Georgia Tech football’s new No. 5

Given that Justin Thomas has left the Flats, Georgia Tech fans certainly will miss watching No. 5 play. But hold on. A No. 5 jersey will run and up and down the field at Bobby Dodd Stadium in the coming season.

While Thomas electrified Tech crowds the past three seasons as the quarterback who directed coach Paul Johnson’s option offense, the new No. 5 doesn’t play quarterback. In fact, he doesn’t even play on offense.

Safety A.J. Gray turned in his No. 15 jersey and will wear No. 5. Gray, a 6-foot-1, 218-pound junior, was a Parade All-American as a senior at Washington County High School and was the AJC’s state player of the year that season.