Georgia Tech completed its preseason camp Saturday morning with a scrimmage at Bobby Dodd Stadium, an 87-play session conducted with the intent of taking a closer look at backups.
Two were backup quarterbacks TaQuon Marshall and Matthew Jordan, vying to be the No. 2 to starter Justin Thomas. Following the scrimmage, coach Paul Johnson said that that there probably won’t be a set order.
“It would depend on the situation who I send in, the type of the game, the way it was going, what we were doing,” Johnson said.
Jordan played in four games last year as Thomas' backup, including extensive action in the Miami game when Thomas left with an upper-body injury. Johnson has previously said that Jordan needed to develop into a short-yardage sub for Thomas, much as Tim Byerly did in 2014. Marshall played quarterback in high school, but played A-back last season as a freshman. He was switched to quarterback in the spring and made an impression with his ability to make plays with his feet.
“I think everyone knows TaQuon’s probably a little shiftier and quicker than me,” Jordan said earlier this week. “I’m a little bigger and stronger than him. We just kind of bring two different playing styles, I guess you could say.”
TaQuon Marshall is the big story of Georgia Tech spring practice
Several starters were held out to give more playing time to the backups, including Thomas. With so many regulars out, ball security was not up to Johnson’s standards, nor were Jordan and Marshall.
“They missed some (decisions) that should be easy,” Johnson said. “But they have played a lot. So that’s why you do it. That’s why you practice.”
Coaches will form scout teams for Monday’s practice as the Yellow Jackets begin preparing for Boston College in the season opener Sept. 3.
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