Just about everything went better for Calvin Booker on Saturday in Georgia Tech's final spring get-together in pads, as his blue squad whipped the white.

The senior quarterback does not on first, or perhaps second, glance appear a tailor-made fit for the offense of new coach Paul Johnson, but if this is a case of trying to force a square peg into a round hole, he looks to be softening the four corners of himself.

Johnny Crawford/AJC (ENLARGE)

Tech's QB Josh Nesbitt is stopped at the line of scrimmage by Brad Jefferson (51) and Elris Anyaibea (94).

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He rushed a modest five times for 16 yards, although measured against other quarterbacks those numbers were not entirely subpar. He also completed 5 of 8 passes for 109 yards, including one of the few dazzling plays of the day — a 48-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Cone in the fourth quarter.

It was one of three receptions for Cone, a sophomore walk-on from St. Pius.

"There were a lot of negatives; I still have a lot to learn. But from Day 1 to Day 15, I think that we've made serious strides," said Booker, who transferred from Auburn a couple of years ago. "This is my third offense since I've been in college. As far as my skill set, it's a big adjustment for me."

Just what does that mean?

"It's footwork, and I've never really had to run the football before," he said. "The reads are different. At the same time, it's football. Once you get it down and know the system, with repetitions you understand it more and run it better."

Egbuniwe ready to help

Anthony Egbuniwe, the redshirt sophomore defensive end who transferred from Tulsa, made a few plays and believes he can help in the scheme of new defensive coordinator Dave Wommack.

"They just let [ends] go, let them play football," said Egbuniwe, who was ineligible to play last season after transferring. "You go out there, you rush the passer, make plays. That's what I love."

Egbuniwe, who is from Greenville, S.C., returned to the South for two reasons: mom and his former coaches left Tulsa.

"Well, my mom got sick, and there was the coaching change [former Tulsa head coach Steve Kragthorpe and defensive line coach Mark Nelson went to Louisville]," he said. "I made the decision I needed to be closer to home. "Mom's doing better. It was the right decision."

Future present at T-Day

The future of Tech football was on the field Saturday, and on the sidelines, too.

Several members of the 2008 signing class were in attendance: Malcolm Munroe, Steven Sylvester, B.J. Machen, Brandon Leslie, Nick McRae, Antonio Wilson, Cooper Taylor, Omoregie Uzzi, Quentin Sims, Daniel McKayhan and Jaybo Shaw.

Four of Tech's five players committed to sign in 2009 were present: J.C. Lanier, Brandon Watts, John Drew, and Emanuel Dieke.

Offensive line shuffling

The offensive linemen did not stand out Saturday. They're making big changes, not only in replacing starters Matt Rhodes, Kevin Tuminello and Nate McManus but in learning a new scheme as well.

"There's a difference because most everything they did [before] was zone blocking, and they really weren't going forward as often," Johnson said. "Sometimes, their initial step would be lateral. We're trying to ask them to go forward.

"I think there's a difference in some skill sets. You need to be able to move and bend at the knees and waist whereas in some of the conventional [offenses] it's just a grab on and wallow. For the nature of what we do, the tackles are more space players and ... you're looking for wide bodies at guard."