Georgia Tech freshmen Gray, Mitchell angling for larger roles

The play of Georgia Tech safety A.J. Gray and linebacker Brant Mitchell, both first-year freshmen, has caused coaches to try to find ways to get them more work both in practice and in games.

Gray made an impact in Saturday’s to Duke with an interception and a critical tackle on a third-down run by Duke quarterback Thomas Sirk to force a punt. Mitchell, who was moved up to the first string with linebackers P.J. Davis and Tyler Marcordes in the team’s 4-3 defense, had three tackles.

“Whether it’s instincts, whether it’s anticipation, whether it’s a combination of the two, whether it’s football IQ, it’s kind of all that,” defensive coordinator Ted Roof said of Gray. “He’s got that.”