DE Peters making case to start at tackle

Georgia Tech’s Jason Peters is only a redshirt freshman, but he’s been making his case that he should start at defensive tackle next fall.

“Jason’s doing a good job,” defensive line coach Giff Smith said. “He’s a physical kid. He’s a cerebral kid. I wouldn’t have moved him in there if I didn’t think he could do it.”

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Johnny Crawford/jcrawford@ajc.com

As a backup defensive end last season, Jason Peters (92) had three sacks, two tackles-for-loss and one forced fumble.

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With the graduation of starters Darryl Richard and Vance Walker and key backup Elris Anyaibe — all three could be in NFL training camps this summer — the Jackets faced a dearth of tackles on the line.

But Peters, from Baton Rouge, and Ben Anderson, a sophomore, have been running with the first team in spring practice. Peters, a defensive end last year, said Smith told him of the position change during the offseason conditioning program.

Peters, who played a backup role in 10 games last fall, gladly made the switch. While he moves only a few feet over on the line, he has much to learn.

“The most different (aspect) is that anything can come from any angle moving down the line,” he said. “You’ve basically got to fight whatever comes your way.”

Peters is trying to gain weight to better handle the position’s rigors. He was at 265 pounds last year and is eating as much steak and potatoes as he can to get to 280.

Coach Paul Johnson said Peters is a lot like the rest of the team at this point in spring practice — some good, some bad.

“But we’re just getting started,” he said. “I think he can be alright in there.”