Charles Perkins’ career at Georgia Tech has turned out little like he expected.
A highly touted recruit at Collins Hill High, Perkins saw himself following in the considerable footsteps of B-back Jonathan Dwyer, the 2008 ACC player of the year and the engine of Tech’s option offense.
“I saw myself being the guy,” Perkins said.
Perkins’ case is familiar. Injuries and other teammates equally or more bent on playing time prevented him from realizing his dream scenario. But, in his final season with the Yellow Jackets, Perkins is in position to taste some of the success he foresaw for himself.
“I want to end my career leaving everything on the field, want to go all out this year and just have a great year, end my career on a high note,” he said.
Perkins’ preseason has been something of a revisiting of his past. As a redshirt freshman in 2011, Perkins was in a four-man race for the B-back job and was expected to make a strong bid for the position. But he was overtaken by David Sims, who came from the back of the pack to win the job and hold onto it for the next three seasons.
Entering this year’s preseason, Perkins was in the mix with a slew of experienced A-backs, but was not listed among the top five at the position on the depth chart. But he jumped ahead quickly and has stayed there and is slated to start alongside fellow A-back Tony Zenon in the season opener Aug. 30 against Wofford.
“I think Charles, one thing he did to really put himself in position to be the starter for Wofford was just playing with consistency every day and really taking his role (of) setting the edge on the perimeter and making blocks on the perimeter,” A-backs coach Lamar Owens said.
Productivity in running the ball and catching it, too, has made him the consistent, three-pronged player that Owens prizes. Owens wants to see how he does against a defense other than Tech’s, but said “he is a guy that I’m looking forward to watching play this year and seeing how he can help us on the perimeter.”
Perkins’ physical condition undoubtedly helps. He is down from about 220 pounds, his playing weight at B-back, to 205, which he said is his natural weight. Owens said Perkins looks quicker and changes direction better than he had.
“Everything comes with slimming down a little,” Perkins said. “You get a little quicker, you get better conditioning. It all goes hand in hand.”
Further, he is past the shoulder injury that nearly ended his career in 2012. Perkins earned a start for the opener in 2012, but aggravated a shoulder condition that required season-ending surgery. The damage was so severe that he could have chosen to be medically disqualified, which would have ended his career. Perkins said it crossed his mind to take the option, but a few days later told coach Paul Johnson that he wanted to keep playing and rehabilitated his shoulder.
Moving to A-back before last season, Perkins improved over the course of the season, particularly as a blocker. He played all 13 games, carrying 13 times for 114 yards, an 8.8 yards-per-carry average. With the graduation of Robert Godhigh, Tech is in search for an A-back who can make plays with the ball and blocking downfield. Perkins could be the answer.
Off the field, Perkins graduated in the spring and will intern this semester with Mondelez International, the snack-food manufacturer that formerly was Kraft Foods. He has a job offer in sales and marketing waiting for him.
A career that has strayed far from the intended course has found its way.
“You’re going to get down, but I didn’t allow it to get in my mind, really,” Perkins said. “You have your off days, but you come back to work every single day. It’s a commitment.”
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