Practice doesn't start until July 30, but Cord Howard started playing football for Tech again Tuesday. Howard, an offensive tackle, went to a local store after midnight Monday when the popular EA Sports video game "NCAA 09" was released and bought one for his Xbox 360.

He thinks the folks at EA Sports made some strange decisions about Tech's roster, yet gave a positive review of the game. But he is miffed that game makers sort of shrank Jonathan Dwyer — even if the sophomore B-back has really shrunk a tad.

"They took a little bit of his power away," Howard said. "They have him more as a speed guy."

Dwyer displayed speed and power at times last season, rushing for 436 yards, nine touchdowns and a 5.3-yard average as a freshman. Maybe he will be more of a speed guy.

"Last year, I was about 6-foot, around 215 or 220 pounds. I gained a lot of weight during the season with the traveling and whatnot," said Dwyer, tabbed preseason third-team All-ACC by Phil Steele and Athlon magazines. "I had to lose a lot of weight. At the end of the [season] I was about 230. Coach [Paul] Johnson wants me be to be around 220."

Crowded backfield

Dwyer has more company in the backfield. Two of the three players who have transferred into the program are running backs. Sophomores Anthony Allen (6-feet, 225 pounds) is considered an A-back, and Preston Lyons (6-feet, 220), the former Marist standout, is a B-back.

Among incoming freshman scholarship players, Richard Watson is a B-back, and Embry Peeples and Marcus Wright are A-backs. Plus, walk-on Jamal Page (Woodward Academy) is an A-back.

Allen and Lyons must sit out a season after transferring from Louisville and Colgate, respectively.

Tech's other transfer, former Virginia Tech defensive back Mario Edwards (Westlake High), has appealed to the NCAA for the right to play without sitting out because he transferred out of hardship related to the declining health of a family member. That was how former Tech back Tashard Choice avoided sitting out a season after transferring from Oklahoma.

The Jackets' other walk-ons are Calhoun kicker Andy Elakman, offensive linemen Zach Fraysier (Cherokee) and Michael Johnson (Stephenson) and wide receiver Geoff Greco (Wexford, Pa.).

Extra points

Left tackle Andrew Gardner and defensive tackle Vance Walker have been named preseason first team All-ACC by Phil Steele, Blue Ribbon and Athlon magazines. Walker and defensive end Michael Johnson are on the Chuck Bednarik trophy watch list. Gardner is on the Outland Trophy watch list. ... Darryl Richard is on Tech's presidential search committee to replace Wayne Clough. ... The Jackets will not wear their newly designed uniforms when they sign autographs and pose for photos at the Great Jacket Encounter Aug. 2 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. New uniforms will be unveiled at an Aug. 19 function.