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Podcast: Locked On Georgia Tech - Daily Podcast On Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Football & Basketball Episode: BREAKOUT: Georgia Tech Tight Ends Poised to SHOCK ACC Under George Godsey & Gavin Harris Leads Transcript: It's the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Get your daily college sports fix completely ad-free with a 7-day free trial to the Everyday Our Club. Listen to your favorite schools locked on podcast without tee interruptions and unlock an exclusive invite to our members-only Discord chat to talk team news 24-7 with die-hard fans. Join the club right now by tapping the link in the show notes to claim your free trial. I believe from the bottom of my heart that this tight end group will be the most improved in 2026. You are locked on Georgia Tech, your daily podcast on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket, part of the LOCKDOT podcast network, your team every day. Welcome in to Lockdown Georgia Tech, I'm your host Jarvis Davis and Ryan with me today. I got my man, Najee Wilkins, who joins us and he is the beat writer for Georgia Tech for Sports Illustrated. Coming up on today's show, we'll have a breakout year in this tight end room. And also we'll discuss where Gavin Harris and Chris Corbosech, did he surpass him or did he say things say the same? We'll talk about that. But first, Najee, when we talk about how this tight end room was pretty much stripped down to the studs when it comes to guys who actually recorded stats last year, kind of sound very similar to this wide receiver room. You know, it's just, all similarities there. You got to, you have to think about a lot of questions being asked about this team and who's going to be guys catching it, the guys catching the ball this year. Now, when I look back in Buster Faulkner's offense, he didn't use lines of tight end that much. We're talking about 36 catches, 546 yards and four touchdowns combined from that position just last year. So it's not a lot, not a lot of production. But with George Gotsie coming into play and him coaching the tight end position and coaching some really good tight ends up there in Baltimore, I really feel like the tight end is going to be featured more. So I think there's going to be an improvement just based off of that right there. But when I look at this tight ends, the tight ends that Brent Key brought in via the portal and some of the guys that have improved this year, I'm starting to think, Najee, that this is going to be the most improved position group for the 2020 season. Jarvis, I'm going to disagree with you on the most improved position group. And you want to go offensively, I would give you that notion. But overall, I'm going to say, okay, I'm going to D-Lah, I'm not getting to D-Lah today because they're not D-Lah Day. So I'm going to D-Lah overall. But offense, 100%. And to your point going on the Gotsie point, I think you're 100% right because he's looking who he's coached, right? Like you look at the last of Mark Andrews has been a staple in that race. They're even office for years. She's likely in his emergence in that offense becoming kind of that tight end one is, you know, Andrew Douglass, some injuries and things like that. His coach, obviously Rob Gronkowski, like he knows how to use tight ends. And then to put it all together, look at the spring game. Kevin Roshaise Jr. has his catches for 70 yards. He was a highly featured part in that offense, right? And a lot of that, some of the worries for Jones, notice their fans is, okay, well, what about the receiver group? And I tell them, don't worry because the tight end rule is so strong, right? Mind you, they did this for the majority of the spring with only two tight ends, right? Really, Gavin Harrison, Kevin Roshaise Jr. He had the guys in there, but a lot of them were banged up. Now you're going to frame that those guys to the fold, right? So I do think it is one of the most improved positions on the scene because now with how Gotsie's going to feature those guys in his offense, how they're going to be utilized, I think you're going to see the production go up. And going back to your point about Buster Faulkner primarily uses blocking tight ends the good jobs. Ethan Brett Sider, who was probably the best pass catcher, JT Burns, that was more so that role was kind of blocking. Now we're going to see the emergence of them as pass catches, which is why they went and got it got like Nathan, the guy being right, Kevin Roshaise Jr. and continues to grow. He's got to be catching them all more over the intermediate part of film, which is where this office is probably going to thrive. Yeah, man. And to be honest with you, I kind of get excited about it because when you bring in that many guys at that position, obviously you're trying to fill some holes and you got some guys on your roster that you didn't necessarily know how those