ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL KICKOFF

July 21, 2021

Juanyeh Thomas

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Heading into the season last year was so difficult for you guys. How is your whole mindset different two weeks out from camp versus a year ago?

JUANYEH THOMAS: We just look back at how it was last year battling COVID and stuff. We just look at it now to see how blessed we are and what we have came from. We are happy to be in the position that we are in now.

Q. Last year the secondary was banged up most of the year. How is the health of the secondary now? What jump in performance do you expect from them this year?

JUANYEH THOMAS: Yeah, we were battling a lot of injuries last year. Good thing now is everybody's healthy. What people can look for is more healthy and a more better secondary, having everybody back, having Tariq along me healthy again is going to be a big gift for us.

We're going to try to make a lot of plays with everybody being healthy now.

Q. Looking at name, image and likeness, it's something you have to think about. Student-athletes of all different sports, all over the country. What thoughts have come to your mind? You're essentially a small business, every player is now. How do you look at that?

JUANYEH THOMAS: Yeah, it's a good thing for us. It's a good way to make money off of your name to help your family and all.

Honestly, I really do think it's a great thing. But for me, I'm not really paying attention to that right now. The focus on us and Georgia Tech, we're just trying to win this year, so...

Q. As a true freshman in 2018, your numbers were really solid. You didn't have that transition issue from high school to college. Every year your numbers continue to get better. What is it about football that just comes natural to you, at least from what it seems on paper?

JUANYEH THOMAS: You just learn. Every year you just got to look at what you messed up on that year so the next year you don't make those mistakes. Growing from that and looking back at that, that helps me get better every year.

You know what I'm saying? Just having in your brain to make plays every year, you will just go up from there.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.