Ga. Tech forced to play freshmen

Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski has no qualms about playing a true freshman and taking away a redshirt year.

“If he’s better than what I’m playing now, he’s going to play, regardless of what year he is,” Jagodzinski said Wednesday.

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson wants to keep as many true freshmen off the field as possible, the logic being that they would be more productive in their fifth year than they would be in their first.

It says a good bit about the Yellow Jackets’ depth problems, then, that Johnson played five true freshmen in Tech’s first game, compared to Jagodzinski’s four.

More baby Jackets will likely make their way to the field for Tech’s game against the Eagles on Saturday.

“We’re probably going to have our hands forced and we’re going to have to play more of them,” Johnson said Tuesday. “Just from the standpoint of depth, we just don’t have anybody.”

Due to injuries at linebacker, two freshmen, B.J. Machen and Steven Sylvester, may get their first action in Boston.

“We’re pretty banged up right now, but some other guys will have to step up,” linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary said. “That’s what we’ve been trying to preach since day one.”

Brad Jefferson, last week’s starter at inside linebacker, is out with a wrist/arm injury. Johnson said Anthony Barnes, who started at outside linebacker is probably doubtful with a shoulder injury. Both sustained the injuries in the season-opening win over Jacksonville State last Thursday.

Georgia Tech’s depth problems stem from having 76 players on scholarship, nine below the maximum. The team is short because of attrition and NCAA sanctions for inadvertently playing academically ineligible players.

The freshmen benefiting don’t mind so much. A-back Embry Peeples, who rotated with three other A-backs, had two carries for 18 yards last week.

“It felt like high school,” said Peeples. “But there was a bigger crowd.”

Wide receiver Tyler Melton, cornerback Rashaad Reid, quarterback Jaybo Shaw, safety Cooper Taylor and were the other true freshmen to play last week.

Machen hopes he and Sylvester, from McDonough, will get into the game Saturday. Two more freshmen who could eventually play are wide receiver Quentin Sims and B-back Richard Watson.

Machen and Sylvester, who watched the Jacksonville State game from the stands with the other likely redshirts, are roommates and have been helping each other prepare.

“There’s nothing wrong with redshirting,” Machen said. “I think it’s a good thing. It gets you an extra year to graduate and adds that extra year (as a fifth-year senior). But I came here wanting to play right away.”

Coaches indicated that it is not a certainty that either will play against Boston College or ensuing opponents, even if they dress for the game.

Said Jean-Mary, “We’re still thin and we want to stay fresh, but if they’re not ready and we don’t feel like they can execute the entire defensive package, we’re not going to play them.”

Peeples said he teases his classmates still waiting for their opportunity.

“I’ll be like, ‘Y’all boys need to work hard so you can get out on this field,’” he said.

Not if Johnson can help it.