guys are going to play out. So you went and got some veteran guys via the portal. And I think about 12 personnel, obviously with two tight ends and one running back and 13 personnel, three tight ends and one running back, you're going to be able to give the defense a lot of different looks that they're not used to seeing. And I think giving that that outlook as well, they should be able to take advantage of that. And like you said, you're not necessarily have to worry about that while receivers, but I think that's going to come. It's going to take time. They're going to have to get their timing down like I'm talking about that on the show Friday about that while receiver group and where they stand and what they need to do in order to be productive, a productive position. But yeah, man, I'm convinced that this tight ends group is ready to rock. And I think more importantly, when you are implementing a new starter at the quarterback spot, this is first year here at the starting Alberto Mendoza. You have a first year play calling offensive coordinator. The tight end position is going to be Alberto Mendoza's friend. Oh, that was a percent it's your security blanket, right? It's what you're going to go to when those receivers are covered deep down the field. You guys take the ball off a okay four or five yard catch, but these guys did the key difference from realizing these guys can take those four or five yards and turn them into 12 at 15 yards. All that stuff matters matters. That's an explosive play in the book of coach Kean obviously what he said last year, right? So now you got guys that you got to really do too much. They can go get the yard. That's where Gavin Harris and Kevin Rocha Jr. kind of comes in now with this offense, right? Now we still haven't had the chance to see in totality, Chris Coribos, Professor Mermas, who's kind of like he does a little dirty work for them. You know what I'm saying, he blocks very well. We haven't seen that portion just yet, but Georgia State friends are worried. It's tight in room. One thing I can say is very deep and they got guys that can go and this will be a position that they really have to worry about. They'll see a lot more production this season. Yeah, and when you think about the skills that's just the guys you name, like Spencer, you know, he's a big guy, more so of a blocking tight in. And then you have Kevin Rocha, who just freakish. He just looks the part when he gets off the bus six, seven, six, eight, you know, 240 some odd pounds to be 150 pounds. He's just one of those dudes. And then you got Gavin Harris, who is about 6263, about 230, 240. And he he builds a nice rapport with Albert this spring. And I think that he's going to be like that safety net like you mentioned. So, yeah, it's a lot of different types of guys. And and and when these guys were brought in, we had some conversations about, all right, this could be something that could really benefit the quarterback benefit the office coordinator to get things figured out because we know they're going to try to run the football is just all about how they're going to build the pass and gain based off of that. All right, coming up next. Nadia, you know, I'm going to just dive into this dip chart. Did Gavin Harris surpass Chris Corbow? We'll discuss that next. The deadline stack enough. 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You get a $75 sponsor job credit to help get your job, the premium status it actually deserves and indeed.com slash podcast. So go to indeed.com slash podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about it on lockdown Georgia. Indeed.com slash podcast terms and conditions apply. Need hire? This is a job for indeed sponsor jobs. I want to offer you opportunity to become part of the cool kids. You know that club you're part of in high school, but it's a little bit different now. This is the everyday club where you unlock ad free episodes. All you have to do is click the link in the show notes or go to lockdown Georgia Tech dot supercast a dot com. All right, nausea. We talked about potential to be in. The most improved position group. I'm falling on that, but you know, hey, I know where you are with deepest line and I smell you on that one, but it's tight in group, man. It didn't have that much production last year, but we'll definitely kind of stick a pin in that one. But I have to talk about, you know, with the injury to Chris Corbow and him not really getting a chance to really participate in the game. And all he got a few practices in, but he didn't necessarily get a chance to establish himself. And it was the guy that I had pinned as the starting tight end, so to speak. A tight end one coming into the spring. But when you look at how Gavin was able to establish that rapport with Alberto Mendoza, do you think that he has surpassed a guy like Chris Corbow as the lead title? I think you're probably going to end up seeing Gavin Harris. You