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closeATLANTA — Phil Smith was a mixed bag of emotions.
Last week, when he received some of the most positive news he has heard in his time at Georgia Tech, the left tackle was grateful and glum all at the same time.
On the one hand, he was elated and felt sky-high when he was told he was going to receive his first career start when the Yellow Jackets took on Wake Forest last Saturday.
But on the other hand, he was also somewhat joyless. He felt distressed as he watched as his friend was forced off the field and into the training room. He had wished the momentous occasion had come some other way.
“It’s hard playing up to his level; I don’t think I’m there yet,” the redshirt freshman Smith said, referring to junior tackle Austin Barrick. “And the other thing is, we’re friends, so it’s hard to see him go down, and then I feel bad playing for him and seeing him on the sidelines because I know he wants to be out there.”
As quasi-painful and quasi-joyous as it may be, Smith has begun finding a way to get used to being out on the field instead of his good buddy.
On Sunday, Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson announced that Barrick, a starter who received a heel injury the week before, was likely done for the remainder of the season. The former tight-end/A-back/versatile veteran was on crutches the day before. That ushered in Smith’s opportunity to take his place.
“He’s (Smith) really embraced the opportunity to play more and more in recent weeks,” co-offensive line coach Todd Spencer said. “He’s played 178 plays over the last three weeks, and he’s got an opportunity. We have a term that ‘you have an opportunity to step up when someone gets hurt.’ And Coach (Mike) Sewak and I believe he’s really embraced the opportunity to start.”
Spencer said he and Sewak witnessed Smith’s enthusiasm for playing before Saturday’s game even began. According to the coach, the lineman was riveted, excited,” and “really did some good things for the first time.”
During Saturday’s 30-27 overtime win over the Demon Deacons, among other things, Smith offered good offensive push as soon as the ball was snapped, Spencer said.
“On pass protection and on our toss, he did things like he was able to get out in space and knock a safety down,” Spencer said. “We have high expectations and certainly have a long way to go (with the whole line), we’re never satisfied; we’re seeking continuous improvement.”
A surprise out of the 2008 recruiting class, Smith has made a steady climb up the team’s depth chart after being expected to start the season behind Barrick and once-highly heralded prospect Nick Claytor.
Part of what has helped, Smith said, is the fact that he has gained invaluable playing experience across the past few weeks. Playing frequently in relief against Virginia’s 3-4 defensive attack three games ago helped him ease into the significant playing he is now beginning to see.
“What really helped me out was playing a lot in the Virginia game and the Vanderbilt game,” Smith said. “It’s just getting those extra reps against Virginia in real game-time speed, that’s what has really helped out.”
In the past three games — Smith has played in all but two games this year — Georgia Tech’s offense has enjoyed some of its strongest performances of the season, including a season-high 597 yards of total offense against Vanderbilt.
While Smith is most focused on adding upon those numbers this week, he admitted that he would like to add upon them Dec. 5 in the ACC championship game, as well.
“Right now, we’re just focusing on Duke and everything else will take care of itself,” Smith said. “But it would be nice to play in Tampa (Fla.) again. I will say that.”
A former Hillsborough County all-star, the Tampa native has played only once inside Raymond James Stadium — home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and site of this year’s ACC championship game.
By next month, Smith hopes to add to that total by one.
To get to the title game, he and the Yellow Jackets must first go through the Blue Devils. A win this weekend in Durham, N.C., secures a spot in that championship game.
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