Spencer Merman has stepped into Georgia Tech’s season-opener buildup with plenty of reasons to feel good about where he fits.
The Yale transfer tight end brings a résumé that jumps off the page in one key area: blocking. Over three seasons, Merman appeared in 24 games and finished with a Pro Football Focus grade of 91.3, the best among tight ends.
He had just two catches in 2025, but both turned into touchdowns, which only adds to the odd little twist of his profile. He’s not being asked to come in as a volume receiver.
Georgia Tech expects its run game to be a major part of the offense, and that’s where Merman sees his chance to matter.
What’s been different for him since arriving in Atlanta is the daily grind. The playbook is bigger, the weight-room work is heavier, and the running demands are something he didn’t experience at Yale. He’s also had to adjust to how George Godsey uses tight ends, with more movement and more varied alignments than he was used to.
“At Yale, I knew I'd be lining up on the ball. Now sometimes they have me in the backfield and I have a lot of fun getting back there and getting downhill on the D end.”
That flexibility has become part of the job, and Merman sounds like he’s embracing it. He’s also been paying close attention to the size and strength of Georgia Tech’s defensive line in practice.
Jordan Walker stood out to him right away, and Merman called him “a dog who gets after it in the weight room.” Jordan Boyd and Taje McCoy have caught his eye too, and the challenge has been real.
“They definitely make me work for my blocks.”
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Amontrae Bradford has emerged as one of the names to watch, while Outlaw, Harris and Garrett are also expected to take on bigger roles this fall. With the Yellow Jackets not turning to the transfer portal for linebackers or defensive backs, the bet here is on internal development, and the early camp buzz suggests that approach may give this defense a new look when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]