know, I'm saying that starting unit again, we can go back to what we saw with her from Coach Key in the second second spring scrimmage. Right here, two touchdowns of the three-down, Alberto Mendoza group. Right? Now that we see a whole bunch of spring game now, because at that point, you've kind of proven yourself productive practices, really good spring scrimmage. You've shown us everything that you need to do. That's not to say that Chris Corbow will have a role this year. I just think it's going to be more so, okay, Gavin Harris, tight end one. And I think it's going to be their rotation of Kevin Rossley Jr. alongside with the Chris Corbow with tight end two. In my humble opinion, Coach Key is raved about Roshay. I think Corbow will still find himself obviously in the field. But I think Gavin Harris, 400%, and has established himself as tight end one, is somebody that isn't just, you know, catching the ball going down like this guy can easily get you 20-plus yards, you know, with no problem. You can be a red zone target for you as well. Right? So when you have that and you're Jordan Tate, most teams will gear up just kind of stop that running a red zone. Now I got another target. I get the ball too. That teams are going to pop it for you to get about it and sleep out a little bit. That makes me feel good. And now I got the explosive play I can hit on at the tight end group. You don't find it everywhere, Garps. Yeah, man. And that's the thing about transitioning from one offense to another. And I know a lot of people had some questions about whether or not they're going to, we're going to see some remnants of Buster Faulkner's offense. Well, I have the answer to that question. Absolutely not. This is going to be George Gosses off and this is going to look a lot different in the way they did. The only thing is probably going to be similar is the amount of times they run the football. That's the only thing you're going to be able to see. And I think that the tight end utilizing the tight end more is going to benefit them because, like you said, when you are able to dump it off, so to speak, to to the tight end for five or six yards, it might be a five or six yards pass. But there's an opportunity for them to turn that back one to 12 to 15 and maybe even 20. Those are the type of guys that you were able to bring in. But yeah, man, I think Gavin Harris absolutely surpassed for his Corbob. Because Corbob was a little bit more, you know, I feel like he seemed like the guy that was the lead guy. All the other dudes come in and prove it. But once, like you said, once he came in and, you know, it got a little banged up, you know, Gavin Harris took full advantage of that and he was able to pass him in that. But when you think about that aspect of it, do you see a scenario where Chris Corbob could potentially get healthy and basically re-earn that other types of things? I mean, I think that's a good idea in one spot because I feel like there's a way that he can, but I want to get your thoughts on it first. Yeah, I mean, I think for Garlic for Chris Corb, could he earn himself that role 100%? All right, obviously he's more than capable for the tank target than him for a reason, right? I think it's just a situation where Harris took full advantage of his opportunity. He was fully healthy and he took the spring and allowed that to kind of flourish and show where he could bring to the safe, right? So he's going to be very still very high on him. So he's going to be a single step. So as Titan one, I think regardless, he's going to have a role in this offense, right? To what level to what degree that remains to be seen, but 100% if he's healthy, as if it doesn't fall, can't he can easily be back to Titan one? I just feel like they're going to be using all four of these guys in the humble of pain. It's been some environmental certain situations. I feel like they're going to use Corb, all certain things. Same thing with Gavin here. I just like it's going to be a kind of platoon. I swap with those guys and they're going to use them in different things. Crunch down. The initial feeling I get, not knowing in the intel, I just feel like the game is on the line. I need a big play. I'm going to go to Gavin Harris. That's what it feels like to me. But for Corb, I feel like he will be coming at certain situations of the game and still be very productive while the guys get arrested. You know what I'm saying? I say he won't be on there all three down or not. And my run to Titan sets, but I fight game on the line. I fight. They don't be going with Captain Harris. Yeah. And I think we kind of got up and I forgive me for those listening and watching this thing. I kind of got to differentiate like what it is like. Gavin Harris is going to be your lead pass kitchen, Titan, but hands down 1000%. Spencer Marme is going to be that Titan is going to be lining up next to that office attack alone first and second down. You know, if