Sports Page Atlanta

Former Georgia Tech starting quarterback Taylor Bennett will be transferring to Louisiana Tech.

We all knew he was leaving after Paul Johnson took over, but we did not know where. Now we do. The big news for Bennett is that he will not have to sit out a season, due to the fact that Louisiana Tech has a graduate-school major that Georgia Tech does not. After a request was sent by Bennett to the NCAA, the NCAA found it fair and the QB can play next season.

Bennett looked great in the Gator Bowl two seasons ago, but struggled at times for the Yellow Jackets last year. He finished his Georgia Tech career with 2,804 yards and 13 TD passes.

The ironic thing is a former Georgia Tech player will now play for a Dooley. Legendary head coach Vince Dooley’s son Derek is the main man for Louisiana Tech. Last season, the LA Tech Bulldogs finished 5-7.

This weekend, while most Atlanta eyes will be closely watching the Falcons, plenty of other local fans will be watching to see where their favorite college players wind up going. Here’s your guide to Georgia Tech players for this weekend.

• Darrell Robertson, Defensive End / Linebacker - Robertson is an athletic end who could be a great fit for a 3-4 scheme as a rush linebacker and could be a real steal in this draft. What will probably push him to Sunday is his lack of ideal size, but he found his way around it in college, giving up only 1 first down on running plays toward him last year. In 2007, he picked up 16 tackles for loss and 6 1/2 sacks as a very important part of Tech’s strong defensive unit. He’s not seen as a true down lineman, probably because he gets pushed around by big tackles, but as a 3-4 linebacker, he can utilize his speed as a rusher or when covering the TE. There’s always the chance he could become an every down lineman much in the mold of other thin players like Jason Taylor, but the 3-4 OLB is most likely his immediate destination. Expect him to hear his name called early on Sunday. Just for fun prediction: Round 4 - 3rd pick (102nd overall) - New York Jets, who could use some explosiveness from the outside and some DE/OLB depth in their 3-4.
• Durant Brooks, Punter - The winner of the Ray Guy Award is easily the best punter available in this draft. While he doesn’t have the ideal size or accuracy, his booming leg forced 21 fair catches last year alone, and his hang time would already possibly be the best in the NFL. There are no questions about his leg strength; Brooks set an NCAA record with 57 50+ yard kicks over the last two years of his career. As great of a pro prospect as he is, punters simply don’t get chosen early in the draft, so Brooks will assuredly have to wait until Sunday to hear his name. Still, the 3rd or 4th round isn’t out of the question, and he should definitely be gone by the end of the 5th. As a punter who can kick for distance in any type of weather, he’ll be attractive to plenty of teams.
  Just for fun prediciton: Round 4 - 17th pick (116th overall) - Arizona Cardinals, who had the worst punt game in the NFL last year.
• Tashard Choice, Running Back - Choice gets high marks for his leadership qualities and work ethic, as he will improve any locker room he sets foot into. He has great vision when it comes to seeing holes opening up. However, Choice doesn’t have top-back speed, and he can’t break tackles easily. He runs like a power back but lacks the power to really pull it off at the NFL level. This, along with his injury issues, will cause him to slip a bit. Still, his production was solid in college, racking up 1473 yards and 12 TDs as a Junior and 1379 yards and 10 TDs as a Senior. Expect to hear Choice’s name called early on Sunday.
  Just for fun prediction: Round 4 - 21st pick (120th overall) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are looking for some depth and love short-gain, between the tackles runners.
• Philip Wheeler, Outside Linebacker - With a nose for the ball and good play recognition, Wheeler will go somewhere near the rest of his Jacket teammates, most likely early on Sunday. He’s known as a great blitzer, and he can play well against the run. What limits him are the following: he isn’t ready to play any zone defense, has a tendency to take some plays off when the play isn’t directly involving him, isn’t very fast, and plays recklessly at times, trusting too much in his ability, which probably isn’t as good as he thinks it is. He’s best used as a run-stopping OLB and occasional blitzer, and while he’s versatile enough to play inside, he is too easily blocked to be effective.
  Just for fun prediction: Round 4 - 24th pick (123rd overall) - Pittsburgh Steelers, who appreciate guys who can play run D and bring in the occasional blitz.
• Gary Guyton, Outside Linebacker - An explosive athlete, Guyton is a solid character guy who will improve the team both on and off the field. That isn’t to say he doesn’t have flaws. Guyton takes a little too long to recognize plays and rarely puts big hits on ballcarriers. Still, he’s quick and smart, and in a system which utilizes him mainly as a run defender, he could be helpful. He shouldn’t be playing 3rd downs, but could be fantastic as a special teamer and backup two-down linebacker. It’s hard for him not to remind you of another former Tech LB who was a better athlete than football player - Keyaron Fox.
  Just for fun prediction: Round 7 - 10th pick (217th overall) - St. Louis Rams, who need some help in kick coverage immediately.
• Mike Cox, Fullback - Cox will never be a key receiver out of the backfield or a change-of-pace ball carrier, but he isn’t a bad blocker at all. A big wide guy who can clear a lane for a back or block for kick and punt returners, Cox has very good awareness on the field. There are some injury issues and an arrest that could drop him out of this draft, but he will certainly go to camp with someone, and might even get selected this weekend. As a blocking fullback and special teams player, he’s worth a look.
  Just for fun prediction: Undrafted free agent - Signed by Seattle Seahawks, who are one of the few teams that still utilize pure blocking FBs.
• Adamm Oliver, Defensive End - I’ll be surprised if Oliver is drafted, if only because injury has prevented him from working out for scouts. He’s a high-effort, hard hitting DE, but he will struggle to shed blockers and lacks the speed you look for in a starter. Oliver is probably destined for the depth chart doldrums, but he might be helpful on special teams.
  Just for fun prediction: Undrafted free agent - Signed by Jacksonville Jaguars, who tend to value the slower DEs of the world sometimes.
• Jamal Lewis, Strong Safety - Lewis projects as a future special teams player, as he has great athleticism but poor on-field recognition and awareness. He might be useful in dime packages, since there won’t be much guesswork involved in those situations. As it stands, however, Lewis can’t recognize plays well enough to be ready to contribute right now. He’s a project for the long run.
  Just for fun prediction: Undrafted free agent - Signed by Carolina Panthers, who could use some help in kick coverage and might give him a chance to help out.

