On Tuesday, Oct. 31, the spookiest reveal in the college football world was announced:  the College Football Playoff Top 25. Familiar teams were listed, including the University of Georgia at the top spot and Clemson holding onto fourth place. Unfortunately, the Jackets did not make an appearance in the rankings, which does not come as a surprise after their disappointing performance against Clemson this past weekend. This week, the Jackets returned to practice with a clearer idea of what it will take to unseat a national championship contender.

The Clemson game was hyped up from the start, considering it was an ACC matchup that featured the defending national champions. Following a close game against Syracuse which ended in a loss, the Tigers had a bye week to pull it together before taking on the Jackets. This additional time allowed the team to prepare for the triple option, a play that is as outdated as it is uncommon. Few teams run the play within the ACC, making it a special case for defensive lines to consider. Unfortunately, a play that usually works in the Jackets favor was expected by the Tigers, furthering the away team’s disadvantage.

Although the Jackets struggled against Clemson’s defense, Tech’s stop unit played outstandingly well. In the past, the team has found difficulty during the second half of the game, but the defensive players soldiered on as the clock wound down. The Jackets managed to only give up three points during the second half in a game that saw a 14-point deficit for the Jackets at the end. Additionally, the strong showing by the defensive line allowed some of the younger players an opportunity to show off their skills on the field, valuable experience for them.

Tech’s special teams units played well, giving the team an opportunity to pick up a few more points here and there. The Jackets have a new starting punter this year in freshman Pressley Harvin III. Harvin leads the nation’s true freshmen in punting average and was added to the Ray Guy Award Watch List following his performance at the past weekend’s game, along with the other games in which he has taken part. Remarkably, his best performances have come during games played in less than ideal conditions — both of the games against Miami and Clemson took place in heavy downpours.

The award is presented annually to the nation’s top punter in the Football Bowl Subdivision, so while Harvin is ranked first amongst his class, he remains seventh when ranked with those older than him. The semifinalists and finalists for the award will be announced later this month.

Another high note for the Jackets was the performance of KirVonte Benson, a redshirt sophomore who is seeing more playing time than ever this season. During the Clemson game, Benson surpassed 100 rushing yards for the fifth time this season. Earlier in the year, Benson set a new B-back rushing record during the game against the University of Pittsburgh, putting up a hearty 196 rushing yards.

Outside of Benson, the offense never gained traction in Clemson. The weather has been a good indicator of the outcome of a game, as the Jackets have shown that they do not fare as well as other teams when it rains. Whether or not the rain makes an actual difference, it changes the mentality of the game and the teams playing. The Jackets learned at Clemson that they cannot afford to make small mistakes, such as Benson’s fumble within the first three minutes of the game that was picked up and turned into a touchdown for the Tigers. Ball security had been a problem in previous games; it shifted the momentum in this one.

Ultimately, it was unsurprising that the Jackets lost to Clemson. Death Valley is as difficult a venue as any to pull out a win, and the Tigers have the talent of a national championship contender. The Jackets’ offense can be stopped by schematic excellence or defensive players so athletic that plays do not matter. Clemson has both.

Nevertheless, there are lessons to be learned. Ball protection will have to improve throughout the rest of the conference schedule, starting this week, and the defense will need to show the toughness it brought in the second half.

Headed into the upcoming game against the University of Virginia Cavaliers, the Jackets will aim to hold their ground defensively while limiting their errors on both sides of the team. Benson can be expected to lead the way in terms of rushing yards, but it will be up to quarterback TaQuon Marshall to accurately pass the ball to his A-backs.

ESPN.com’s matchup predictor shows an 80 percent predicted chance of Tech prevailing in the ACC competition. The Jackets will have the benefit of experience against an elite team in their recent past.

Making timely corrections could assure a critical rebound victory, particularly against a Virginia team that is not accustomed to success in conference play (and one that is in only its second year with new head man Bronco Mendenhall).

The popular perception of the sport of fencing involves competitors sparring with blades and wearing a mesh-like metal clothing over white protective gear. Although that image is partially correct, there is much more to fencing than simple sword fights. That much is evident from speaking with Stephanie Baione, the public relations chair for the Yellow Jacket Fencing Club.

The Yellow Jacket Fencing Club primarily recruits through publicity on social media, flyers and during the club recruiting time at FASET. Many of the club members come to college with no fencing experience, as did Baione, who says that she “heard about it through FASET and wanted to try something different.” While acknowledging that the sport may not be for everyone, Baione hopes to introduce it to those who find it interesting. While different from a typical club sport, fencing attracts a diverse group of students across Tech.

