The playing future of two Georgia Tech offensive linemen is decidedly uncertain.
Speaking on the ACC coaches teleconference Wednesday and later in the day following the end of the team’s spring-practice workout, coach Paul Johnson gave updates on guards Chris Griffin and Jake Whitley that weren’t particularly hopeful. Griffin has not regained full health after tearing his ACL offseason. Whitley has been held out in spring practice with recurring headaches.
Said Johnson of Griffin, “We had another guy who was coming off some surgery that didn’t go well. I don’t even know if he’s going to be able to play again. That’s kind of iffy.”
Johnson said that he didn’t think another surgery would improve Griffin’s chances of recovering fully.
“I was disappointed for him because he worked so hard in rehabbing and trying to get back out there,” Johnson said.
Of Whitley, Johnson said that “we had one with a head problem, with headaches, and he may be through playing.”
Johnson seemed at a loss regarding Whitley, saying that “at some point he’ll either clear up or decide he doesn’t want to play, I guess.”
Johnson wasn’t sure if Whitley would necessarily be eligible for a medical scholarship.
“We’d have to cross that bridge when we come to it,” he said. “If he gets cleared, he’ll have to play. If he’s not cleared, then, yeah, if they don’t clear him, he’d probably a medical.”
Griffin, a junior, started seven games as a redshirt freshman at offensive tackle in 2014 before tearing his ACL playing basketball in the following offseason. Coaches moved him to guard for the spring and hoped he would challenge for one of the starting guard positions, but his rehabilitated knee has given him problems. Whitley played one game last season in his redshirt freshman year.
Griffin and Whitley are two of just 11 scholarship offensive linemen on the roster, including Scott Morgan, a redshirt freshman who was switched from defensive tackle last week. They are also two of three scholarship offensive linemen who have been out during the spring, with center Freddie Burden being the third. Tech also lost another guard in December when Gary Brown chose to leave school.
With the shortage, tackle Will Bryan was moved to guard last week. Scott Morgan’s shift was also a response to the lack of depth.
Said Johnson, “I’m always concerned about the depth at guard.”
There are four incoming freshman offensive linemen, three of whom can play guard, and Johnson mentioned a preferred walk-on whom coaches believe can play.
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