Georgia Tech’s offensive line will practice on Tuesday without five contributors, including three starters.
By using walk-ons, coach Paul Johnson said the Yellow Jackets will have enough linemen to conduct a practice.
The team has a dearth of offensive linemen because of attrition, injuries and the fickleness of recruiting, he said.
One of the starters who is likely out is right tackle Trey Klock, who has already missed three games because of injury. He returned in last week’s loss to Pittsburgh before having to leave the game.
Johnson wasn’t asked who the other missing linemen were but they are presumed to be guard Shamire Devine, who is also dealing with injuries, and Andrew Marshall, who also left the Pittsburgh game, but was cleared to return.
Georgia Tech has 20 offensive linemen listed on its roster. Thirteen are on scholarship. Johnson said Tech would like to consistently carry 16 linemen on scholarship.
Part of the difference in those that are on scholarship and the number Johnson would like to have can be explained by attrition.
Michael Preddy left after his freshmen year in 2014. He redshirted. Gary Brown lettered in 2015, but left to “draw cartoons,” according to Johnson.
Two players, Chris Griffin and Jake Whitley received medical redshirts.
Preddy, Brown and Whitley were in the same class.
“Couple that with injuries and that’s how you get to where you are,” Johnson said. “If you make a mistake or two in recruiting, there’s a couple more. It kind of snowballs. Can’t afford to lose that many guys.”
Johnson said that freshmen Jahaziel Lee and Kenny Cooper will play more the rest of the season.
“They are going to have to play,” Johnson said on Monday. “I would have assumed that they would have played more already. They will play going forward.”
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