Baione emphasized that fencing is not just one sport, but instead three, each based off a different weapon. Beginners start off with a foil, but after much practice,  have the opportunity to select the épée or sabre. Depending on the weapon, the target area changes, as does the protective attire, but the goal remains the same no matter the weapon: score a touch against the opponent. Points are given out with the assistance of electronic equipment that indicates a hit through a light and audible beep, observed by a referee who starts and stops the competition, tests weapons and distributes penalties if needed. The sport depends heavily on balance, timing, footwork and blade work — a good fencer exhibits all of these qualities in competition.

The Jackets compete within the Southern Intercollegiate Fencing Association (SIFA), which includes schools like the University of Florida, Clemson, the University of Tennessee and other Georgia schools, such as the University of Georgia, Mercer and Emory. Baione identified Tennessee as Tech’s most frequent opponent and most akin to a rival, but the term “rival” is hardly appropriate, as fencing is more of an individual sport when it comes to tournaments. The first round of the tournament is comprised of round robin pool play, which determines placement in the second round, an elimination-style bracket.

The club just wrapped up the fall SIFA tournament, which Baione described as the “yearly tournament for new fencers.” Future tournaments of note include the Tiger Open held by the Clemson fencing team, as well as the in-house tournament held at the CRC by Tech’s very own club. In the spring semester, the team hosts the Yellow Jacket Open, which is the largest fencing tournament in Georgia. The tournament is student-run, and Baione considers it one of the bigger events that the fencing club runs, a testament to the group’s ability.

The club is also registered with the United States Fencing Association, which oversees many large fencing tournaments in the country and provides sponsorship for the majority of the tournaments that Yellow Jacket
Fencing attends.

Fencing is not the first sport that comes to mind when fans discuss collegiate athletics. Yet, as an avenue for students to display their physical and mental abilities in a high-pressure environment, there is no doubt that fencing serves an important role on campus. Students from diverse backgrounds get the chance to compete against talented athletes from other schools across the country. It is a chance to fuel a competitive fire, to meet friends with similar passions and to determine prowess. In other words, it is exactly what many students miss when they leave high school athletics behind and arrive at college, a void that must be filled.

Anyone is allowed to join the club, even those with no prior fencing experience. There is no minimum attendance required to be a member, though attendance is taken into account when it comes to limited travel space and running for club officer positions.

Baione gives the club a glowing recommendation: “Join fencing, it’s pretty amazing,”

Their results, camaraderie and bright future would seem to suggest just that.

Expectations for Tech volleyball were relatively low when the season began. Though senior Gabriela Stavnetchei was named to the 2017 Preseason All-ACC team, the team itself was predicted to finish ninth within the conference, a rather low mark. Yet the team has more than met those expectations in the early goings.

Their primary advantage has been leadership, both on the court and from the bench. Michelle Collier is taking charge of the Jackets for a fourth year as head coach, while Stavnetchei and fellow seniors Sydney Wilson, Gabby Benda, and Ashley Askin serve as leaders to a large freshmen class. Additionally, the team brought on Claudio Pinheiro over the offseason as an assistant coach. As a competitor, he is the owner of two gold medals with the Brazilian national team, while serving as its coach, an impressive resume.

The Jackets opened the season with two hard fought battles against Auburn and Furman, both of which ended in disappointment. However, Stavnetchei was able to record a career-high of 11 kills during the Auburn game, while four freshmen (Alessia Del Romano, Cori Clifton, Sam Knapp and Nicole Alford) were able to experience their first college competition. The Furman matchup saw sophomore Kodie Comby record a career high of 15 kills, while Stavnetchei posted her first double-double of the season with 14 kills and 16 digs. Although the first two games did not have the outcome desired, players showed resilience and the ability to keep at it when the going got tough.

The first win of the season came against No. 17 Michigan State at the end of August, which was Coach Collier’s first career win over a top-25 opponent, as well as the Jackets’ first win over a top-25 opponent since 2013. Once again, Stavnetchei stood out with another double-double, alongside the other senior women who competed aggressively against the Big 10 team. The team certainly desires that the outcome of that game represents a sign of things to come.

