Spinal condition forces Tech tackle to quit playing

David Brown, Georgia Tech’s offensive tackle who has been out of action for nearly five weeks with a spine condition, has been forced to stop playing after subsequent tests determined he had an undetected spinal abnormality.

“It’s actually a congenital kind of defect that they found,” coach Paul Johnson said following practice Wednesday evening. “It’s just too much of a chance [to continue].

“It’s tough for him but he’s a senior. He’s going to graduate. He’s through playing anyway.”

Brown, a fifth-year senior from Madison, Ala., had played on offense and defense over the past four seasons. But with the introduction of Tech’s new offense last spring, found a place at right tackle, where he started eight games this season, the first starts of his career.

But Brown experienced some fluid build-up in his spine after injuring it Oct. 18 at Clemson and was slow to respond to treatment, although he started the following game against Virginia. He had hoped to be back for last week’s Miami game and was still attempting to rejoin the rotation at tackle as late as this week, but he withdrew from team activities once the condition was diagnosed.

“They found [the condition] after he got hurt,” Johnson said.

His spot has been filled by redshirt freshman Nick Claytor. Tech has now lost its two starting tackles, after senior Andrew Gardner, an All-ACC pick last season, was lost earlier in the month to a torn labrum that required surgery.