Georgia Tech quarterback Tobias Oliver will bring talent and inexperience to his role as the Yellow Jackets backup quarterback. Oliver’s spot as the No. 2 behind TaQuon Marshall became a full-fledged reality Thursday as Lucas Johnson underwent season-ending surgery for a lower-body injury suffered in the team’s scrimmage on Saturday.
Coach Paul Johnson called the injury a fluke.
“He just stepped wrong, and it happens,” he said.
Oliver is a redshirt freshman.
“He’s hit and miss,” Paul Johnson said. “He does some really good things and then he’s like any young quarterback. But I could call a game with Tobias.”
Oliver has impressed linebacker and team captain Brant Mitchell in practice.
“As bad it seems, somebody’s got to step up and Tobias has done a really good job thus far,” Mitchell said. “Anytime that I’ve went against him, he’s always done really well. It seems like he’s really fitting into the offense pretty well. He’s got some wheels on him. He can run, too.”
Mitchell called Johnson’s injury unfortunate.
“We’re going to miss him, I know that,” he said. “I know he juked me out a couple times in spring game. He’s been a really good player for us and we’re definitely going to miss him. But that’s the way football goes.”