Georgia Tech first-year freshman A-back Mikell Lands-Davis will play in Saturday’s game against North Carolina, coach Paul Johnson said Monday. Lands-Davis moved to A-back from B-back early in the preseason and has been a possibility for the first four games, but thus far has had his redshirt preserved.
However, his progress and the dearth of options at A-back have persuaded coaches to give him his first action a third of way into the season.
“Mikell, he’s ready to play,” Johnson said.
Lands-Davis will be the ninth member of the 27-member 2015 signing class to play this season and the third running back, following A-back TaQuon Marshall and B-back Marcus Marshall.
The A-back spot has been hit particularly hard by injury. Nate Cottrell is out for the year with a knee injury. Qua Searcy is likewise finished with an ankle injury. TaQuon Marshall left Saturday’s loss to Duke with an undisclosed injury. Matthew Jordan moved to A-back in the preseason from quarterback, but returned to quarterback after Tim Byerly suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Another first-year freshman running back, Quaide Weimerskirch, is being evaluated for his readiness to contribute this season. Weimerskirch enrolled early and worked at B-back in the spring before a foot injury sidelined him until after the season began. He was practicing with the offensive scout team before being moved to A-back in response to the depth shortage at the position.
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