The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are in the training camp phase of the 2026-27 college football season, with a lot of position groups yet to be figured out. The tight end group is a pretty diverse and deep one.
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It’s anyone’s guess as to who will lead the group in snap counts, but the tight ends all seem to have different roles brought out for them. There are tight ends like Spencer Mermans, who are more likely to be used in run packages, but there are tight ends like Kevin Roche Jr. who could be used more in the slot, catching the ball. There are some in between as well, like Gavin Harris and Chris Corbo.
The scheme and offensive playcalling will definitely have an impact on how often tight ends are used in plays and packages. Offensive coordinator George Godsey coached NFL tight ends like Rob Gronkowski, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Mark Andrews, and Mike Gesicki. So, if there’s anyone who can utilize all of these tight ends the right way, it’s Godsey. Here are a few takeaways from the press conference, featuring Georgia Tech TE coach Nathan Brock, and players Spencer Mermans, Chris Corbo, and Kevin Roche Jr.
Jumbo Packages Galore
I expect there to be many more plays with 12 or 13 personnel than last season, for two reasons. For starters, with Godsey’s experience with tight ends, he knows how to bring out multiple tight end formations. He did this with Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar last season.
The second reason is the sheer volume of plays in the offense. Quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke mentioned it could be in the ballpark of 250 plays, while the average college offense has 80-100. That opens the door for more opportunities in the tight end room in general.
Brock touched on the subject in his press conference.
“The good thing for us as coaches, with all the groupings like we’ll make sure that the right guys are in for the right plays,” said Brock. “It goes back to the O word of opportunity, and it’s giving guys opportunities to find a role. For us, having someone who’s coached this position the last few years, that will be something that is better just in that room. It’s about making sure that the right guys are in for the right plays and those guys finding their role.”
Brock even joked about potentially going into 14 or 15 personnel.
“Not many people do that, right? So, let’s just slap them out there and let’s roll,” said Brock.
There might be a play or two in the season with 15 personnel, but it shows how in sync Brock and Godsey are with tight end usage.
“He’s been great for me. To learn from someone who’s not only coached tight ends, but has worked with some of the best in the NFL,” said Brock. “Picking his brain on things has been really good for me as a young coach.”
Jackson Hawes Fan Club
Former Georgia Tech tight end Jackson Hawes has had a major impact in the current tight end room. Hawes, selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills, used his mix of blocking expertise and soft hands to carve out a significant role with the Bills. His 83.1 Pro Football Focus grade was the second-highest among all NFL rookies.
This tight end group is inspired by the work Hawes has done to become a quality NFL player.
“I check in with Jackson quite a bit,” said Brock. “Really excited for the early career he’s had and excited to see his role grow. He’s a great resource … he’s great to stay in touch with. I’m excited to see how he fits into this (the Bills’) offense.”
Spencer Mermans also has a close relationship with Hawes. They played at Yale together for a season, and Mermans tries to mirror his game after Hawes.
“I’ve talked to him a couple of times,” said Mermans. “He’s a great guy. Great role model. When I first got to Yale, he was a senior, and I kind of watched him and tried to imitate his techniques. I think that definitely helped me progress, as I have.”
This Georgia Tech tight end room could produce an NFL talent in the future. They’ll all be looking at Jackson Hawes as an example.
Retooling
The tight end room was basically retooled last season, and it appears to be a defined room. There seem to be obvious blocking specialists and receiving threats, and while there are also some in the middle, there are distinct specializations for the tight ends. However, Brock is preparing them for anything.
“It goes back to the tight end room,” said Brock when discussing the transfer tight ends. “Yes, you play tight end, but really within that room, all those guys have different skill sets. Trying to find guys to incorporate what they can do to help us as an offense was really what we wanted to do.
“Tight end is a thankless job. Some games, those guys can get 10 targets; some games they might have zero. Some games, it might be hand-in-the-dirt blocking people; some games it might be pass protection, so they gotta be willing to do whatever they can to help the team win on offense.”
Roles
Mermans seems like a blocking-specialist tight end, measuring at 6-foot-6 and weighing 260 pounds.
“He’s a strong dude,” said Brock. “He’s big and strong … I’m excited for whatever we throw at Spencer. I told him, maybe he’ll catch a bunch of balls, maybe he won’t. He’s gotta be ready to do whatever.”
Kevin Roche Jr. could be useful in the red zone as a target.
“If you go back and watch his high school tape, like, you know, he was basically a big receiver,” said Brock. “They’d line him up out wide and just say, ‘Hey, go run,’ and cuz he’s 6 [feet] 9 [inches], they’re going to throw it up to him. So, um, he’s done a great job of buying into the plan that we’ve put in place for him.”
Chris Corbo has seemingly emerged as a leader of the group, and he’s a little more of a two-way tight end.
“I think Chris Corbo is a guy that definitely has some of those leadership qualities. He’s played a lot of football, he’s an older guy, he’s smart. He knows what to do. He knows where to be. It’s always interesting, right, when you have guys that transfer in, trying to assimilate to the culture that, you know, Coach Key has done a great job of putting in place over the last several years. Initially, when they get here, like, you know, Chris is trying to assimilate himself into that culture,” said Brock.
The Georgia Tech tight end room is full of players with contrasting skill sets, but it seems to be completely reformed from last season. With three new transfers (Corbo, Mermans, Gavin Harris), Georgia Tech’s room seems completely new, and with George Godsey’s experience coaching tight ends, the group will be much more useful.
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