The resumes of some of the A-backs who played in Georgia Tech’s loss to North Carolina on Saturday aren’t exactly what the program expected before the season:
- Mikell Lands-Davis: a freshman who started camp at B-back.
- Austin McClellan: a walk-on who had just four carries before the season.
- Isiah Willis: a former walk-on who also had just four carries before the season.
- Lynn Griffin: a junior who played in the secondary before moving to A-back six days before the UNC game.
- Clinton Lynch: a redshirt freshman who has shown a spark with 16 carries and two touchdowns this season.
They didn’t play poorly, combining for 24 carries, 138 yards and one touchdown. This is the bulk of the group that will face Clemson in Death Valley on Saturday.
But it’s not what Tech fans have grown accustomed to.
Coach Paul Johnson said he watched the 2012 Clemson game film, when the Yellow Jackets’ A-backs included Orwin Smith and Robbie Godhigh post runs of 38, 38, 33, 25 and 23 yards. Tech hasn’t had a run gain 25 yards in its past two games.
“I think these guys are going to get there,” Johnson said. “It’s just you are asking them to transition straight from high school to big-boy football and there’s going to be some growing pains along the way. If it wasn’t, you would just play with all freshmen.”
How did Tech end up with a stable of less-experienced players in such a key position in the option-based offense?
It wasn’t the plan. There was supposed to be more depth and experience to fill in after the departures of Charles Perkins, Deon Hill, B.J. Bostic and Tony Zenon, a group that was a strength of last year’s team.
Dennis Andrews, a 2012 signee who played some last year, was kicked off the team over the summer. Donovan Wilson, a 2013 signee, transferred to Bowling Green. Myles Autry, a 2014 signee, was released from his letter of intent last summer after his brother Anthony was kicked off the team.
Those decisions, combined with injuries, have left the group paper-thin, which is why Griffin volunteered to move from defensive back to A-back, a position he played in high school in Jacksonville, Fla. He didn’t expect to make such a move, but he began thinking about it as the A-backs’ depth depleted.
He started working with Justin Thomas on Sunday before the UNC game. He said he knew a handful of plays, is quickly learning more and hopes the move is permanent.
“It was an easy transition,” he said. “I like getting back to the ball in my hands.”
Willis said he consistently reaches out to former A-backs like Embry Peeples and Hill who have come through Tech with advice on what the new group needs to do to improve.
“A’s make plays. That’s something we need to step up and do,” Willis said. “It’s one of those things we have need to step up and do. We came here to play. We know we can play.”
A-backs coach Lamar Owens said the group has its ups and downs each week. He said the players knew their assignments last week, but also missed out on big plays by not breaking tackles.
“It just takes time,” Owens said. “It definitely takes time. I appreciate the guys’ willingness to throw their body around and to continue to improve. That’s the name of the game and increase the level of production for the offense.”
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