There were a lot of things that Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson was unhappy with in the Yellow Jackets’ 43-24 loss to Clemson Saturday. The play of defensive tackle Adam Gotsis was not one of them, though.

“Adam Gotsis played his (butt) off,” Johnson said Monday at his weekly Monday news conference. “He played really hard and played good. He’s one guy who played really well.”

Gotsis had a career-high eight tackles for the Jackets and a fumble recovery. He contributed that productivity despite frequent double teams by the Clemson offensive line. He tied safety Jamal Golden for the team high in tackles against the Tigers.

It was his first game since Gotsis, one of three team captains, was disqualified for a targeting penalty against North Carolina.

“I was proud of the way he played and fought and kept playing,” Johnson said.

Gotsis is tied for second on the team with 24 tackles, no small accomplishment considering he plays a position that doesn’t always yield many tackles and also because he missed the final three quarters of the North Carolina game.