At least nine potential Georgia Tech starters have missed spring practice time because of injury, but there are two pieces of good news for the Yellow Jackets:

• All of the injured players are expected to be back practicing this summer.

• A lot of backups have gained valuable experience working with the first team.

Consider offensive guard Joseph Gilbert, who has been with the first team since the second week of spring practice because of A.J. Smith's elbow injury.

"It's kind of a shock going from last year being redshirted and just kind of being a punching bag to actually getting in there and starting to mix it up with some of the bigger guys, [defensive tackles] Vance Walker and [Darryl Richard]," Gilbert said. "They still get me most of the time, but I get my licks in every once in awhile.

"From Day 1, I was not ready for this offense. I can tell a whole lot of improvement. I'm doing what I need to do on plays now. It's hard to make [centers and guards coach Mike] Sewak happy, but I'm doing what I can. I like the opportunity. I'm going to try to take advantage of it if I can."

"He's gotten way better from the start of spring to now," Tech coach Paul Johnson said.

Gilbert, 6 feet 4, 288 pounds, is from Cartersville, like linebacker Anthony Barnes and receiver R.B. Clyburn. Still, a lot of people in Cartersville don't pull for Tech.

"A lot of my best friends are gigantic Bulldogs fans," Gilbert said. "They say, 'We'll cheer for you, but we're for Georgia.' I can't wait to get out on the field and, I don't want to say shut 'em up, but change the tune."