Six redshirt freshmen who could make an impact

They spent their first season at Georgia Tech watching, learning, practicing.

How much did they absorb? How are they doing in spring practice? And will they contribute in 2009?

We look at six players who’ll be redshirt freshmen this fall:

• Defensive tackle T.J. Barnes (6-7, 350): Although currently on the second unit, Tech’s biggest player is being counted on to play a lot. Barnes got more reps than almost anyone in Saturday’s scrimmage.

“He’s a big kid who’s learning how to play within that big body,” defensive line coach Giff Smith said. “I’ve been real pleased with his effort. He’s got the ability one day to be a great player. How quick he gets there will be determined by how hard he continues to work.”

Smith wants Barnes to drop 10 more pounds.

Aside from conditioning, Barnes said he’s focusing on staying low and using his hands better.

Smith has been hard on him, but that’s fine with Barnes.

“I’m coachable, so I understand why he yells,” Barnes said. “It’s just to get me better.”

• Left tackle Phil Smith (6-6, 290): Smith used his redshirt year well; he is noticeably broader and says he is “10 times as strong” as when he came in last summer.

He’ll have an outside shot at starting, as Nick Claytor, who started the last five games, is out until fall practice after having back surgery last week. Co-offensive line coach Mike Sewak noted Smith has shown good footwork while staying low — cardinal virtues at Tech. He’s been splitting reps with Brad Sellers at left tackle.

Smith said he doesn’t care if he’s on first or second team, Smith said. “I worry about improving myself and getting better every day.”

• B-back Richard Watson (6-1, 234): Watson ran hard in Saturday’s scrimmage, carrying five times for 40 yards on one drive and scoring a touchdown on another. Watson should provide depth behind ACC Player of the Year Jonathan Dwyer, who had no solid backups last year.

Watson is trying to learn from Dwyer.

“I really picked up the offense better watching the way he runs,” Watson said. “He’s showed me a little bit of everything about being a college running back.”

• Left guard Omoregie Uzzi (6-3, 291): Uzzi thought the transition to Tech might be a little easier, given that he played in a similar scheme at Chamblee High. He’s found, though, that the difference is “like high school math and college math,” he said.

Uzzi also is adjusting to guard — he played tackle in high school — and it seems he’ll need more practice time to master his assignments.

Uzzi, Sewak said, is “not to the point where he’d like to be, nor where I’d like him to be at right now, but definitely a guy that’s going to give us help in the future.”

Uzzi did earn praise for his performance in Saturday’s scrimmage.

• Defensive end Antonio Wilson (6-6, 220): The converted basketball star out of Decatur didn’t play football until his senior year of high school, and even then an injury limited him to four games.

Smith called Wilson a work in progress.

“He’s got to learn to take on blocks and be more physical. Until he does that, his reps are going to be limited,” Smith said. “But he’s got the upside I was looking for.”

• Safety Kamaron Riley (6-2, 180): Riley was moved from cornerback because of his size and also so he could get more spring reps. Defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said Riley could move back to corner eventually.

“I’ve been pleased with his progression, but he has a long way to go to be able to get in a game,” Wommack said. “He’s not seeing things fast enough, so all of a sudden he’s behind a bit and that makes him a worse tackler.”

Practice report

Cooper Taylor, Embry Peeples and Daniel McKayhan all got a shot at returning punts. In earlier practices, Roddy Jones and Jerrard Tarrant returned punts. … Defensive end Emmanuel Dieke returned from his sprained knee, while guard Cord Howard remained out with a hand injury. … Backup quarterback Jaybo Shaw didn’t take snaps due to a groin injury. … In the live-hitting sessions, A-back Lucas Cox took a toss left and ran over safety Mario Edwards. … Josh Nesbitt connected with Kevin Cone on a bomb.