Nov. 27, 2002
It’s difficult for Tech fans to imagine a fall Saturday afternoon without number 27 patrolling the Yellow Jackets’ defensive backfield. For four seasons, Jeremy Muyres has been a fixture in the secondary, starting 44 consecutive games at free safety. The senior captain is enjoying his best season, and he has been instrumental in leading a defensive resurgence on the Flats this year.
“It amazes me how fast time has flown,” Muyres said. “It seems like yesterday that I came here, and now I have just two games left in my career.”
And what a career it’s been. After following older brother Jon to Tech, the prep all-American from suburban Atlanta’s Parkview High School got the starting nod in just his fifth collegiate game, and he’s been as consistent and reliable as the sunrise ever since.
Muyres was named the team’s most outstanding defensive back the past two seasons, and his 12 career interceptions ranks seventh in school history. The 6-3, 205-pounder has 256 career tackles, which trails only Ken Swilling (267) among defensive backs in the Tech record books.
More important than individual statistics, however, is the fact that Muyres has helped put the Yellow Jackets (7-4, 4-4 ACC) in line for a school-record sixth consecutive bowl berth.
This season has been a challenge from the very start for Muyres and his defensive teammates. A first-year coaching staff, including a new defensive coordinator, installed an aggressive, attacking scheme. Also, the personnel turnover on the offensive side of the ball signaled a smaller margin of error for the defense.
“It’s the seniors’ job to lead the team every year,” Muyres stated. “Whether there’s a new coaching staff or not, you’ve got to get the job done. You have to make sure the team’s heading in the right direction.”
As the season progressed, the obstacles seemed to mount for the defense. The group’s emotional leader, senior defensive end Greg Gathers, went down early in the season with a kidney ailment. Injuries also hit the linebacker corps when Keyaron Fox was injured against Maryland, and the unit suffered a meltdown in the second half against the Terps.
“Anytime you lose a good leader, you have to step it up a little more,” said Muyres. “The seniors on the defense have done just that. Losing Greg was a big blow, but we’ve responded well.”
The emphatic response resulted in the Jackets developing into one of best defenses in the conference. They are second in total defense and tops in scoring defense, allowing just 16.9 points per game, which ranks 11th in the nation. Tech is also second in the ACC in rushing defense and pass efficiency defense.
“I think this is the best we’ve played since I’ve been here, and it’s really been a combination of things,” explained Muyres. “We have a lot of game experience, and that makes a big difference. The work ethic has been there, and the coaching staff has done a great job. We just put it all together.”
Muyres’ five interceptions–the most by a Yellow Jacket defender since 1991–lead the team and rank third in the ACC. Two of his picks have been of the game-saving variety. They came in back-to-back contests against Virginia and N.C. State as both teams were driving for potential game-tying scores in the final moments.
“I’ve been fortunate,” he said. “On both of those plays, there was a good rush, so I can’t take all the credit.”
After two years of making second-team all-ACC, Muyres accomplished his preseason goal of earning a first-team berth earlier this week.
“There’s no one more deserving,” noted defensive backs coach Curtis Modkins. “He’s a real key to our success, and we’re fortunate to have him. He quarterbacks the secondary, and he makes sure that everyone is in the right place and knows their assignment. He does a great job both on and off the field.”
Coach Modkins alludes to Muyres stellar performance in the classroom, where he’s a two-time academic all-ACC honoree. The management major maintains a 3.33 GPA and was named to the Verizon Academic All-District team earlier this month. He is now eligible for the Verizon Academic All-America team. Muyres will be presented with the ACC’s Jim Tatum Award, signfying the top senior scholar-athlete among the league’s football players, at next week’s ACC Football Awards banquet.
Muyres is set to graduate next year, but he has one more piece of unfinished business on the football field–trying to beat Georgia for the third time in his four years at Tech.
“It’s the biggest game of the year,” he said. “It’s the one that everyone circles on the schedule at the beginning of the season, and it’s all anyone talks about. I don’t think words can explain how bad I want to win it.”