they're running the football, Spencer Marme is going to be one of those tight ends. If they're in the two tight ends set so can't forget about Spencer. So he's going to be your lead blocker. Right. When you talking about being in there, being in there on first down, short down situations like running situations and you might be able to run a few routes for you from time to time. So you won't become obvious. And I think that when you have certain guys in and in certain situations, guys are going to watch film and they're going to key in on that. No pun intended. And you have to get yourself prepared for that situation. Now, back to the whole piece about Corbo potentially earning or re earning that that that Titan one spot or passing. I'm passing Titan spot. If he can prove that he can block at least just the average being average blocker. That's a great point. He can definitely. I feel like he definitely jumping there because he has mentioned that Harris can, you know, it can can definitely improve from a from a block and standpoint. I think if Corbo can prove that he's the more complete Titan, meaning I can catch the ball also and I can be able to put my hands on someone and at least get in the way and hold it down until just his hands or a medical hose. Be able to bounce that bad boy outside outside and take it to the house because that's what you're going to look for. That's how you get those explosive plays in the run game. When you're tight ends, able to see it off those edges and those guys, if either one of those guys able to do that, they're going to really separate themselves from from a from a snap perspective. If they were to prove that, Hey, I know I can block and I can also catch passes as well. So yeah, I think that's going to be one thing to keep an eye out for when you're talking about. Corbo kind of re earning that that Titan in one spot. And I think last year they did under their up. I think last year that that was something they kind of struggle with because it was a reverse. I thought this year. Well, quick job. They had they have three or three or four guys that are really really catching the ball last year was that they were good at blocking. But now you got kind of like the reverse of it. So to your point, if Corbo can be more that complete Titan, then he gives coach key more trust and gives obviously, the tight ends coach Nathan rock more trust of. Oh, well, you were kind of the complete package and go around. And I know we're going to mention the next segment. But one guy that coach key did mention as the complete package at the spot was Kevin Rocher Jr. So that's something to think about as well. We are, we haven't talked about no two, but he did come out and say that's that's the big package right there. So that's something to think about too. That is a perfect lead into what we're going to talk about next. I think Kevin Rocher is going to be a breakout player this year. But if he's able to figure out a way to be a two way guy whoo. 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Now, I've already kind of spilled the beans, Naji, when, because when I hear a coach talk about a guy, I'm prompted. I always pay attention to that. Camera O'Shade is that guy. I feel like he was the number one guy when it comes to how many times did he talk about a player when he wasn't asked about it? I feel like Kevin Rochade is like number one guaranteed number one. And I feel like for the. Those reasons. He's going to be a guy, and I think we got a glimpse of it in the white and gold game that is going to really surprise some folks this year. A lot of people are going to find out about who Kevin Rocher is and the element that you talked about him being able to block as well, along with being able to catch passes. I feel like he's going to be able to separate himself if he's able to get both of those things figured out. That's the one part we haven't talked about with Kevin Rocher. He talks about the pass catch, and what he can do with the ball in his hands, but we haven't talked about the blocking element of it. It is his day-to-day. How fundamentally sound he is. How he's been working on that element of his game. You can put your hand in the dirt as a tight end. You can block and you can help chip some of them. Edge rushers outside line bikers, those hybrid guys. You don't see the field, right? Because you got to do that. These guys are athletic in the ACC. See what you want. Like we see a couple guys go get drafted. TJ Parker is right. The Peter Woods, that's more on the inside, but we see some of them edges get drafted. So you got to be able to go against them and be able to block them at a very high level. For Kevin Rocher's union, I think that's the key. I don't know what we were just saying last time. Obviously, about Chris Carbo. If you can find not a way to be able to get in the way, chip those guys, give your right tackle. James Hill race will likely be a little bit more