Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said Wednesday he’d like to get more playing time for backup B-back Jerry Howard, but that circumstances haven’t permitted it.

“I’d like to have seen Jerry play more,” Johnson said. “He probably deserves to, but just the way the games have gone, it just hasn’t happened.”

Howard has 22 carries in seven games backing up KirVonte Benson, who has 172 rushing attempts. Howard has been productive, averaging 8.0 yards per carry with two touchdowns. The second of his 22 carries was a 65-yard touchdown run against Jacksonville State.

Removing the 65-yard run, Howard is still averaging 5.2 yards per carry, a hair under Benson’s 5.4 yards-per-carry average.

Howard, a freshman, has been a backup to Benson, along with Quaide Weimerskirch, after Tech dismissed returning starter Dedrick Mills for a violation of athletic department policy in August.

Tech plays at Duke Saturday.