Perhaps the most remarkable match so far this season was a 3-0 sweep against North Dakota, who had been undefeated until playing the Jackets. The match saw Stavnetchei and the seniors put up great stats again, yet it was freshman Sam Knapp who was able to start the ball rolling for the victory off of a serve that led to a crucial 7-0 run.

The last two matches of August turned the 0-2 start to the season upside down, giving the Jackets the opportunity to bounce back from two tough losses. Freshmen Clifton, Alford and Knapp were able to create names for themselves throughout the first month as the team built upon the momentum from each game.

At the beginning of September, the women traveled to San Diego to compete in the USD Tournament, but fell short of their own expectations with losses to San Diego, Texas and Villanova.  But the Jackets bounced back with their return to Atlanta, starting off the Georgia Tech Invitational with a win over Xavier.

Tech finished with a season-high .273 attack percentage after the Xavier game, while freshman Nicole Alford recorded a career-high 18 assists and Stavnetchei surpassed 100 kills overall, marking a team-high. Stavnetchei and Askin led the team to another win against North Florida, while Sydney Wilson and Kodie Comby assisted the Jackets’ sweep. The Georgia Tech Invitational allowed for a phenomenal comeback, giving the team’s home record an improvement to 5-2.

Most recently, the Jackets fell to UGA in Athens, yet came back to sweep Clemson in the ACC Opener. The team was initially led by Grace Rigsbee, who marked a career high in kills, as well as Lauren Frerking, who tied her number of career highs.

Still on the road, the Jackets traveled to compete against the Blue Devils where they were unable to repeat their victory; however, Frerking was able to once again tie her best number of kills, and Del Romano recorded her first career kill.

Tech volleyball’s 6-7 start is not particularly impressive, especially for a team that won 24 matches last year. But with a large contingent of veteran players looking for one more chance at a conference championship before they graduate, there is no lack of urgency. With contributions from players all across the roster and steady counsel from experienced coaches, there is plenty of reason to expect an improvement.

As someone who grew up in the Southeast, I am no stranger to hurricanes and the havoc they can wreak on parts of the country. With torrential amounts of rain and high speed winds, these massive storms can rip through counties and entire states, leaving destruction and hopelessness in their wake.

As a large public university in the midst of one of the largest cities in America, Tech felt a sense of responsibility in helping those affected by the hurricanes currently tearing through the southeast region, including Irma and Harvey. Although efforts to help the areas affected are still underway, Tech was able to implement helpful initiatives such as handing out free tickets to those displaced by the natural disaster.

Through the Jackets Without Borders program, nearly one thousand tickets were given out to those who found themselves in the Atlanta area. The program is a recently created student-athlete initiative that aims to disperse student-athletes into the world to make a difference in the lives of those around them. This past summer, Jackets Without Borders took off on a trip to Costa Rica with the goal of building a multipurpose athletic court with an organization called Courts for Kids.

The program was implemented by Athletic Director Todd Stansbury as part of the Total Person Program within the Athletic Association, which aims to aid student-athletes in their growth into well-rounded people. The Jackets Without Borders program is led not only  by Stansbury, but also by Leah Thomas, who spearheads the Total Person Program, as well as Associate Athletic Director Joeleen Akin. Both programs work to give back to the communities that may not necessarily be as fortunate as those to which Tech students and athletes are accustomed, while giving athletes a chance to expand their experience in volunteer activities and use their influence for good.

On Saturday, the Jackets played Jacksonville State University, a smaller Division I school from Jacksonville, Ala. Faculty from the athletics department, as well as members of the Student Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB), including myself, worked to distribute tickets to those wishing to attend the game that had been displaced by Irma. All we asked for was a valid piece of identification that linked a recipient from each party to Florida, Georgia or South Carolina.

Although there were a few people who chose to cheer on the Jackets by themselves, most showed up with family, some with small children in tow. It was rewarding to give the children the opportunity to experience, for some, their first college football game. The day was bright and cool, with a bit of a breeze that made for nearly perfect gameday conditions — a far stretch from the conditions which the families were fleeing.

A thought that occurred to me was that the adults present were fully aware of the implications that the storms may hold for their futures, but the kids probably just were enjoying having a few days off from school. Football cannot mend the damage that the storms brought, but it helped create a sense of family and togetherness in a time of need for the
evacuees in town.

As tickets were passed out, I had the opportunity to speak with some of the families about where they were coming from and their journey from their homes. Some had traveled for as long as 20 hours due to the traffic coming from Florida up the coast as the whole state evacuated.