time. You don't see it? That goes a long way. That's kind of your blueprint of how you can say. Yes, pass catching is a great part of it. But just in front of most, because this offense, as you said, is predicated over that football. So if you can do that in chip, think about what Coach Goss is going to design for those guys. Chip and release, right up the field. So you can dip release up the field while open scene. That's 30, 40 plus yard game right there. Yeah. And that's the thing that I talked about, you know, how Jimmy Smith is going to have a hard time. Divying up carries. Now, obviously, the first answer is always going to be justice. Sure. But when you talk about the talent that's in that room and Malachi Hoseley, and then you got JP Powell, then you have Alexander, then you got Traitling Maddox, like all these guys are super talented dudes. And then of course, but there are pick and orders. Don't get me wrong. One, two, we know exactly who those guys are. It's definitely hangs and Hoseley. But when it comes to figuring out how to get those other guys involved because they're just, they're not as talented, but they're right there when you're talking about being able to make a change or make a difference when you put them in the room. I feel like Jimmy Smith's job is going to be really hard. I feel the same about Nate Brock because like when you have a guy like Chris Coribol, you know what he can do. He wasn't able necessarily able to, you know, show that during spring or in the spring game. And then you have Gavin Harris, establish himself as a safety net for your starting quarterback, and Alberto Mendoza. And then you have Kevin Roush, who the head coach is just like, hey, man, this dude is going to be really freaking good. I think Nate Brock is going to have a little task on his hands when it comes to figure out who should be in the game and personnel groupings and his job is going to be just as hard. I don't think it's going to be as tough. The reason I say this is because Natchems, right? Remember what you're playing. So remember, he's going to get him to stop that run. So yeah, it might be a little tough for you to decide, okay, is it this guy, this guy put. If I got a weaker linebacker where I know this slide can't really cover these big tight in at 6869. Oh, well, that's easy for me. Kevin Roush is going to get him. He's going to slow a linebacker and he struggles in coverage and he's flat footy. He can't stay up. Oh, plug in Gavin Harris. We're going to dominate that. Or, oh, we got a linebacker that's kind of low hesitant when the run's coming his way. We can go to somebody out. Oh, it's going to get in there, man. So to your point, I think for Rockets, what come down to those matches? Playing in Colorado, the Tennessee, the Dubues, the Virginia, how is that linebacker core unit looking? How do they look at obviously that slot nickel position, star position? And you might have some advantages on your hands because ain't too many people either covering one a speedy fast tight in in Gavin Harris or two a miss a pretty much a mismatch in Kevin Roush, a junior. And then obviously you got to kind of do it all Chris Corvo too. Yeah, man. It's funny as you said, because, you know, styles always make the fight, right? And if you can find a mismatch that close to the line of scrimmage, especially when people know that you're going to be running football, it is going to be a long day for the second level of opposing defenses. And if your linebackers can't run not only running hit and make tackles in the backfield, but to be able to be versatile enough to be able to run with a Kevin Roush, a junior who runs like a deer by the way. Man, I don't know if you saw it, but I dropped a video on our YouTube channel. I'm like on Georgia Tech. And most of the time when I'm filming stuff, I stay quiet. You know, just try to stay quiet, you know, just highlight the film and, you know, film the guys and everything. But there was just one particular throw that Graham knows me, which I was kind of, it was a really good throw. I was just like, oh, okay, that's nice throw. But just the way how smooth Kevin Roush was when he was running that route. And then he just caught the football and just immediately took that bad boy in and just shot up field. I'm like, man, he's not supposed to be able to do that. I'm not supposed to be able to make that look that easy because he's just such a big dude, man. I don't guys that size are supposed to lose this man. 6'9", 255 pounds, man. You're not supposed to move like that. So I think man, you make a really great point when you talk about the mismatches and then weekly game plans kind of dictating how many reps these guys get on a weekly basis. A thousand percent. And like you said, we almost, this point we can call Kevin Roush in a unicorn. You know what I'm saying? That's what he's kind of looking like. And I think, like you said, he's going to take the ACC world and