Georgia Tech’s second and third first-year freshman offensive linemen played their first snaps of the season Saturday against Vanderbilt, an unusual occurrence for the Yellow Jackets.
A week after guard Parker Braun made his career debut against Mercer, center Kenny Cooper and tackle Jahaziel Lee played their first college snaps toward the end of the Jackets’ 38-7 win over Vanderbilt. In coach Paul Johnson’s first eight seasons, only three offensive linemen had played as first-year freshmen – Shaquille Mason, Andrew Marshall and Will Bryan.
“They’re going to play,” coach Paul Johnson said. “They’re second team.”
Offensive line coach Mike Sewak said that Cooper improved over the course of his time in the game.
“He started off, and I think the first couple snaps, he was awful high (in his leverage) and he was probably in shock, didn’t make any calls, didn’t call any techniques,” Sewak said.
Lee was similarly adrift but played with aggressiveness.
“He threw all techniques out,” Sewak said with bemusement. “He didn’t do anything we coached; he was just trying to run around, trying to go hit somebody.”
The experience gained in a low-pressure setting was valuable, though, as they may be called upon to play more meaningful snaps later. Cooper is backup to center Freddie Burden. Lee is trying to push his way up the rotation at tackle, which on Saturday was absent starting right tackle Trey Klock (ankle) and No. 4 tackle Jake Stickler (undisclosed). Sewak likes playing linemen in a rotation to keep them fresh.
“I think all positions need to have someone that’ll push ’em,” Sewak said.
Braun, the younger brother of former Tech guard Trey Braun, played 33 out of the team’s 63 snaps, Sewak said, and is challenging Bryan and Shamire Devine for a starting job at both guard spots.
Tech has now played six members of the 2017 signing class – B-back Dedrick Mills, defensive tackle Brandon Adams, wide receiver Jalen Camp, Braun, Cooper and Lee.
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