To hear the length of time that many families had traveled and sat in traffic gave me a new perspective on “Atlanta traffic,” which itself is renowned. It is one thing to sit in traffic daily due to congestion while traveling to work or to run errands, yet another to experience complete standstill while not knowing what is going to happen to your belongings and those you know from the place which you are leaving.

It was intriguing to realize how many Tech students had connections to those affected by the hurricane, as students were bringing friends to our tent to receive their tickets. Even in times of need, college students find a way to band together and create fun experiences for themselves. Tech alumni also reached out by donating season ticket seats and spreading the word of the charitable event amongst their networks.

The distribution of free tickets to a collegiate football game was gratifying, yet there is more that we as a population can do as a whole. Within the upcoming months, various groups at Tech will be working to collect items and money to send to those affected by the natural disasters, so keep an eye out for those opportunities to reach out to those in need. The athletic department is working to organize a drive of some sort in accordance with the student body and will be looking to send supplies or donations in the near future.

Tech’s very own Chris Eubanks competed in the U.S. Open in Flushing, N.Y. this past week as the month of August came to a close. The senior member of the men’s tennis team has continued building the name he quickly made for himself on The Flats after closing out last year’s season as the ACC Player of the Year and the fourth-ranked player in the nation. He competed earlier this summer at the BB&T Open in Atlantic Station, as well as at the qualifying competition for the U.S. Open, the latter of which allowed him to secure a spot in the official tournament.

Eubanks became the first tennis player in Tech’s history to compete in the main draw of the U.S. Open while still enrolled as a student. While at the tournament,
he won his doubles match with partner and fellow American Christian Harrison, gaining
valuable experience on a metaphorically bigger court. He plans on taking the fall semester off to compete in more professional tournaments as an amateur before returning to play as a Jacket during his final season in January.

In achieving this level of success, Eubanks follows in the footsteps of his coach, Kenny Thorne, and Bryan Shelton, both former Jackets. Shelton played for Tech from 1985 to 1988, then went on to play professionally before returning to Tech to coach the women’s tennis team to an NCAA title. From there, he went to coach the men’s tennis team at the University of Florida. Thorne played at Tech during the same span of time that Shelton did and matched Shelton in the amount of years that each played. However, Thorne added to his legacy by returning to the Institute to coach, a role in which he has served admirably.

Thorne led the Jackets in singles victories when he finished his undergraduate career, a record which was later broken by a player  he helped coach. He has coached the Jackets to the NCAA Championship Tournament 12 times and has twice been named ACC Coach of the Year, most recently in 2017.

Not to be outdone, the women’s tennis team brought back former Yellow Jacket standout Christy Lynch as an assistant coach during the 2014-2015 season. During her time at Tech, Lynch broke school records and aided NCAA appearances, but now she looks to assist the continued success of the Jackets. The current coaches represent a legacy that will be carried on by the players as the program grows and improves upon what is already in place.

Eubanks’s achievement is impressive, but he will not be the only Jacket to grace the grounds of Flushing this fall. Freshman Victoria Flores is set to play in singles competition at the 2017 U.S. Open Junior Championships this first week of September. She could match Eubanks’ achievements by the time she is his age, as she has already competed at the Junior Championships at Wimbledon and is currently ranked No. 27 on the junior circuit by the International Tennis Federation.

Similarly, women’s team returners Nami Otsuka and Paige Hourigan will look to lead the Jackets to a strong season after both women had fantastic performances at their competitions over the summer. Otsuka captured the singles title at the ITA Summer Circuit Event at the end of August, while Hourigan was chosen to represent her home country in the upcoming year as part of the New Zealand Federation Cup Team. Hourigan will play Kazakhstan next summer, but both players will look to bring their experience from the summer into the upcoming season.

While most students are able to find a semester to escape on a study abroad adventure, athletes are often not so lucky due to their rigorous training schedule, which can keep them tethered to campus training facilities. However, the opportunity has arisen for a few teams at Tech to travel together not only for competition, but also for enjoyment and cultural enrichment in recent seasons.

This past summer, the women’s basketball team took off for Italy with the plan of not only competing in four international games, but also exploring the historical and cultural offerings of a country which two team members, Francesca Pan and Antonio Peresson, call home. The team departed on Aug. 6 to allow the women to finish any summer classes they had been taking and give the team time to return back on Aug. 19 for the beginning of school. Heading into the trip, the women looked at it as a bonding experience while Coach MaChelle Joseph voiced her excitement regarding the ability for the team to travel to a
new place.