Redshirt sophomore, Anthony Egbuniwe, thinks that he is ready to contribute to the defensive scheme after sitting out a year. Egbuniwe transferred from Tulsa and will play at DE this season.

“They just let [ends] go, let them play football,” said Egbuniwe, who was ineligible to play last season after transferring. “You go out there, you rush the passer, make plays. That’s what I love.”

Egbuniwe, who is from Greenville, S.C., returned to the South for two reasons: mom and his former coaches left Tulsa.

“Well, my mom got sick, and there was the coaching change [former Tulsa head coach Steve Kragthorpe and defensive line coach Mark Nelson went to Louisville],” he said. “I made the decision I needed to be closer to home. “Mom’s doing better. It was the right decision.”

gg

Georgia Tech wrapped up spring practice yesterday with the 2008 T-Day football game. 8,500 fans were in attendance to witness the defensive teams look far better than the offensive teams. Here are a few observations from the day.

Offense

• The first play of the game was a fumbled snap.
• It took 9 possessions for the offense to get their second 1st down.
• Before Tech scored, they had three turnovers.
• Josh Nesbitt was 4-12 for 62 yards.
• Calvin Booker was 5-8 for 109 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception.
• Jonathan Dwyer had 59 yards rushing but also one fumble and two dropped pitches.
• Mohamed Yahiaoui made a 32-yard field goal but was wide from 39.
• Scott Blair was short on a 51-yard field goal.

Defense

• Linebacker Anthony Barnes had four tackles and 1.5 sacks.
• Middle linebacker Brad Jefferson made five tackles and had 1.5 sacks.
• Defensive End Derrick Morgan had 3.5 tackles and a fumble recovery.
• Defensive End Robert Hall had 3.5 tackles and one sack.

Two Georgia players and one Georgia Tech players made the initial list for the 2008 Lott Trophy Award. The Lott Trophy, named after Ronnie Lott is given to the college football’s best defensive player in the nation. It also represents players who give the best IMPACT (Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.)

There are only 42 student-athletes on the list including:

Georgia

• CB - Asher Allen
• DT - Jeffrey Owens

Georgia Tech

• DT - Darryl Richard

Richard is one of only seven players on the overall list that were on the list last year.

Georgia’s David Pollack was the first winner of this prestigious award back in 2004.

The winner will be announced on December 14th later this year.

Here are some quotes from Georgia Tech’s official website on why James Johnson left the football team…

“Leaving the Georgia Tech football team was a decision I have considered for some time. I did not think it was fair to the coaches and my teammates for me to be out there, taking up a scholarship, when my heart really wasn’t in to playing football.”

“I am all for what Coach Johnson is doing. My decision had nothing to do with the coaching change or the change in the offense. I am all for what Coach Johnson and his staff are doing and the direction that Georgia Tech is taking. The future of the program is very bright. I will always be a Yellow Jacket.”

No, not Paul Johnson, but wide receiver James Johnson is the latest Georgia Tech player to leave the team. Johnson started 9 games last season and is 13th all-time at Tech with 9 TD receptions.

As of now it is not known why he has left the team (maybe knee injury), but due to graduation, transfers and departures, the Yellow Jackets are now without 6 of their top 9 pass catchers from last year.

Wide Receiver D.J. Donley has decided to leave Georgia Tech and transfer to Purdue. Donley had 8 receptions last year and a touchdown. He also excelled in special teams where he blocked 2 punts and recovered a fumble.

Rivals.com rated Donley the 31st best wide receiver coming out of Charlton County High School in 2007 and Scout.com rated him the 14th best safety.

Spring football practice started at Georgia Tech this past Monday, as new head coach Paul Johnson see his players in pads for the first time.

Notes:

- Junior linebacker Shane Bowen (shoulder), junior offensive tackle Cord Howard (foot), junior A-back Jason Davis (foot) and junior offensive lineman Brad Sellers (knee) are all recovering from injuries and are expected to miss all of spring practice.

- The coaching staff is taking a look at a number of players at new positions and are far from making any final decisions. For now, however, junior Greg Smith is working at an A-back position and former wide receiver Willie White is practicing with the defensive backs.

photo credit: mosesxan