college football by storm. I really believe that with how this office is going to be predicated around running the ball tight ends and different things like that. But yeah, to your point, style make fights. So it's like I got this newly improved tight end group, which to your point, I agree with you in the earlier segment, like this is the most improved position group on office, 100%. And now I got a whole bunch of different things I can do with throughout there. So if I'm brought, yeah, it's uber talented like four more or two, but also let me allow these masses to dictate how I'm going to put these guys in, who's going to get these reps and who's eating that day. You also got to think about who we're going to talk about this, Jarvis. Who has the high hand? What if we started game in this Colorado is Tennessee and let's say, yeah, we're going to get four catches 50 yards. So sometimes you got to ride that hot end too. You know, sometimes we go like, Oh, I got to get, you know, I got to get this guy's mermaid some reps, but if that hot end is working, you got to feed that hot end. You ride that man. You got to feed that. It's something there. It's something there that he's seen at Alberto Mendoza is seeing that it may take some time for the next person to come in and see it. And you don't want to mess that up. You want to continue to like say ride that hot hand because it's not a rattle. Let's just face it, man. It's going to be some holes in that defense. I just said it. Right. What were you guys saying? No, I was going to say like, and you want like proof, you can stop me. Prove that you can slow this down. Like teams do that all the time. I'm talking about enough. Like, let's say, okay, this guy, uh, Roshad, you know, he has 100 yards in the first half against Tennessee. Right. Why would I not go in the second half? We out 24 10. We don't go, okay, I'm going to put here. I said, I'm going to put this guy in. Why? They did not have an answer for him in the whole first half. I'm going to continue to go show me that you can stop this. Then when you stop it, then I will go somewhere else. Sometimes teams deviate from that and we see other teams get back into games because they go kind of away from the game playing to something else. No, show me you have the means to stop me. You tell me, I'm going to keep doing the same thing. Yeah, man. That's, man. Yeah. We, we, we, we, we, we talk about this comes to the coaching and game playing and stuff like that. Like you have to prove that coaches can coach. Yeah. And the way they prove that they can, they can coach is by making adjustments. If they are able to make in-game adjustments, adjustments, you keep doing it, keep doing it over and over and over again. And you can't get bored with it. You can't get bored with that. So, so yeah, man, I'm with you on that. I think Kevin Rocher is going to do some really good things. And I think that he is definitely in this, in this tight end room, he's going to be my guy there. I was like, Hey, what's this back in that one? Oh, based off what I saw, what we seen at practice and how coach he talks about this young man and in the white and gold game and going out there and proving it. Yeah. Kevin Rocher is a guy, he's a guy to watch when it comes to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in 2020, City. Oh, that'll do it for lockdown Georgia Tech. Yeah, it had done. So make sure you like and subscribe to the YouTube channel. Or you can follow the show wherever you download your podcast. Follow NAGI on all platforms at NAGI, Wilk, and you can follow me on all platforms at Jarvis D90. For those of you on video, we see you to the first ever 24-7 National Lockdown Podcast Network YouTube channel. On audio, make sure you make your second list. Lockdown College basketball, my main man Isaac Shea and Andy Pat. It's all part of Lockdown Podcast Network. Where it is, your team, every single day. Show notes: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets’ tight end group could become the surprise powerhouse of 2026. Can Gavin Harris and Kevin Roche Jr. transform the offense under new coordinator George Godsey? Jarvis Davis and Naje Wilkins break down how Godsey’s NFL pedigree and a revamped depth chart may unlock big gains for Georgia Tech’s passing attack. They examine whether Harris has leapt ahead of Chris Corbo as TE1, and what Rocher Jr.’s unique skillset brings to the table. Key topics include the impact of 12 and 13 personnel, how tight ends can create matchup nightmares against ACC defenses, and why Brent Key’s unit could thrive with increased versatility and explosive plays. With looming questions at wide receiver and a new starting quarterback in Alberto Mendoza, the tight end room’s evolution may be Georgia Tech’s X-factor. Will this be the Yellow Jackets’ most improved position group? Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. 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