The 2024 preseason football camp is underway and GSEagles.com is catching up with each of the 10 position coaches early in August to get their take on their position room. Up next is wide receivers coach BJ Johnson.
Q: Who were some guys that impressed you both on the field during spring ball and that have attacked the off-season for you?
BJ: Marcus Sanders Jr. is one I would definitely highlight. He stood out this spring, but we still need to work on stuff. But the thing that stood out was he was one of the guys who can catch a 5-yard route and make something happen with it. We've got other guys in the room who can do that, too, but he did it more often than not. He played fast and made plays. Another guy that stood out was LV Bunkley-Shelton. He came in, and he's exactly what we thought he was: savvy, polished, and a veteran route runner who's going to really create explosives down the field by getting open and winning matchups in the phone booth. Of course, you've got Derwin Burgess Jr., who we all know what he can do. But I would definitely say those two guys, as well as Taylor Bradshaw, number 89. He had a really good spring. I look forward to him progressing and adding value to the room.
Q: You've got to replace the all-time leading receiver in program history. He was an inside receiver, but in general, how do you guys replace production on Khaleb Hood as a group?
BJ: We must keep working and understanding what we lost out of Hood, and we must have guys step up to the plate and take on that role. Dalen Cobb will be that guy this year for us on the inside, and we're confident about who we have in both rooms.
Q: Who is someone who hasn't played a lot that Eagle Nation needs to be on the lookout for this fall?
BJ: I mentioned two guys: Marcus Sanders Jr. and Taylor Bradshaw. I know Marcus played last year, but he had a really good game versus Georgia State with that touchdown and some really good routes that day. The ball didn't go his way that game, but if you watch the tape, he was getting open and playing fast. So I would say really watch out for Marcus Sanders Jr. I feel like he's going to do good things, so I'll leave it at that!
Q: What are the top couple of goals for your group in preseason?
BJ: We have to be consistent every single day. And I know that's cliche, but really, just being consistent and doing our job is what we have to do. That's what we talk about a lot in our room. If we do our job as outside receivers, we will help the offense move the ball down in the field. So that's every single day, whether going in the box and blocking backers or digging out safeties to catching go balls and moving the chains. But just doing our job on a day-in and day-out basis, ensuring we're doing it at a high level.
Q: What's the difference for you as a coach going into year two as opposed to year one?
BJ: The system. Last year, when I came in, I had to play catch up. But now that I know the system like the back of my hand and know what we're trying to do from a quarterback standpoint and obviously from a scheme standpoint, I can bring ideas to the table and kind of tweak this or tweak that. But I would definitely say the system for sure. Like I said, just knowing it like the back of my hand brings more value to not just obviously technique and getting guys open, but schematically too.
Q: We have a new offensive coordinator, but taking his place is a guy who was in the system last year. What can you tell people who aren't in this building about how similar the offense is from what they'll see?
BJ: We are who we are. People know that. I think we're going to try to create as many explosives as we can, just like we did last year. Coach Aplin is going to do a really good job. He did a really great job this past spring, so I don't see it changing. If anything, being in year three total with Coach Helton in his system is the biggest positive. Coach Aplin's prepared, and he's going to do a great job leading us.
Q: Finally, you mentioned year three of Coach Helton's system. What's your excitement level with all these athletes you have out on the outside now? This was a running offense three years ago, but now you've had a couple of years of the transfer portal and some recruiting classes. What's your personal excitement level for the outside receivers going into 2024?
BJ: I'm excited. I tell our guys, man, we have a lot of depth this year. We're really good at certain positions, so I'm excited. That's no knock on the guys that were here before; those guys, they laid the foundation. But when we're talking about this year's receiver room and what we can bring, I'm excited just from an athletic standpoint to go out there and make plays.
