The preseason camp search for a right guard on the Georgia Tech offensive line has yet to produce a winner after 10 practices. Coach Paul Johnson said coaches rolled in two more candidates Monday to the sole position on the line without a returning starter, Trey Klock and Andrew Marshall.
Worse, Klock was injured in Monday’s practice, though Johnson didn’t believe it to be serious.
“We’re going to find somebody to play there,” Johnson said.
Going into camp, Shamire Devine was listed at the top of the depth chart at the position occupied last year by All-American Shaquille Mason. Devine began camp competing with Eason Fromayan and Gary Brown. Johnson was not taken with what he saw in Saturday’s scrimmage.
“It’s a work in progress,” Johnson said Saturday. “Let’s just put it that way. That’s a kind way to say it.”
Klock, a redshirt freshman, has mostly played tackle. Marshall, a sophomore, backed up center Freddie Burden last season.
“They’re trying everybody there,” Burden said. “We’re just looking for the best five; that’s what (offensive line coach Mike Sewak) talked about. Whoever can play it is going to play it.”
With inexperience rife across the offense’s skill positions, aside from quarterback, the line is being counted on to build on the physical and quick-hitting performance it demonstrated last season. On the whole, however, Johnson has not been satisfied with the line’s play.
“We need to see more leadership out of that group than we’re getting right now,” Johnson said Saturday.
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