith.
“Just to see if we can get something going,” Johnson said.
Four of Tech’s past nine kickoff returns have not gotten past the 19-yard line, prompting the change.
Ticked off on kickoffs
Kicker Justin Moore said it has been frustrating not being able to transfer good weeks of practice kickoffs into the games.
“The game is just a whole different story, especially the opening kick,” he said. “You’re just so jacked up that you just have to get back there and take a few deep breaths and calm yourself.”
Moore, who has made three of his past four field-goal attempts and all 28 of his point-after tries, has had trouble getting distance on the kickoffs. Moore said he thought he was having trouble with timing and the steps in his run-up to the ball.
“But I think I’ll get there very soon because I know I have to,” Moore said.
Captain’s log
A-back and team captain Roddy Jones said he has monitored the team for signs of complacency or satisfaction after reaching 4-0 and earning a No. 21 ranking in both polls. He hasn’t detected anything, which he attributes in part to strong leadership in all of the position groups.
Jones said that “the group of guys that we’ve got right now is a group that just works hard.”
Standing out
Guard Omoregie Uzzi, who has been named the top ACC offensive lineman for the past two weeks, has not escaped the attention of N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien.
“He comes off the ball. He’s low. He gets into his blocks and he stays on his blocks, and he knocks people down,” O’Brien said on the ACC coaches teleconference Wednesday. “He’s an impressive guy.”
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