Bruce Wayne
Helluva Engineer
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Senior Appreciation: http://4te.ch/seniors2014
Mr. Days of Powder Springs, GA was rated a 3* Athlete when Brian Bohannon recruited him out of Hillgrove HS. Synjyn chose GT over a handful of other offers such as: Indiana, Oklahoma State and Eeastern Michigan. As a Senior in HS he did crack the AJC Fab 50 list at number 43.
When Days arrived at Tech he was slated at QB and depth allowed him to redshirt his first year. As a redshirt freshman he played in 6 games as Tevin Washington's back-up and showed promise as he averaged 4.9 yards a carry, ran for 4 TDs and completed 8-12 passes for 198 yards. The addition of Vad Lee saw Days slip down the depth chart at QB and so he was moved to AB in his RS-Sophomore year. He ended up playing in all 14 games with his best one coming at Maryland when he had 6 carries for a total of 66 yards. His Junior campaign found him starting at AB for the final 7 games of the season and he again played in all 13. His total stats included 27 carries for 93 yards and 4 TDs plus 4 pass receptions for 48 yards. One of his best performances was against Ole Miss in the Music City Bowl when he had 4 carries for 24 yards and a 17 yard reception. However, Days true strength his Junior year came in his commitment to blocking as an AB.
As is often the case Synjyn saved his best year for last and was "better as a redshirt senior than he was as a true freshman" as CPJ often likes to say. In the Spring he was tried out at BB to provide extra depth and to see if his skill at blocking and overall fearlessness and toughness could better serve the team in the middle. Boy did that turn out to be the right call. Synjyn again played in all 13 games (what a tough kid!) and started the final 6 games of the year. He achieved his best year statistically: 136 carries for 753 yards (5.5 ypc) and 6 TDs, including three games over 100 yards rushing, plus 3 receptions for 33 yards and a TD. Days particularly stepped up in the biggest games of the season, with: 94 yards on 16 carries against UGA; 67 yards on 19 carries and 3 TDs plus a 10 yard reception against FSU in the ACC Championship Game; and 171 yards on 21 carries (8.1 avg) and 3 TDs against Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl.
Like many of this years seniors his stats do not begin to tell the complete story. Much of what made him such an important player at Tech had to do with what makes him a young man easy to root for: his buoyant and unflappable good humor; his selfless work ethic and lack of ego; his lack of fear on the football field and grit and toughness; and his graciousness and deep faith. Since the last is clearly so important to Synjyn I noticed that he often used the tape on his wrists as a place to reference Bible passages that he could draw upon for motivation. In the Orange Bowl he used Ephesians 6:10 which reminded him to "Finally, be strong in the Lord and his mighty power." It is often referred to as wearing the "armor of God" and Synjyn really personified fearlessness and simple toughness in hurling himself through the line and down the field every snap. I will never forget his first day at BB in a Saturday scrimmage opened to a limited public. I watched him dive in to pick up a blitzing linebacker who hit him so hard the crowd gasped. But despite getting bent in half he both succeeded in stopping the defender and somehow bounced right back up and got ready for the next play.
Days presence was almost larger than life at Tech, we even came to know well and respect his parents who have been right behind him every step of the journey. They even slept on an air mattress at his apartment to help keep him focused and ready to finish up his academic career. The demands on one's time and stresses of being a Tech student-athlete is not at all for the weak-hearted. It typically takes a strong network of support to see it through at Tech. Synjyn had that. But Synjyn also provided that for his teammates. His father had long-ago nicknamed him "The Truth" because of his virtue of honesty. He could as well have been dubbed "The Rock" for his leadership role and performance at Tech. Days frequently evidenced this capacity to provide support and stand tough in his senior year; whether it was putting an arm around a QB in his first year as a starter on the road at the in-state rival's very unfriendly environment, or dancing on the sidelines at the Orange Bowl.
Stan Awtrey does a great job of honing in on the aspect of Synjyn's Tech story that will always allow him to hold a special place in the memories and sentiments of the fanbase: "Many young men wouldn’t have gotten this far. Told they’re going to be moved from quarterback to another position, they often balk and wind up transferring. And when they don’t play, they sometimes complain about not getting a chance. None of that happened with Days. He asked only two questions: Where was he going to play? What time did he need to show up? 'All the adversity helped make me the man I am today,' Days said. 'If I hadn’t been through that difficulty, I wouldn’t be where I am now.'"
Where he is now is impressing scouts from the NFL and still flashing his winning smile, which will serve him well in his dental career after his playing days are done. Here is to one Hell of a Syn-gineer!
Honors* 2014 All-ACC Honorable Mention (coaches)
* 2014 All-ACC Honorable Mention (media)
* ACC Offensive Back of the Week (11.10.14)
Career Highs
Rushing Attempts: 24 vs. Virginia, Nov. 1, 2014
Yards Rushing: 157 at NC State, Nov. 8, 2014
TD Rushing: 3 vs. Florida State, Dec. 6, 2014
Long Rush: 53 at NC State, Nov. 8, 2014
Pass Attempts: 5 vs. Georgia, Nov. 26, 2011
Pass Completions: 3, twice, last vs. vs. Georgia, Nov. 26, 2011
Yards Passing: 94 vs. Western Carolina, Sept. 1, 2011
Long Pass: 66 vs. Western Carolina, Sept. 1, 2011
Total Offense Yards: 149 vs. Western Carolina, Sept. 1, 2011
Receptions: 2 vs. Georgia, Nov. 30, 2013
Receiving Yards: 26 vs. Georgia, Nov. 30, 2013
Receiving TD: 1, vs. Virginia, Nov. 1, 2014
Long Reception: 18 vs. Georgia, Nov. 30, 2013
Mr. Days of Powder Springs, GA was rated a 3* Athlete when Brian Bohannon recruited him out of Hillgrove HS. Synjyn chose GT over a handful of other offers such as: Indiana, Oklahoma State and Eeastern Michigan. As a Senior in HS he did crack the AJC Fab 50 list at number 43.
