Tech preseason box

Returning starters: 10 (WR DeAndre Smelter, Sr.; WR Micheal Summers, So.; AB Synjyn Days, Sr.; G Shaquille Mason, Sr.; G Trey Braun, Jr.; OT Bryan Chamberlain, Jr.; DT Adam Gotsis, Jr.; LB Quayshawn Nealy, Sr.; S Demond Smith, Jr., CB D.J. White, Jr.) (Does not include K Harrison Butker, So.)

Key losses: 10 (QB Vad Lee, So.; AB Robert Godhigh, Sr.; BB David Sims, Sr.; OT Ray Beno, Sr., G Will Jackson, Sr., C Jay Finch, Sr., DE Jeremiah Attaochu, Sr.; DT Euclid Cummings, Sr.; LB Brandon Watts, Sr.; S Jemea Thomas, Sr.)

Three position battles to watch:

A-back

After the graduation, there’s a logjam of backs trying to earn a spot in the rotation. Synjyn Days and Deon Hill figure to be at the top of the pile, there’s at least six others who have a legitimate chance at playing time. The competition is good news for the Yellow Jackets, as they’ll need a playmaker or two at this multi-pronged position in the offense.

Defensive end

With Attaochu now in training camp with the San Diego Chargers, the search is on for a replacement at the rush end positon from which Attaochu became an All-American with 12.5 sacks. Two of the most prominent candidates are newcomers, early-enrollee freshman KeShun Freeman and transfer Kenderius Whitehead, who is finishing up coursework at Georgia Military College.

Quarterback

It seems unlikely that backup Tim Byerly could overtake first-stringer Justin Thomas, but Byerly’s solid performance in the spring impressed coaches. As camp begins, it appears Byerly will have some sort of role in the offense, but the depth of that role will be shaped by how both quarterbacks fare in August.