Kicking competition continues at Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson and the Yellow Jackets will open the 2017 season tonight against Tennessee at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (AJC file photo/Hyosub Shin)

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson and the Yellow Jackets will open the 2017 season tonight against Tennessee at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (AJC file photo/Hyosub Shin)

Georgia Tech kickers Shawn Davis and Brenton King will continue their competition after a subpar performance by Davis in Monday night’s season opener against Tennessee.

“We’ll let ’em compete this week and see what happens,” coach Paul Johnson said after Tuesday’s practice. “We competed out there a little bit (Tuesday), and it wasn’t much different.”

Davis, a sophomore walk-on, won the job over King, a scholarship freshman, in the preseason. Against Tennessee, he was 0-for-2 on field-goal tries from 47 and 36 yards, the latter a potential game-winner that was blocked on the final play of regulation. Tech lost 42-41 in double overtime. Davis was also not his best on kickoffs, leading to Tennessee returning three kickoffs past its 30-yard line.

What it’s like to compete for a kicking job for Paul Johnson

In the preseason, while King was hampered by a groin injury, Johnson said that Davis had kicked really well.

“I think sometimes that’s a tough environment for your first game ever,” Johnson said of Monday’s game in a sold-out Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “National TV, in front of that many people. It didn’t get off to a good start and it just kind of ballooned on him.”