For Georgia Tech punter Pressley Harvin, the change to Adidas has a little different meaning than it does for most of his teammates.
Harvin has long worn Nike cleats to launch footballs 40 yards and beyond. The change to Adidas means he’ll have to change out an important tool.
“I’ve always worn Nike Tiempos,” Harvin said at Tech’s media day last Thursday. “I’ve been trying to find a cleat that is similar to that with the leather and all.”
Unlike the Tiempo cleat, which is made for soccer, the Adidas cleats that Harvin has found are made with synthetic leather, and he prefers the genuine material.
To learn more, Harvin has reached out to other punters that he knows from camps who are also at Adidas schools. Also, when he has gone to camps, he has paid attention to what Adidas cleats other punters were wearing.
“I try to keep remembering that in my head,” he said.
Harvin called it “a slight concern” as there is still time to find a new pair of cleats before the season opener against Alcorn State on Sept. 1. He kicked in his Nike cleats through offseason workouts.
Kicker Brenton King may have an easier adjustment, as he wore Adidas cleats at Mill Creek High. Kicker Shawn Davis wore Nikes at Union Grove High.
Once Harvin figures out appropriate footwear, he has designs on improving on his play as a freshman, when he set a Tech freshman by averaging 44.1 yards per punt and was named third-team All-ACC and a freshman All-American.
Tech was 29th in net punting last season at 39.74 yards. It was the highest Tech had finished since 2009, and the highest net average since 2006, the first of punter Durant Brooks’ back-to-back All-American seasons. Harvin said the punt unit’s goals are to not give up any touchdown returns (the Jackets surrendered one last season) and to average 40 yards or better on punt net.
About the Author