The women of Tech learned that just as the culture differs overseas, so does the game of basketball. The ball is a little bigger, the court a few feet shorter and the three-point line significantly closer, along with a 24-second shot clock (unlike the 30-second clock in NCAA women’s basketball), according to ramblinwreck.com. The Jackets practiced the differing aspects of the game to ensure that they could take advantage of their international experience.

The first game of the trip took place in the town of Pordenone, Peresson’s home. The Jackets played Bosnia’s U19 Orlovi Banja Luka, finishing with a 101-31 victory. This was the first official game in which freshmen players had the opportunity to shine, with Breanna Brown contributing 13 points and Kierra Fletcher and Daijah Jefferson earning nine and eight rebounds, respectively. The two teams rematched with the Jackets earning a second decisive victory against the Bosnians.

Competing in Pordenone one last time, the women’s basketball team fought for another victory; this time over a Slovenian team. On the way to an 81-40 win, Zaire O’Neil contributed to the win and led the women with 21 points. Although the competitions took place close together, the team soldiered on and did not let their guard down.

The final game brought the Jackets to Venice, where they played against a professional team, Celje Slovenia, and sealed their international trip with a 60-41 win. This game was the closest of the four, but the Jackets were able to pull ahead towards the end to complete their winning streak.

The trip was not only a culturally enriching experience for the team but also an extension of an international focus that has continued under Athletic Director Todd Stansbury. While last year’s football season opener in Ireland was the big-ticket event, men’s tennis matches in the Bahamas and a men’s basketball game versus UCLA in Shanghai will keep the Jackets on the international stage. If other teams acquit themselves as well as women’s basketball, it could be the beginning of a strong Jackets footprint abroad.

As many fans have heard, Tech’s athletic department has announced a departure from longtime sponsor Russell Athletic to a more classically collegiate partner in Adidas. The change was released to the public on Tuesday, Aug. 22, but some involved with or aware of the deal chose to declare the information via social media platforms, such as Twitter, on the night prior to the announcement.

Todd Stansbury, Tech’s athletic director, disclosed the information to the student athletes directly affected by the transition at a welcome back meeting Monday night. The announcement follows years of sponsorship by the former brand, Russell which had sponsored Tech athletics since 2007. The discussion had included brands for consideration such as Under Armor and Nike, but the athletic department ultimately chose to sign with Adidas.

Stansbury and Jim Murphy, the latter of whom is a collegiate representative for the German company, came together at a press conference on Tuesday at McCamish Pavilion to discuss the deal and its implications for the future of the athletic program. Stansbury began the press conference by stating that the new relationship with Adidas will “refine and elevate the Georgia Tech Athletics brand.” He attributed that statement to the fact that he and many of the athletics faculty see a strong similarity between the values held by the athletic company and the Institute, a greater bond than the typical provider-customer relationship.

Murphy expressed the excitement of those at Adidas, as the brand aims to build a future through partnering with Tech’s innovative culture. Certainly, the locale of the university presents numerous opportunities for the brand in terms of expansion and integration with an urban population. As a large sportswear company, Adidas will look to Tech students to help shape the growth and improvement of the brand and its products.

After their statements, Stansbury and Murphy answered questions from the media on the transition between Russell and Adidas, revealing that the Jackets plan to make the switch in July of 2018, even though the baseball team already sports Adidas cleats. Stansbury emphasized that “respect” for the former was key, particularly since its founders are Tech alumni.

When the Technique asked Murphy to elaborate on how the brand projects to interact with Georgia Tech, he pointed out the desire for Adidas to step away from the “transactional” methods of sponsorship and step into an extensive, integrative relationship. Both parties look to learn from one another and use one another’s platform to reach other groups while working in a collaborative fashion, particularly important since both are attempting to shape their brands dramatically.

There are a few significant advantages for Tech in moving to Adidas. Firstly, the brand has garnered more praise from recruits than Russell. In a survey distributed to 100 recruits by sports media company Pick Six Previews, Adidas’ uniforms scored an 8.1 on a 10-point scale (where 10 is the most desirable), while Russell Athletic’s brought up the rear with an uninspiring 2.9. Adidas still trails behind Nike in desirability, but second place should be welcome news for Tech’s athletic administration and recruiters.

