Brent Key made one thing clear at ACC Kickoff: Georgia Tech isn’t changing its approach just because the schedule brings Colorado and Tennessee into the picture.
The Yellow Jackets coach said the opponent doesn’t alter the day-to-day standard.
"We're going to show up every day and work our tails off so we can line up and go out and play the type of football that I envision us playing. That's regardless of who the opponent is.
We're very excited about being able to play those opponents. The work has already been in play, and we're excited about them all."
Key was also asked about Alberto Mendoza, and he kept the praise pointed but measured. Mendoza has not started a college football game, but Key highlighted the traits that stand out to him.
"You think I'm going to sit here and tell you everything he does and does well and doesn't do well? He's smart, cerebral.
Sees the whole field, can get us in and out of good plays, bad plays. He's accurate, has a good release.
Mom and dad are great people."
On the subject of Haynes, Key said the path to Georgia Tech was straightforward: Haynes entered the portal, and the Yellow Jackets reached out.
"Look, no different than anybody else. It's recruiting.
It's relationships. We've got two running backs here with us today, and I think we have, what, four more back at home we couldn't fit on the plane with us.
If that tells you what type of team we're going to be. They all complement each other very well.
I'm super excited about that entire group.
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Brent Key Just Raised The Standard For Georgia Tech Football
Brent Key has spent the last few years nudging Georgia Tech football forward, and the climb shows in the win totals, from six to seven to nine last season. Even with that steady rise, Key made it clear the program is still chasing something bigger, framing the job around more than just progress and pointing to the standard he believes the Yellow Jackets should be aiming for.
Key also tied the football mission to the classroom, saying he wants to graduate his players while building a championship program. Athletic director Ryan Alpert and president Angel Cabrera are aligned with that vision, which gives the push a broader institutional feel, but Keys message was still unmistakably personal: the work so far has mattered, and it still has not reached the finish line. [Read more 🡒]
Braylon Outlaw Is Suddenly A Name Georgia Tech Fans Need To Watch
Spring practice has a way of sorting out who is just filling out a roster and who is starting to push for real snaps, and Braylon Outlaw has already made himself worth a closer look. The true freshman linebacker has drawn attention from Georgia Tech coaches for the kind of athleticism and defensive feel that can speed up a players rise, even in a room with experienced options already in place.
Brent Key has made it clear Outlaw is not being viewed as a long-term project only, and the early buzz around him reflects a player who could help sooner than expected. Georgia Tech still has veteran depth at linebacker, but Outlaws development gives the staff another intriguing option, especially if he keeps building on the progress he showed in spring and turns that into a role on special teams before anything bigger opens up. [Read more 🡒]
Brent Key Just Gave Georgia Tech Fans A Reason To Believe
Brent Key left ACC Media Days sounding like a coach who knows exactly what he wants Georgia Tech to be. The Yellow Jackets are leaning hard into a physical identity built around running the football, playing with confidence and making sure opponents feel them from the first snap. Key and his players made it clear they believe the program is ready to challenge the leagues best, and they are not backing away from big-picture goals.
What stood out was how firmly Georgia Tech is talking about staying true to that approach no matter how the roster changes around it. Keys message was less about hype than continuity, with the Jackets determined to keep the same edge and the same style even as new names enter the picture. For a fan base looking for a sign that this can be more than talk, that kind of conviction matters. [Read more 🡒]