When Days arrived at Tech he was slated at QB and depth allowed him to redshirt his first year. As a redshirt freshman he played in 6 games as Tevin Washington's back-up and showed promise as he averaged 4.9 yards a carry, ran for 4 TDs and completed 8-12 passes for 198 yards. The addition of Vad Lee saw Days slip down the depth chart at QB and so he was moved to AB in his RS-Sophomore year. He ended up playing in all 14 games with his best one coming at Maryland when he had 6 carries for a total of 66 yards. His Junior campaign found him starting at AB for the final 7 games of the season and he again played in all 13. His total stats included 27 carries for 93 yards and 4 TDs plus 4 pass receptions for 48 yards. One of his best performances was against Ole Miss in the Music City Bowl when he had 4 carries for 24 yards and a 17 yard reception. However, Days true strength his Junior year came in his commitment to blocking as an AB.
As is often the case Synjyn saved his best year for last and was "better as a redshirt senior than he was as a true freshman" as CPJ often likes to say. In the Spring he was tried out at BB to provide extra depth and to see if his skill at blocking and overall fearlessness and toughness could better serve the team in the middle. Boy did that turn out to be the right call. Synjyn again played in all 13 games (what a tough kid!) and started the final 6 games of the year. He achieved his best year statistically: 136 carries for 753 yards (5.5 ypc) and 6 TDs, including three games over 100 yards rushing, plus 3 receptions for 33 yards and a TD. Days particularly stepped up in the biggest games of the season, with: 94 yards on 16 carries against UGA; 67 yards on 19 carries and 3 TDs plus a 10 yard reception against FSU in the ACC Championship Game; and 171 yards on 21 carries (8.1 avg) and 3 TDs against Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl.
Like many of this years seniors his stats do not begin to tell the complete story. Much of what made him such an important player at Tech had to do with what makes him a young man easy to root for: his buoyant and unflappable good humor; his selfless work ethic and lack of ego; his lack of fear on the football field and grit and toughness; and his graciousness and deep faith. Since the last is clearly so important to Synjyn I noticed that he often used the tape on his wrists as a place to reference Bible passages that he could draw upon for motivation. In the Orange Bowl he used Ephesians 6:10 which reminded him to "Finally, be strong in the Lord and his mighty power." It is often referred to as wearing the "armor of God" and Synjyn really personified fearlessness and simple toughness in hurling himself through the line and down the field every snap. I will never forget his first day at BB in a Saturday scrimmage opened to a limited public. I watched him dive in to pick up a blitzing linebacker who hit him so hard the crowd gasped. But despite getting bent in half he both succeeded in stopping the defender and somehow bounced right back up and got ready for the next play.
Days presence was almost larger than life at Tech, we even came to know well and respect his parents who have been right behind him every step of the journey. They even slept on an air mattress at his apartment to help keep him focused and ready to finish up his academic career. The demands on one's time and stresses of being a Tech student-athlete is not at all for the weak-hearted. It typically takes a strong network of support to see it through at Tech. Synjyn had that. But Synjyn also provided that for his teammates. His father had long-ago nicknamed him "The Truth" because of his virtue of honesty. He could as well have been dubbed "The Rock" for his leadership role and performance at Tech. Days frequently evidenced this capacity to provide support and stand tough in his senior year; whether it was putting an arm around a QB in his first year as a starter on the road at the in-state rival's very unfriendly environment, or dancing on the sidelines at the Orange Bowl.
Stan Awtrey does a great job of honing in on the aspect of Synjyn's Tech story that will always allow him to hold a special place in the memories and sentiments of the fanbase: "Many young men wouldn’t have gotten this far. Told they’re going to be moved from quarterback to another position, they often balk and wind up transferring. And when they don’t play, they sometimes complain about not getting a chance. None of that happened with Days. He asked only two questions: Where was he going to play? What time did he need to show up? 'All the adversity helped make me the man I am today,' Days said. 'If I hadn’t been through that difficulty, I wouldn’t be where I am now.'"
Where he is now is impressing scouts from the NFL and still flashing his winning smile, which will serve him well in his dental career after his playing days are done. Here is to one Hell of a Syn-gineer!
Honors* 2014 All-ACC Honorable Mention (coaches)
* 2014 All-ACC Honorable Mention (media)
* ACC Offensive Back of the Week (11.10.14)
Career Highs
Rushing Attempts: 24 vs. Virginia, Nov. 1, 2014
Yards Rushing: 157 at NC State, Nov. 8, 2014
TD Rushing: 3 vs. Florida State, Dec. 6, 2014
Long Rush: 53 at NC State, Nov. 8, 2014
Pass Attempts: 5 vs. Georgia, Nov. 26, 2011
Pass Completions: 3, twice, last vs. vs. Georgia, Nov. 26, 2011
Yards Passing: 94 vs. Western Carolina, Sept. 1, 2011
Long Pass: 66 vs. Western Carolina, Sept. 1, 2011
Total Offense Yards: 149 vs. Western Carolina, Sept. 1, 2011
Receptions: 2 vs. Georgia, Nov. 30, 2013
Receiving Yards: 26 vs. Georgia, Nov. 30, 2013
Receiving TD: 1, vs. Virginia, Nov. 1, 2014
Long Reception: 18 vs. Georgia, Nov. 30, 2013
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