On Saturday, in the third practice of his life at linebacker, Georgia Tech senior Jerry Howard sometimes looked very much like that was the case. But other times, he looked as if he could be a potential answer in the Yellow Jackets’ search for more playmakers at the linebacker spot.
Howard, a senior, is one of a number of players working at a new position during Tech’s spring practice, which completed its third session Saturday morning.
“They say I have a natural feel for (pass) routes,” Howard said. “I’m still getting my run fits in a little bit, but you’re flying everywhere and just being aggressive. That’s basically how I am and what I like to do.”
Howard played his first three seasons for Tech at running back, getting steady playing time at B-back for former coach Paul Johnson as a freshman and sophomore and then backing up Jordan Mason as a junior last season.
But, during last season, he occasionally joked with defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker that he was coming over to defense to play linebacker, Thacker said. Howard showed some proclivity for defense while on special teams, making four tackles and also blocking two punts. Thacker figured Howard was kidding about switching. But just before the start of winter break, Howard told coach Geoff Collins that he wanted to move over to defense. He sees it as a possible path to the NFL.
“Just to get on the field more, I would say,” Howard said. “Just to touch the field a lot more and get in a rotation.”
Mason is the clear No. 1 at running back, and Jamious Griffin’s role grew during his freshman season. The signing of Jahmyr Gibbs from Dalton High – which happened after Howard informed Collins of his desire to change to linebacker – figures only to further crowd the position.
There’s competition at linebacker, too. David Curry, the team’s leading tackler, and Quez Jackson and Demetrius Knight are back. Cornelius Evans redshirted and has made significant strength gains. Walk-on redshirt freshman Taylor McCawley earned a bit of playing time last season. Signees Khatavian Franks and Tyson Meiguez, both from Creekside High, and Khaya Wright are on the way. But there could be room for Howard, who has made a quick impression. Two other linebackers from last season, Charlie Thomas and Bruce Jordan-Swilling, have moved to safety and running back, respectively.
In 11-on-11 drills Saturday, as Tech went in full pads for the first time this spring, Howard showed an explosive burst in closing on the ball. He looked comfortable dropping back into pass coverage. Tracking ballcarriers, he had a knack for taking the correct angle to square up for tackles. On a blitz, Howard shot cleanly through a gap in the offensive line to pressure quarterback Jordan Yates.
“Jerry’s come along real fast,” Jackson said. “Jerry’s just a smart football player.”
“He’s unbelievable,” Curry said. “The speed that he adds to the linebacker room is next level, and he’s learning so fast.”
There is a lot to catch up on for Howard, who played running back at Northwestern High in Rock Hill, S.C. He was under Thacker’s close eye during a drill in which two linebackers and two defensive linemen lined up against three offensive linemen and a tight end and tried to bring down a running back. From time to time, Thacker nudged him to the left or right or pulled him back before the snap.
“I’d say what I like about (Thacker), he explains it thoroughly, and then he’ll also help you,” Howard said. “It’s hard to miss him because he’s everywhere. I can be looking at the quarterback, thinking about the play and I can hear his voice: ‘Scoot over.’”
On run plays Saturday, Howard often stayed in his stance for a moment after the snap, as though he were trying to process what he was seeing and figuring out his assignment. That’s hardly a surprise for his third day on the job.
“It’s taking me a couple seconds longer than what it’s supposed to do,” he said. “As long as I end up in the right spot, it’s pretty good.”
Thacker said that he has handled himself well thus far, with few missed assignments. He has noticed his ability to find the proper angle to get to the ball, calling it “natural.” He’ll have to learn how to use his hands to shed blocks instead of relying on his speed to run around them.
“So that’ll be the learning curve for him and the experience curve for him, block destruction is what we call it, taking on blocks and disengaging,” Thacker said.
Thacker has experience with helping players transition to linebacker. During the recent NFL combine, Thacker went with a small group of Tech coaches to support former Temple players who were competing. That included former Owls linebackers Shaun Bradley and Chapelle Russell, who both played for Thacker. Both played other positions in high school.
Thacker said the experience of coaching those two changed his thinking about what a linebacker looks like and how the position should be recruited. Besides Howard, Knight was a quarterback at Strong Rock Christian School in Henry County. Curry played safety at Buford High.
Rather than experience, Thacker said “it’s more body types, physical traits and then skill set, and making sure that they’ll be aggressive. So I love that we don’t have all of those ready-made linebackers, and that experience changed my mind on how you can transform them into linebackers to play at a high level.”
The challenge starts anew this spring with Howard.
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