SCHOOL: Tennessee Tech
HEAD COACH: Bobby Wilder (First season)
2023 RECORD: 4-7 overall, 2-4 (7th in Big South-OVC Conference)
RETURNING STARTERS: Offense – 7; Defense – 8; Special Teams – 3
PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Jordyn Potts, WR Jalal Dean, TE Hunter Barnhart, LG Logan Weedman, DE Daniel Rickert, DT Jacorrian Wrenn, LB Aaron Swafford, CB Toby Bolton
VERSUS GEORGIA: September 7 (Sanford Stadium, Athens)
Can quarterback Jordyn Potts improve his percentages?
Potts has talent, but he’s going to need to do a better job than completing just 52 percent of his passes.
In eight games, Potts completed 108 of 204 passes for 1,132 yards and eight touchdowns with six interceptions.
Perhaps first-year head coach Bobby Wilder can get Potts headed in the right direction.
Tennessee Tech must replace two of its three starters at wide receiver, so Potts will spend the summer helping whip the group into shape so they can ultimately help him.
Can Aaron Swafford and Daniel Rickert continue their solid play?
Tennessee Tech returns eight starters on defense with linebackers Aaron Swafford and Daniel Rickert two of the bigger ones.
Swafford put together a wonderful season, tying for the team lead in tackles with 72 with a pair of forced fumbles.
Rickert was even more dynamic.
His 14.5 tackles for losses of 55 yards were some of the best numbers in the newly constructed Big South-OVC Conference, including nine sacks.
Defense was the strength for Tennessee Tech last year and will need to be so again, but the team has some good pieces that will make it competitive in its league.
Will first-year head coach Bobby Wilder get the Golden Eagles to .500?
The first part of the schedule certainly does not do Tennessee Tech any favors.
After opening at Middle Tennessee State and former Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason, the Golden Eagles travel to Georgia for a date against the Bulldogs.
Tennessee Tech gets back to action against in-state rival Tennessee State the following week, and by that time, hope to be in a position to be competitive the rest of the year.
While a .500 season might be a little tough to achieve, first-year coach Bobby Wilder, was pleased with what he saw during spring practice and hopes to carry it over into the season.
