Teammates tout Godhigh, Attaochu as team MVPs

Georgia Tech defensive end Emmanuel Dieke paid homage recently to teammate and fellow end Jeremiah Attaochu with words that have almost become routine for the Yellow Jackets’ All-American.

“Relentless,” Dieke said. “Probably one of the most relentless players I’ve ever played with, just going out there and just putting it all on the line. He has, like, a different focus than you see from other players. He doesn’t smile, doesn’t laugh before a game, all business.”

They were words that well fit A-back Robert Godhigh, who likewise contributed an exceptional season and career.

“Robbie, too,” Dieke said. “Robbie came a long way. … We knew what Robbie was capable of doing, like even when he first came here as a walk-on. It’s just all about your getting an opportunity and, once you get an opportunity, just seizing it, and that’s what he did. He got an opportunity to play, and he just never looked back.”

In a survey of Tech players, Godhigh was a runaway choice as the Jackets’ offensive MVP for 2013. Attaochu edged safety Jemea Thomas for defensive MVP. The team does not designate team MVPs, but it is fitting that both received their unit’s effort awards, as that quality is at the heart of their excellence.

Godhigh said he is driven by the sum of the doubts and low expectations cast upon him and his 5-foot-7 frame. Attaochu’s high motor was imperative on his Washington, D.C., high school team that he said won five games during his career. Just for his team to have a chance, he said, he needed to play all-out on each snap. That relentlessness has been honed by what he calls “a certain level of integrity” for himself and his team to never quit. Attaochu said he beats himself up after games, questioning whether he gave enough effort on every play.

Attaochu applied the instruction of new defensive line coach Mike Pelton, combined it with grueling summer workouts to improve his explosion at the snap and hand strength to fend off offensive linemen and infused his own every-down ferocity to produce an all-time Tech season.

He has 12 sacks going into Monday’s Music City Bowl against Ole Miss (the team is scheduled to travel to Nashville, Tenn., on Friday), including 10 in the final five regular-season games. He has sped around, overpowered and out-fought offensive tackles to create pressure. Tech has averaged 2.7 sacks per game, the highest rate for any Paul Johnson-coached team at Tech, attributable in part to Attaochu’s own sacks, his forcing quarterbacks toward other defenders or his taking on double teams to create better matchups for teammates.

“I appreciate how hard he works,” said outside linebacker Brandon Watts, who contributed 2.5 sacks. “We know he’s going to bring it every game.”

Short in stature, but possessing sinister lateral quickness and great lower-body strength, Godhigh did plenty of heavy lifting for Tech’s offense. He made defenders miss when the alleys weren’t there, shot through them when they were, cleared pathways with cut blocks and employed superior ball skills to bring down passes against taller defensive backs.

He has 14 plays from scrimmage of 30 yards or more (fourth most in the NCAA) and gained touchdowns or first downs on 54 percent of his offensive touches. Of his 1,114 yards from scrimmage this season, 40 percent (445 yards) have been gained after contact.

“Robbie’s always making plays for us when we’ve needed them, whether it’s the passing game or the running game,” quarterback Vad Lee said. “He’s a great player, even at his size.”