April 12, 2002
The 2002 football season is still months away, but Georgia Tech’s standout defensive end Greg Gathers has been named to preseason watch lists for the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
A rising senior from LaPlace, La., Gathers is a two-time first-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection who earned second-team all-America honors last fall. The 6-1, 275-pounder is already Tech’s career leader in quarterback sacks (30) and tackles for loss (56).
The Lombardi Award is open to any player who is lineman on offense or defense or lines up within five yards of the ball. The Nagurski Trophy is presented to the nation’s top defensive player.
The Lombardi watch list also included Tech sophomore Nat Dorsey (New Orleans, La.), a 6-6, 315-pound offensive tackle who earned first-team all-ACC accolades as a true freshman.
While Gathers is the backbone of the Tech defensive front, the Yellow Jackets are looking at a number of other players this spring for the other three defensive line positions.
Opposite Gathers at defensive end, Tech must replace another all-conference performer in Nick Rogers. Junior Hobie Holiday (Warner Robins, Ga.) and sophomore Tony Hargrove (Punta Gorde, Fla.) are competing for that spot.
At defensive tackle, starters Gary Johnson (LaGrange, Ga.) and Alfred Malone (Frisco City, Ala.) return, but several others players should also see action, including junior Reggie Koon (Miami, Fla.), senior Casey Loesch (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and redshirt freshmen Travis Parker (Hacienda Heights, Calif.), who moved from end to tackle.
“There are a lot of guys who are showing some progress there,” said Tech head coach Chan Gailey following Friday’s practice. “Malone’s doing a good job. He’s picking things up and has a chance to make some plays. Reggie Koon, Gary Johnson have done some good things, so there are some guys vying for spots inside.
“Travis is playing well inside. He’s got quickness and speed, which is something that we’re looking for on our defensive line.”
The Yellow Jackets moved Friday’s practice to the Georgia Dome to avoid the inclement weather. More than 350 high school coaches attended the session in conjunction with Tech’s annual coaching clinic.
Saturday’s practice, which includes a scrimmage, is scheduled for 1 p.m. The location, either Rose Bowl Field or the Georgia Dome, will be determined Saturday morning depending on the weather.
“We need to let our quarterbacks get some work under fire, and we’ve got to get a lot of things ironed out offensively,” said Gailey of what he’s looking for in Saturday’s scrimmage. “We need our defense to work together because it’s a whole new defense.”
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