Three of the youngest B-backs on Georgia Tech’s football team are impressing the coaches.
Coach Paul Johnson praised sophomore Marcus Marshall, as well as redshirt freshman KirVonte Benson and freshman Dedrick Mills on Monday.
“He’s really caught my eye this camp,” Johnson said of Benson, who played at Marietta. “Light’s starting to come on. He’s got a ton of ability. If he can keep going, he’s a guy that can help us.”
Johnson and position coach Bryan Cook noted that Marshall seems more mature this year. Cook said it’s evident in the film room and workouts.
“His chest is out more,” Cook said. “That kind of thing carries over to the field from a confidence level, especially at that position. There’s no time to react there. You have to make a decision and you have to commit to it.”
Marshall started three games, played in 11, and led the Yellow Jackets with 654 rushing yards last season. Cook said that Marshall is gaining a better understanding of what he needs to do within the offense, particularly when watching film.
“I think he’ll have a good year,” Johnson said.
Johnson said if the team had to play today, Mills would probably be No. 2 on the depth chart.
“Dedrick is a really physical guy who has a knack for football,” Cook said.
Not to be forgotten is Quaide Weimerskirch, a redshirt freshman who sat out last year after suffering a foot injury in the spring of 2015. Cook said that Weimerskirch was further along in his knowledge of the offense than Benson or Mills, and the coaches are working with him on seeing things better in practice and getting him to “run like a running back.”
