Georgia Tech linebacker Tyler Marcordes has some catching up ahead of him after missing about two weeks with an unspecified injury. Marcordes, slated to start, returned to practice on Monday.
Marcordes is “still fighting through it, a little bit rusty, but he’s coming back,” linebackers coach Andy McCollum said. “We’ve still got another week and a half.”
Tech plays its season opener Aug. 30 against Wofford. Marcordes will be a first-year starter after mostly playing a major role on special teams his first two seasons. He has been touted by teammates as a breakout player. The good news for Tech is that he can knock the rust off against an FCS opponent before the Yellow Jackets play at Tulane the second week of the season.
It is a significant piece of the Jackets’ return to health, as his absence was probably the most extended of any projected starter. To McCollum, Marcordes’ task in returning is reading the plays and reacting to them properly, as well as using proper technique.
“Tyler’s a big, tall guy, so getting back, bending my knees, bending my hips, playing pad level (is a challenge),” McCollum said. “I think when you come back off of injury, your pad level’s high.”
While he was out, Tremayne McNair and Paul Davis took his snaps in different packages. McCollum said that Marcordes tried to return to practice at one point, but was unable to do so.
“Tyler’s a tough guy,” McCollum said. “If anybody wants to get back fast, he wants to get back.”
Another linebacker whom the team is waiting upon is Anthony Harrell, returning from a knee injury suffered midseason last year. Coach Paul Johnson said he’s not planning on having him back for the Wofford game. He has been taking part in practice except for the contact portions. He would likely back up middle linebacker Quayshawn Nealy and play special teams.
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