Aug. 11, 2003
Veteran wide receivers Jonathan Smith and Nate Curry have shown that they can be two of the leaders of the Georgia Tech offense as the Yellow Jackets continue preseason drills.
Tech opens the 2003 season on Thursday, Aug. 28 with a nationally televised contest at Brigham Young.
“Jonathan is a good player and a good leader, and Nate Curry is playing well and being a good leader,” said Tech head coach Chan Gailey after practice Monday. “We’re very fortunate with those two guys.”
Smith, a senior from Argyle, Ga., is Tech’s top returning skill player. Lining up at several different positions last season, he contributed 36 receptions for 430 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 118 yards on just 19 carries. He also threw two passes and returned six punts for 78 yards.
The speedy 5-10, 189-pounder was a preseason all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection by several publications.
Curry’s return to full health should be a tremendous boost to the Tech offense. As a freshman in 2000, he showed promise with 22 catches for 298 yards and two touchdowns before missing all of 2001 and then much of last season due to injury.
“I think we feel like we have more than just one weapon and can spready it around a little bit,” said Gailey.
Among backups, junior Levon Thomas has the most experience. He caught 20 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown last fall. Also competing for playing time are junior Mark Logan and redshirt freshman Xavier McGuire, plus true freshman Chris Dunlap. Sophomore Damarius Bilbo will also get a look at wide receiver.
“We’re looking to see who can step up and help us with some depth and play in our three and four-wide packages,” said Gailey.
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