Georgia Tech’s fall camp brought a pair of offensive linemen to the podium Tuesday, and both Kevin Peay Jr. and Jameson Riggs made it clear they’re trying to carve out bigger roles up front.
Riggs said his offseason emphasis centered on improving in the passing game, with an added focus on his feet and hands. He also said he missed part of June because he was banged up, but still used the summer to sharpen the parts of his game he wanted to clean up.
"Yeah, for sure. You're always looking to improve.
Pass game was another thing that I was trying to focus on. Coach came in and helped me a lot over the summer.
He's a great technique guy with that. So that was a big emphasis for me this summer.
I was a little banged up. So missed part of June, but that was a big thing I was working on, just feet and hands."
For Peay Jr., the opportunity itself is what stands out. He described the chance to help the team as something he’s been working toward for a long time, while also noting he’s willing to move around and handle multiple positions if needed.
"It's been good. Welcome challenge, you know, excited.
To be able to help the team out and everything is something I've been working for for a long time, and it kind of feels like it's finally my time to shine and everything. But I'm just trying to help the team out any way I can, playing multiple positions, all sorts of stuff.
It feels good."
Riggs said the process still feels a little surreal, but the competition around him has made camp worthwhile. He pointed to Georgia Tech’s defensive line as a strong test, naming Jordan Walker and Taje as two players who have pushed him.
"It's still kind of crazy to feel like I just got here yesterday, but I'm excited for sure."
"We've got a lot of good players, so the D-line especially is really good this year. Jordan Walker's a guy that's great to battle against, you know, all those guys.
Taje is a guy who I think has made a lot of improvements since the spring and everything, going up against him. We've got a great D-line.
It's been really fun to compete so far in the fall, for sure."
Peay Jr. also talked about the value of working alongside an experienced teammate, saying it makes things easier when it comes to double teams and the general flow of the line. He said the room has built a strong bond, and that the veteran presence has helped bring knowledge and confidence to the group.
"It's great. He's a vet guy.
He's played for a while. He knows what he's doing.
Big, strong guy out there. Makes my job easier.
Playing with him, you know, double teams and stuff are awesome. But playing with those guys has been great.
You know, we've got a great bond in the line room and everything. Just a lot of fun.
And, you know, those guys bring that experience and that know-how."
The energy around the room, Peay Jr. said, has been boosted by Coach Bo, who brings positivity every day and pushes players without tearing them down. That kind of approach, he said, has mattered especially because he can be hard on himself.
"It's been really good. I love his energy that he brings every day.
Just such a positive vibe, you know, a guy that really cares about you and is pushing you and wants what's best for you and everything. And just, you know, he's never putting you down.
He's always trying to pull you along if you're lagging behind and always trying to push you. It's been really good to have, especially a guy like me getting his head sometimes about stuff because, you know, I'm a perfectionist.
He just keeps me going and everything, and it's been really good to have him back for sure."
Riggs said the work this offseason has been more about refining details than overhauling anything, with hand placement among the finer points being stressed. He described it as the kind of pro-style work that can raise his game another notch.
"I mean, it's mostly similar stuff. You know, football is football.
But, you know, there's always new drills to improve and to kind of build on things that you've been doing. Just take it to the next step, kind of level up your game.
Like with me, there's been some stuff where he's trying to emphasize kind of the finer points, hand placement, that sort of thing that can take you to the next level, that sort of pro style stuff."
He also said the group has been watching a former teammate throughout the summer, including at Cypress one night for the draft, and that the goal is to match the energy he brought.
" Yeah, we've been watching it for sure. I mean, we were at Cypress one night for the draft, watching him get drafted and stuff.
It was awesome. And watching him during summer OTAs and camp and everything, really excited for him.
But just trying to match the energy that he brought is sort of the big thing. Just the way he attacked everything and the passion he brought is something, you know, I'm trying to emulate, and it's hard.
He was just a different type of guy. We're really excited for him.
His journey and everything, so for sure."
For Peay Jr., the adjustment to his expanded role is about learning the calls and settling into the speed of things. He said the chance to handle more responsibility should raise his game.
"I'd say it's definitely going to elevate my game to another level, just knowing the ID calls, the personnel, you know what I mean? Just going there.
Just got to go in there and work, man. Just compete."
He added that his comfort level is higher than it was a year ago, and that he believes Georgia Tech’s staff has put him in position to succeed.
"I'd say my comfort level down on the elevated from last year, you know what I mean? Just step into a different role, bigger role.
Not me just knowing. Just knowing what type of game, you know what I mean, what type of game this is, how we're going to play this game.
So, you know what I mean, I feel like those guys, like Coach Godsey, Coach Mo, Coach Key, those guys are going to put me in a sense of way to succeed."
He circled back to the defensive line again, saying that side of the ball has the personnel to make practice difficult every day.
" I'd say the defensive line, definitely, they got. They got some guys, man.
I feel like they give us a challenge. He's in there every day.
They're going to push us. We're going to push them.
And every day we're going to compete."
Peay Jr. also praised Coach Bo’s energy and said the coach is putting the entire room in position to succeed.
"Yeah, I'd say definitely Coach Bo is definitely energetic, man. He's going to bring that energy to the room each and every day.
He wants to succeed. He's going to put us in the best spots to succeed.
And I feel like by him doing that, all the guys in the room are going to succeed."
Another part of the conversation centered on communication, with Peay Jr. saying Ethan has been a major help and that the two of them will keep working to get things right on the field.
"I'd say definitely Ethan has helped me a lot. I mean, he's going to make me right.
I'm going to make him right. Now, when we're out there, we're going to communicate, and we're going to get things right.
So I feel like by him having that experience on the O-line, it's definitely a big part of the O-line this year."
Riggs closed by saying people may overlook him because of where he comes from, but that doesn’t change his approach.
" Yeah, I'd say definitely people are going to underestimate me where I come from, but I don't let that. uh put beside me so I just keep going just keep competing in everything i do and just keep working."
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