Furthermore, the attire and equipment provided by Adidas is available to all sports, unlike some sportswear companies that only cater to football or track. Lately, the brand has emerged as a
leading footwear company within the United States, although it has been renowned throughout the European countries since its creation in 1949. The company is known for its partnerships with soccer leagues throughout the world, as well as sponsorships of various professional athletes. Other Adidas sponsorships within the college realm include North Carolina State University, Miami University and Texas A&M, amongst others.

There are plenty of questions left to be asked about this change, especially with previous Russell involvement, such as endowed scholarships now up in the air. But overall, the change from Russell to Adidas as an athletic sponsor reflects well on the early returns of Todd Stansbury’s tenure, as well as the athlete population whom he aims to lead and direct. Both Adidas and Tech hope that the partnership will be a more fruitful one than Tech’s pact with Russell, with better support on campus and in the Tech community, as well as in the homes of prospective recruits.

Four football players at Tech have been nominated for awards based upon their performance from the past year – Matthew Jordan and KeShun Freeman for what they do away from the field and within their communities, and Dedrick Mills and Parker Braun for their talent on the turf as a part of the Tech football team.

After a season that produced a win over the University of Georgia, a triumphant bowl game, and numerous other thrilling moments, it does not come as a surprise that multiple Yellow Jackets have been recognized for their hard work.

Matthew Jordan has been named as a nominee for the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team by the athletic community at Tech. The award allows for the recognition of college football players who balance academic and athletic commitments while serving their communities in exceptional ways. Jordan’s contribution to his community has come alongside his struggle with Type 1 diabetes. He has devoted time to speaking to and mentoring young people in an effort to show that diabetes does not stop him from reaching his goals.

Although Jordan graduated this past spring with a degree in business administration, he still has two seasons of eligibility remaining which will allow him to continue his work within the community as a public figure. Furthermore, Jordan is expected to play as the starting quarterback, but will have to fight for the position just as he has fought to bring attention to diabetes. Whether or not he wins the award, it is a tremendous honor to receive the nomination and recognition for what he does for his community.

Linebacker KeShun Freeman was named to the 2017 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List as announced by the Fort Walton Beach All Sports Association. His award, like Jordan’s relates to his service to the community. Freeman has gained recognition in the past for his work with the Atlanta youth, specifically winning the same award that Jordan is nominated for this year in 2016.

Freeman volunteers with youth programs both involved with football and completely separate from the sport. He has worked with other athletes at Tech to cheer on runners during Girls on the Run and has volunteered with fellow students during the annual Kids Dance Marathon. The semifinalists for the award will be announced on November 2, while the finalists will be named on November 22. The winner will be announced on December 5 at a press conference in NYC.

Dedrick Mills’ name appeared on the 2017 Maxwell Award Watch List and Preseason All-ACC team as a result of his achievements during last season and throughout the Taxslayer Bowl where he won the award for Most Valuable Player and recorded a career high with 169 rushing yards over the course of 31 carries as a B-back. The Maxwell Award goes to America’s College Player of the Year and has been awarded since 1937.

Mills joins Heisman winner Lamar Jackson, as well as many other big names, on the list of nominees for the award. The semifinalists will be revealed on October 30, while the finalists will be announced on November 20. The winner will be announced on December 7. The award is based on the players’ performances from the past season, as well as the stats they are able to produce in the fall.

Despite missing four games last season, Mills led the Jackets with 771 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns. Whether or not he wins the Maxwell Award in December, he will be a key player for the Jackets in the upcoming season barring any suspensions or missteps.

Parker Braun was listed on the watch list for the 2017 Outland Trophy, which is an award for the nation’s top interior lineman that has been around since 1946. During the 2016-2017 season, Braun established a name for himself by becoming the first Tech freshman to be named as the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week following the Jackets’ away game at Virginia Tech. After the season came to a close, he was selected to be a part of ESPN’s true freshman all-America team as a result of his performances.

Similar to Mills, Braun was one of six true freshmen that saw playing time in their first year with the Jackets. Braun started eight games, quite a lot for a freshman under Paul Johnson. Although he is one of 81 players on the watch list for the award, he is one of only five sophomores nominated courtesy of ESPN.com.

Braun is amongst many ACC players as the conference has the most nominees for the award. The semifinalist list will be announced on November 15, while the three finalists will be named on November 21 and the winner will be revealed on December 7 as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

Both Dedrick Mills and Parker Braun will have to put up improved stats this season to solidify a spot in their respective awards’ semifinals and onwards. The fact that four players were nominated for such prestigious and varied awards provides a positive attitude going into the 2017-2018 season for the Jackets.

