Georgia Tech wide receiver Ricky Jeune has made an impression on the right person. Tech wide receivers coach Buzz Preston, not one to offer praise where it isn’t merited, gave a noteworthy estimation of Jeune’s potential in comments following the Yellow Jackets’ Wednesday practice.
Preston evaluated Jeune’s areas of improvement in the following manner.
“With Ricky, there’s a lot of different little nuances,” he said. “Attacking press (coverage) and stemming routes and things like that. You always have to improve those, and if he can keep improving those, he can definitely have a chance to play at the next level.”
Perhaps Jeune can continue the Jackets’ legacy of NFL receivers reared by Preston since coach Paul Johnson’s arrival, a line that includes Demaryius Thomas, Kevin Cone (now in Tech’s football operations office), Stephen Hill, DeAndre Smelter and Darren Waller.
Jeune has led the Jackets in receptions in each of the past two seasons as a sophomore (24) and junior (25). He has shown good ball skills and the ability to use his body to shield off defensive backs. Of his 25 catches last year, 11 were on third down, and nine went for first downs. He made particular progress last season as a perimeter blocker. His dedication was recognized at the end of the 2015 season, when he earned the effort award for the Tech offense.
He has been effective, though not a dominant player. But Preston, who would know, obviously sees NFL potential in Jeune.
Preston was asked if he saw another jump in Jeune’s play going into his senior year.
“Hopefully that will be the case,” Preston said. “I wish that for him because he’s been a hard worker, he’s been loyal to the program and when guys have been here for five years like he’s been and stuck it out and never been a guy to complain and just go about working and improving themselves, those are the kind of guys that you like to see the story end really well for.”
