March 16, 2003
As Georgia Tech continues spring football practice, the Yellow Jackets welcome back a defense that features eight returning starters, led by senior linebackers Keyaron Fox and Daryl Smith.
Tech’s second practice of the spring, like its first, was a non-contact session in which the Yellow Jackets concentrated on installation. The Jackets’ next practice, scheduled for Wednesday, will be the first full-pads practice.
“We put in some more today, so that part was sloppy, but the effort was excellent,” said Gailey after Sunday’s workout at Rose Bowl Field. “I’ve been very pleased with the effort and the attitude and not as pleased with the execution these first two practices.”
“We’ve been able to put a lot in these first two days, and we’ve worked on the kicking game. We’re going into pads for the first time on Wednesday, so we’ll get back to the fundamentals of playing the game. The real football starts Wednesday with pads on.”
Fox, 6-3 and 220 pounds, had a breakout season in 2002 with 92 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception and six pass breakups, despite missing time with a sprained ankle.
“Key Fox has got a chance to be a very good linebacker. He still needs to continue to work on his game and pay attention to the details of playing the position. He’s a very good athlete who can make big plays,” said Gailey.
Smith, 6-2, 235, has led the Jackets in tackles two of the last three years, including last fall, when he boasted 99 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, five sacks, one interception and five pass breakups. He will, however, miss spring drills after off-season surgery on his left shoulder.
With Smith out for the spring, senior Ather Brown is working at middle linebacker, while promising redshirt freshman Kingi McNair is getting a look at outside linebacker at the position vacated by four-year starter Recardo Wimbush.
A former starter at outside linebacker, Brown had 23 tackles with one tackle for loss in a reserve role last fall, although he did make one start when Fox was injured. Brown has made 16 career starts, including every game of 2000.
“He’s been capable of playing all the linebacker positions,” Gailey said of Brown. “He’s a veteran player whose done a lot and can move around.”
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