Georgia Tech backup quarterback Matthew Jordan may see playing time against Virginia Tech Thursday night. Jordan has been the No. 2 quarterback behind Justin Thomas since Tim Byerly’s season-ending knee injury prior to the second game of the season. Jordan played in the first two games, both blowout wins, but has gotten into just one game in the past seven, two plays of mop-up duty at the end of the loss to Clemson.
“We need to get him in the game,” coach Paul Johnson said Monday. “I’m not afraid to put him in; I think he’s practiced well and done some things. We need to get him in the game if the situation warrants.”
Jordan is a redshirt freshman who trained through spring practice at quarterback but moved over to A-back early in preseason camp for a better shot at playing time. He returned to quarterback to back up Thomas after Byerly’s injury.
Johnson has said in recent days that it is time to start younger players and give them a chance to play. Johnson also said Monday that redshirt freshman offensive tackle Trey Klock has a chance to start at tackle. He was listed at first string at left tackle ahead of Bryan Chamberlain on the depth chart for the game against the Hokies.
He could be one of six freshmen on offense to start, along with B-back Marcus Marshall, A-backs Clinton Lynch and Mikell Lands-Davis, wide receiver Brad Stewart and right tackle Will Bryan. On defense, nose tackle Kyle Cerge-Henderson was listed on the first string with Adam Gotsis out for the year with a knee injury and Jabari Hunt serving the second game of a two-game suspension for violating team rules. Another freshman, linebacker Brant Mitchell, is a starter in the team’s 4-3 alignment.
“I think that’s a good class,” Johnson said. “It’s well-balanced and there’s some good players in it. Unfortunately, we had to play a bunch of them too soon.”
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