Tech offensive tackle Chris Griffin to go on medical scholarship
A third Georgia Tech player will be placed on medical scholarship. Offensive tackle Chris Griffin’s career will end because of his decision to terminate his attempted return from a torn ACL, coach Paul Johnson said.
Griffin, a junior, tore the ligament playing basketball following the 2014 season and sat out the 2015 season, but could not return to competitive health. He was held out most of the spring and returned to the practice field for preseason camp, but decided Saturday that a recovery was not possible.
“We talked (Saturday) morning, and Chris doesn’t feel like he can do it,” Johnson said Saturday at the team’s media day. “Which is a shame because he’s worked really hard.”
Griffin started seven games in the 2014 season as a redshirt freshman and played in all 14 before the offseason injury. On medical scholarship, he'll be able to complete his schooling, but will lose his eligibility. Offensive lineman Jake Whitley and defensive end Kenderius Whitehead also were taken off the roster recently for medical reasons.
Coaches hoped that Griffin could compete for playing time at tackle. Trey Klock (left tackle) and Eason Fromayan (right) are the front-runners to earn starting jobs. The No. 3 tackle could be Jake Stickler, who only played in two games last season as a redshirt freshman, but has caught the notice of teammates.
“He’s doing really good, kind of surprising people the first couple of days,” center Freddie Burden said of Stickler. “Hopefully he can continue to build on that.”
About the Author
Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Formerly the Georgia Tech beat reporter, Sugiura started at the AJC in 1998 and has covered a variety of beats, mostly within sports.
