Five questions facing Georgia Tech for its season opener
ATLANTA -- There are many things fans can take for granted about Georgia Tech’s season opener Thursday. Yes, Justin Thomas is going to start at quarterback. Yes, the Yellow Jackets are going to run the ball. Yes, Adam Gotsis will have his big Australian body right in the middle of the defensive line.
Those are things we know for sure. Such is the familiarity when a team returns 13 starters and 62 lettermen from last year’s 11-3 team that won the Orange Bowl.
But as we close in on the season opener against Alcorn State, there are questions that remain for Georgia Tech to answer. Here are five of the biggest:
WHO IS GOING TO START AT B-BACK?
The player at the top of the depth chart is Patrick Skov, a big physical runner who graduated from Stanford and has a year of eligibility left. Having an undergraduate degree from Stanford and a graduate degree from Georgia Tech can’t look bad on the resume. It remains to be seen whether Skov can be as productive -- or as durable -- as either Zach Laskey or Synjyn Days.
But Skov and freshman Marcus Marshall should be good enough to provide a bridge to next year, when C.J. Leggett (Georgia Tech’s top running back recruit in 2013) returns from knee surgery.
WHO IS GOING TO PLAY AT A-BACK?
While the B-back is the most important offensive piece (other than quarterback) in the Georgia Tech offense, the A-backs are there to provide the 25-yard bursts, handle the perimeter blocking and serve as targets for passes.
Other than Broderick Snoddy, this area might be in flux as much as it has been since Paul Johnson took over the program. Snoddy has shown no ill-effects from the broken leg he suffered last year against Clemson, but he still has to prove himself under game situations.
Playing time awaits whichever of the remaining candidates can step forward. Will it be Qua Searcy, who has had a solid preseason? Will it be Isiah Willis, a former walk-on who has earned a scholarship? What about Mikell Lands-Davis, who was moved there from B-back? Or even Matthew Jordan, the former quarterback?
WHAT’S THE PROGNOSIS FOR JABARI HUNT-DAYS?
The senior could be the wild card that determines the direction of the defense. A former linebacker, Hunt-Days missed last year with some academic issues. But he hit the books and the weights (and the training table) and put on 30 pounds of muscle. Stronger and just as quick, if not more so, Hunt-Days was a beast on the scout team last year. He’s expected to be an impact player.
HOW MANY FRESHMEN ARE GOING TO PLAY?
There were a dozen true freshmen listed on the depth chart last week, but Johnson said Monday that most of them won’t play. It is unusual to have a freshman come in and make the impact that KeShun Freeman had at defensive end a year ago. Still, there are several young players would come make an impact right away, especially Marshall, offensive lineman Will Bryan and wide receiver Brad Stewart.
HOW WILL THE YELLOW JACKETS RESPOND TO FAVORITES’ ROLE?
Expectations are definitely high after last year’s 11-win season, which included a win over Georgia and a close call against Florida State. Johnson said his players are “looking to beat Alcorn State and Georgia and everyone in between.” There’s certainly no room to take any time off; the schedule is more intense this year with the addition of Notre Dame and Florida State.
This story was originally published August 31, 2015 at 9:52 PM with the headline "Five questions facing Georgia Tech for its season opener ."