Tae Harris didn’t need much time to get on the field at Georgia Tech, and now the Cedartown, Georgia safety is being asked to take the next step.
As a freshman, Harris appeared in all 13 games and carved out a meaningful role on special teams while also making his mark in the secondary. He finished with 21 tackles, including 16 solo stops and five assisted, along with one forced fumble and two pass breakups. Now, with one season behind him, Harris is moving toward a bigger job as a starter and a leader in the safety room.
That responsibility comes with a clear expectation from Coach Vinnie Sunseri, who wants Harris to be one of the voices guiding a young group. Harris said he understands what that looks like and is ready to be the kind of player younger teammates can turn to.
"Anything I can do to help the young guys because I've been here before. Harris understands the schemes, so he is assuming the role of a shoulder to lean on as they prepare for the season opener. Harris understands the Sunseri expectations with him understanding what Sunseri is trying to get across to the younger players."
The relationship between Harris and Sunseri has taken time to develop, especially as Harris adjusted to the way his coach communicates. What once felt unclear now sounds much more familiar to him.
"We've had those talks and I understand where he is coming from, his philosophy part of it."
That understanding has helped Harris see the bigger picture in the safeties room, and he says the group is moving in the right direction.
"It's been a journey, but I like the direction we are going."
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Sunseris message has centered on growth as much as execution, with the emphasis on learning from mistakes and adjusting to the programs culture instead of letting early missteps linger. For Georgia Tech, the stakes are obvious: the Yellow Jackets need those safeties to mature quickly, and the next stretch of camp will go a long way toward showing whether the group is ready for the demands ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Faces A Big Early Test For Its New Depth Chart
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For a roster trying to build depth across multiple spots, this is the kind of test that can sharpen the picture quickly. Several players have been singled out as important to that process, and the scrimmage will matter as much for development as for the pecking order. The Jackets are still early in the evaluation phase, but this is the point where practice competition starts to turn into something closer to a real answer. [Read more 🡒]