Working against the defense daily in practice as part of the offensive scout team, Georgia Tech freshman wide receivers Harland Howell and Christian Philpott did not escape the notice of coach Paul Johnson this season.
“I see them getting better every single day,” Johnson said in mid-November. “I’m excited to see what Harland and Christian Philpott can do in the spring.”
Beyond the praise itself, Johnson’s verbal bouquet was noteworthy because he offered the evaluation unsolicited, in response to a question about freshman wide receiver Brad Stewart. Further, Johnson made the pronouncement despite his reluctance to single out freshmen to temper expectations for players who have yet to take a snap at the college level.
Johnson isn’t alone in his assessment. Former Georgia Tech cornerback D.J. White liked what he saw as both worked to give him a picture of what he would see from opposing wide receivers.
“Both guys are big,” White said. “Both guys can go up and make plays in the air. I would say Harland has a little bit more of a burst than Christian, but Christian’s really good at using his body to shield away defenders and go up and make plays.”
In the disappointment of Tech’s 3-9 season, the play of many members of the freshman class offered hope for seasons to come. B-back Marcus Marshall led the Yellow Jackets with 654 rushing yards, the first freshman to lead Tech in rushing since Joe Burns in 1998. Linebacker Brant Mitchell and safety A.J. Gray increased their playing time over the course of the season with sure tackling and playmaking knack.
Redshirt freshman A-backs Clinton Lynch and Qua Searcy also were dynamic with the ball in their hands.
All told, 10 of the 26-member class — the largest in Johnson’s tenure — took the field. That tied the 2011 class for the most freshmen to play for Johnson. That group provided much of the core of the 2014 Orange Bowl championship team.
But the remaining 16 players, including Howell and Philpott, have likewise shown promise. Howell, from Wheeler High, enrolled early in January 2015 and took part in spring practice. Philpott was injured over the summer, delaying his development. However, he has size (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) and was a state champion in the 200 and 400 meters in high school in Florida.
Ricky Jeune, winner of the team’s offensive effort award, and Stewart will have a firm grasp on starting jobs going into spring practice, but there will be ample room to compete for playing time.
“Without a doubt, both of those guys have the physical makeup, they’ve got the work ethic, as well,” White said of Howell and Philpott. “I think they’re going to be two good players for Tech down the road.”
White trained alongside another player who gained notice on the defensive scout team, cornerback Dorian Walker. Tech redshirted three corners — Meiko Dotson, Dante Wigley and Walker. White was impressed by all three. Walker’s potential caught his attention.
Walker, from Mount Paran Christian, made an impression on White in the preseason with his quickness when they faced off in position drills.
“Dorian’s a quick-twitch guy, very, very fast, very athletic,” said White, who is training for the draft and is an alternate for the Senior Bowl. “When he gets the techniques down and he’s comfortable, I think he’s going to be really good.”
Two more redshirts, twin brothers Brad and Scott Morgan — Brad on the offensive line, Scott on the defensive line — impressed coaches with their tenacity and drive, necessary qualities for pushing through the drudgery of scout-team work. Brad and Scott, from Etowah High, were named the offensive and defensive scout-team players of the year, respectively.
“They don’t ever slow down,” said guard Trey Braun, who was a senior this season.
Braun often practiced against Scott Morgan, a defensive tackle.
“He’s really hard to move out of his stance,” Braun said. “He has a very solid base, so it’s hard to get him going backwards.”
Among others, freshman A-back Omahri Jarrett showed potential on the practice field, as did two players who transferred in, A-back J.J. Green (Georgia) and cornerback Lamont Simmons (USC). Johnson also was high on freshman A-back Nate Cottrell before he suffered a knee injury early in preseason camp.
Spring practice is a mere three months away.
