KirVonte Benson wins starting B-back job for Georgia Tech

KirVonte Benson will be the starter for Georgia Tech at B-back in the season opener against Tennessee in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game, coach Paul Johnson said Monday following the team’s practice.

Benson won the job following Dedrick Mills’ dismissal from the team on Aug. 18 for a violation of athletic-department policy, competing with Jerry Howard, Jordan Ponchez-Mason and Quaide Weimerskirch. Benson’s first carry against the Volunteers will be his first. Benson played seven games last season as a redshirt freshman, mainly on special teams.

Earlier in the preseason, Johnson described him as “really strong” and the fastest of the B-backs. Benson, a Marietta High grad, missed some time in the preseason with an injury, returning last week.

“He’s got ability,” Johnson said earlier in the preseason, when Benson was out. “Now, what’s he going to do when he gets out there?”

This will be the third consecutive season opener for Tech that the starting B-back will have not had any career carries for Tech going into the game, following Patrick Skov in 2015 and Mills last year.

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One of the top pass rushers in college football? He plays for Mercer

Coming off a year in which he was Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, Mercer's Andrew Zock is following it up by being among the FCS leaders in sacks, tackles for loss.