Here are some comments and notes from Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson’s news conference after his team scrimmaged Saturday morning at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The scrimmage was closed to media.
1. Johnson on Jake Stickler, who is competing to be the No. 3 offensive tackle behind Jahaziel Lee and Andrew Marshall: "With the offensive line, it's hard (to evaluate in a scrimmage). I didn't notice him much, so that's a good thing usually on the offensive line."
Jerry Howard making a run at backup B-back spot
2. About 15 players sat out of the scrimmage. Johnson said the number "might be a little bit more than normal. I think there's two guys, maybe, that could be questionable for the first game. Everybody else should be back out there next week."
3. Freshman kicker Brenton King, who is competing with walk-on Shawn Davis for the starting job, has a groin injury and was limited to kicking extra points Saturday.
Georgia Tech kicking competition underway
4. Johnson, on whether he could see any freshmen in the two-deep depth chart on defense: "Yeah. Maybe."
5. Johnson on freshman linebacker Bruce Jordan-Swilling, the highest-rated recruit of the class: "I think he's learning. I think for those guys, it's a learning process."
6. Johnson on the possibility of freshmen on the defensive line (Antwan Owens, Cortez Alston and Kelton Dawson) contributing this season: "Well, you hope. That's why you recruited 'em. We'll watch the (scrimmage video), and we'll have a better idea. You don't just go off (Saturday). You also go off the practices all week. We've got a couple of those guys in mind that we think may be able to help, a couple of those freshmen up there. We'll just see."
7. Johnson on memorable interactions at fan day, held Saturday: "I don't know. There's probably been a few things. It's interesting and sometimes it's fun to meet a lot of our fans. We've got some interesting fans like everybody else. During the run of the time down there, you've got a chance to meet them and interact, and it's always fun."
8. Johnson on if he has ever been asked to autograph anything particularly unusual: "Yeah, but I'm not going to tell you what it was."
Links
Tech’s Jerry Howard making a run at backup B-back spot
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5 things to know from Georgia Tech’s 7th practice
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Dedrick Mills prepares for improved sophomore season
Q&A: Tech defensive coordinator Ted Roof
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