Burden securing center job

Georgia Tech center Freddie Burden has expanded his lead on Thomas O’Reilly in the competition for the starting job. It has been one of the more tightly-contested position battles of the preseason. Coach Paul Johnson said Monday that Burden, a sophomore who didn’t play as a freshman due to an ACL tear, is the starter at this point.

“He’ll go one step forward and two back sometimes, but he’s progressing,” Johnson said.

At left tackle, Bryan Chamberlain is in the lead over Errin Joe, who has had difficulty staying healthy enough to push Chamberlain.