More freshmen will remove redshirts for Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech freshman B-back Jerry Howard.

Georgia Tech freshman B-back Jerry Howard.

After Georgia Tech played four freshmen in the season opener against Tennessee, coach Paul Johnson said Wednesday that more members of the 2017 signing class will see playing time this season. Tech plays Jacksonville State Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Against the Volunteers, punter Pressley Harvin and linebackers Jaquan Henderson, Bruce Jordan-Swilling and T.D. Roof all played, almost entirely on special teams. Henderson played one snap on a third-down package, Johnson said.

“As the season goes along, maybe we’ll see if his role increases, but he’s going to be on a lot of special teams for sure,” Johnson said of Henderson.

Among those removing their redshirts will be B-back Jerry Howard, whom Johnson specifically said will play Saturday after not seeing the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“We’re going to play Jerry this week,” Johnson said. In the opener, “he was like a freshman. His eyes were big and he was going the wrong way in warmups.”

Tech’s Jerry Howard making a run at backup B-back spot

Johnson played B-back Quaide Weimerskirch when starter KirVonte Benson came out of the game. Others who could play are kicker Brenton King, cornerback Jaytlin Askew and offensive tackles Charlie Clark and Zach Quinney, all of whom are on the two-deep depth chart.