Head coach Josh Pastner was brought to Tech for his exuberance both on and off the court. This exuberance is what has Pastner excited for his first offseason, and first big shot at recruting for Tech. As the offseason continues, fresh faces and new assets are committing to Pastner and the Jackets with the desire of making their mark in the classroom and on the court.

After coming off of a thrilling season full of upsets that took place in the Jackets’ favor, the team and its additions will try to build upon the momentum created last year. The Jackets graduated three pivotal seniors at the end of the 2017 season, creating a significant hole in the roster for the upcoming 2017-2018 season.

Those holes were left by point guard Josh Heath, who led the team in assists last season, combo guard Corey Heyward, who was a staunch defensive presence and clutch on the offensive side of the ball and fourth leading scorer Quinton Stephens, whose time on the court was only beaten out by center Ben Lammers.

Pastner will look to the four incoming freshmen, as well as an out-of-state transfer and a graduate transfer to step into the places left behind by Heath, Heyward and Stephens.

The Jackets will gain two experienced players in Shembari Phillips, a guard who chose to transfer from the Division I program at the University of Tennessee, and Brandon Alston, a graduate transfer from Lehigh. Phillips will bolster the competition in practice and create a place for himself on the team that Coach Pastner led last year.

However, Phillips will sit out the 2017-2018 season due to NCAA rules, giving the two incoming freshmen guards, Alston and sophomore Justin Moore, a chance to vie for a spot on the court in the place of the two graduated guards, Heath and Heyward. The Tennessee transfer will strive to improve over this season, preparing himself for his last two years of eligibility following this year.

Unlike Phillips, Alston is immediately eligible to play this season due to graduate transfer policies. Due to a knee injury that sidelined him for his sophomore season, Alston still has two years of eligibility remaining, a rarity for graduate transfers.

The aforementioned incoming guards are Jose Alvarado and Curtis Haywood II, both three star rated players by 247Sports. Alvarado hails from Christ the King in Brooklyn, New York, while Haywood brings his experience from his high school years at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire.

Alvarado is characterized by the extreme effort he puts in on the court. This style of play meshes well with Pastner’s attitude and coaching style, making Alvarado look even better heading into this coming season.

Haywood II is a long and limber guard who played small forward in high school. Most notably, he brings solid three-point shooting to a team that struggled with consistency from beyond the arc last season. He will most likely see playing time, but sparingly due to sophomore Josh Okogie filling the shooting guard position right now.

The two incoming freshmen will bring youth to the group of guards that brought home the runner-up title from the NIT Championships of the 2016- 2017 season. Most notable amongst the guards from last year’s team are Josh Okogie, Tadric Jackson and Justin Moore, the first of whom was named to the 2017 ACC All- Freshman squad following his performance in the NIT game.

Jackson saw more playing time as the season carried on, but rarely started, while Moore saw his playing time dwindle as the season progessed into conference play.

Coach Pastner recruited forward Moses Wright, who brings in talent from Raleigh, North Carolina, while incoming freshman Evan Cole contributes hometown spirit that may draw additional spectators from the surrounding area.

Both men will do their best to fill the shoes of Stephens, as well as to add to the talent exemplified by current players Abdoulaye Gueye and Sylvester Ogbonda. The new freshmen forwards stand at 6’9”, matching the heights of the players in their positions that are already at Tech.

The group of forwards both expand the floor with their phenomenal shooting ability that they showed throughout their high school careers along with their capacity when it comes to controlling the ball on the court. During the season they should aim to hone their versatility while establishing a sense of camaraderie amongst the four of them.

With the addition of Cole and Wright, Tech continues to add depth to their big man roster. However, the lack of experience outside of Lammers will involve growing pains early in the season.

The season will begin with Tech hosting Northwestern in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge towards the end of November. At the end of last season, Coach Pastner was named as the ACC Coach of the Year, closing out the year with a record of 17-15 which greatly surpassed the expectations and predictions of those involved with college basketball.

As Josh Pastner enters into his second season at Tech and the new players find their spots within the team, the Jackets will eye a spot in the NCAA Tournament in March. The understanding of the game that the staff of coaches brings, as well as the maturity of the current players should make for an exciting season this winter.