Georgia Tech will begin preseason practice in near-perfect health.

At the team’s media day Thursday, coach Paul Johnson said that incoming freshman defensive back Tariq Carpenter will be the only player who will not be able to practice when the Yellow Jackets take to the field for their first practice Friday.

Carpenter has undergone surgery (Johnson did not specify the nature of the surgery) and probably won’t be able to play until October, Johnson said. That being the case, he is likely to redshirt. Carpenter has begun rehabilitating.

Three players who missed spring practice after undergoing surgery, safeties Christian Campbell and Jalen Johnson and A-back Clinton Lynch, will be ready to go, as will quarterback Matthew Jordan, who injured his right foot halfway through spring practice and had surgery to repair it.

“We’ve had a good offseason, a good summer,” Johnson said. “I think our guys are champing at the bit to get out there (Friday) and get going.”

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