July 7, 2015
PHILADELPHIA – Georgia Tech’s Adam Gotsis and Justin Thomas are the latest Yellow Jackets to be named to preseason watch lists released Tuesday.
Gotsis, a senior defensive tackle, is on the watch list for the 21st annual Chuck Bednarik Award, which is presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year. Redshirt junior quarterback Thomas is among those on the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which is presented to America’s College Player of the Year.
The duo joins redshirt senior defensive back Jamal Golden, who was named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List released Monday by the Louisville Sports Commission.
Gotsis is one of 82 players on the Bednarik Award Watch list. The Abbotsford, Australia, native was a second-team All-ACC selection, starting all 14 games along the defensive line in 2014. He finished the season eighth on defense with 36 tackles, while registering 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks.
Thomas is one of 80 players named to the Maxwell Watch List. As one of Tech’s three captains in 2014, the Prattville, Ala., native started all 14 games under center for the Yellow Jackets, leading them to an 11-3 record and the 2014 Capital One Orange Bowl title. The Orange Bowl MVP was named second-team All-ACC by the league’s head coaches and third-team by the media. In 2014, he rushed 190 times for a team- and career-best 1,086 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and eight TDs. He completed 96-of-187 passes (.513) for 1,719 yards and 18 touchdowns.
The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell, has been given to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell’s contributions to the game of football were extensive, including time as a player, a sportswriter and an official. The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 1969 and the NFL Hall of Fame’s Class of 1967.
Georgia Tech opens the 2015 season Sept. 3 against Alcorn State (7:30 p.m. ET, RSN). 2015 Georgia Tech season tickets are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets in person at the Georgia Tech Ticket Office (M-F 9 a.m.-5 p.m.), by phone at 888-TECH-TIX, or online at togetherweswarm.com. Season tickets for Tech’s seven-game home schedule start at just $245 – a value of $35 per game. Great lower-level seats are available from $350. There is no per-game ticket or Tech Fund price increase in 2015. The only difference is the addition of a seventh home game (Georgia).
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