Jeune stepping up for Yellow Jackets

Georgia Tech had eight plays of 20-plus yards last week against Virginia. But none of the players involved in those plays was named the team’s offensive player of the week. That honor went to wide receiver Ricky Jeune, who had one catch for 18 yards.

Jeune wasn’t rewarded for his pass-catching ability — although he leads the team with 22 receptions. He was cited because of blocking skills. Jeune threw and maintained a downfield block that enabled Marcus Marshall to break a 67-yard touchdown run.

“He’s been consistent with it for the most part,” Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson said. “He’s embraced (the blocking), and when you do that you tend to get better with it. Hopefully he’ll continue to be good out there.”

Jalen Johnson was named special teams player of the week and Lance Austin was named defensive player of the week.

Austin was also named the ACC’s Defensive Back of the Week. The junior intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown and broke up three passes. His twin brother Lawrence Austin snagged ACC honors the previous week.

Brant Mitchell was named the ACC’s Linebacker of the Week. The sophomore recorded a career-high 12 tackles and an interception against Virginia.

Thanksgiving plans: The Yellow Jackets will practice Thursday morning and take the rest of the day off, just like they have done since Johnson arrived nine years ago.

“We’ll have a team lunch and turn the guys loose,” he said. “They usually have places they want to go. If they don’t, they’re invited to the coaches’ houses.”

Will any of them be head to Johnson’s house?

“You can invite them,” Johnson said with a laugh. “But very few are coming to your house.”

Return of Mills: B-back Dedrick Mills will return this week after serving two-game suspension for violating team rules. Marcus Marshall is likely to get the start, with Mills also getting a chance to play a lot.

“It gives us more depth,” Johnson said. “Most games, we played both those guys, and I’m sure that will happen again. I think he’s a good player. It never hurts to have one of your better players back playing.”

Marshall has rushed for 270 yards over the last two games and has 569 yards and three touchdowns. Mills, a freshman from Waycross, has rushed for 578 yards and 10 touchdowns in seven games.

Bowl prospects: Georgia Tech won’t know its bowl destination until after the final week of the regular season is over. Georgia Tech is one of nine ACC teams that are bowl eligible, joining Clemson, Louisville, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Miami, Pittsburgh and Wake Forest.

Possibilities include the Military Bowl, the Independence Bowl and the Pinstripe Bowl.

“A lot of it is unsettled until you play out the last game,” Johnson said. “Until then you’re not sure what’s going to happen.”

This story was originally published November 22, 2016 at 3:26 PM with the headline "Jeune stepping up for Yellow Jackets."