Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles football head coach Bobby Wilder saw summer camps and training camps shift his team’s approach this offseason.
The Golden Eagles used their summer time to stay on campus. The team spent eight weeks in part of a program that includes training and preparation for the season. Wilder said he works with the recruiting department to improve and meet their primary goal.
“Our first goal is always to develop the players that are here,” Wilder said. “Get them developed, and then address the areas that we need to add value to the roster and that’s something I feel we’ve done a very good job of here as a coaching staff.”
Wilder has added over 100 new players in 20 months. Of those 100 players, 60 were signed from the transfer portal. Those players participated in those programs throughout the summer. Wilder said starting training camps now is different than when he played because of those programs.
“You’re homegrown over the summer,” Wilder said. “Now you’re here for the majority of the summer so we focus on training camp on opponents and getting ready for the season.”
Wilder and the Golden Eagles saw transfers take part in their summer camps across all positions. Wilder said those transfers can answer questions around one key component of a team.
“Having depth is something as a coach you always have questions,” Wilder said. “We feel really good about where we are in our second year as a program.”
One transfer that joined the summer programs was starting quarterback Kekoa Visperas, who led the nation in completion percentage last season.
Tennessee Tech will open their second season Saturday against Cumberland University.
