Perhaps predictably, Tennessee coach Butch Jones said that Georgia Tech's loss of B-back Dedrick Mills will not impact the Yellow Jackets in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game Sept. 4 in the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mills was dismissed from the team Friday for a violation of athletic department policy.

"It doesn't affect them one bit," Jones told reporters after Tennessee's Friday's practice in Knoxville, Tenn. "I believe they were 3-0 without him last year."

Jones actually sold Tech short. The Jackets were 4-0 without Mills, beating Mercer, Duke, Virginia Tech and Virginia. Jones additionally praised Tech’s spread-option offense and its team overall.

“They have a system that’s challenging, and they have good players and a very solid defense and good special teams,” Jones said. “This is a complete football team that we’re playing, we prepare the same way, so it doesn’t affect our mindset our how we look at things.”

About the Author

Keep Reading

Georgia Tech assistant coach Tyler Santucci watches as linebacker Kyle Efford (44) prepares to perform a drill during a spring practice session in March. (Jason Getz / jason.getz@ajc.com)

Credit: Jason Getz

Featured

The Forsyth County Schools administration building is shown on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, in Cumming, Ga. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com