Georgia Tech opens spring practice trying to forget about 2015

The Georgia Tech football team starts the process of erasing the forgettable 2015 season when they open their ninth spring practice under coach Paul Johnson on Monday.

The Yellow Jackets will practice 15 times over the next four weeks, culminating in the annual spring game on April 23. They return 28 players from the final two-deep roster of 2015.

Here are five questions that will be asked — and perhaps answered — over the next month:

Which Justin Thomas will show up to play quarterback?

After a breakthrough sophomore season in 2014, the expectations were probably overinflated for Thomas in 2015, given that he had no proven running backs, no proven wide receivers and an offensive line whose best player was on the New England Patriots’ roster.

Thomas probably tried to do too much and took more risky chances he should have, something he deemed necessary because of the young team around him. He also took a physical pounding and was far from healthy the last three games. No player needed the season to end faster than Thomas.

Still, he threw for 1,345 yards and 13 touchdowns and ran for 488 yards and six touchdowns and will enter the season as the ACC’s No. 1 quarterback, behind only Clemson’s Deshaun Watson.

What’s the running back situation going to look like?

Toward the end of the season Johnson would often say that some of the players that were on the field wouldn’t even be playing in 2016. The depth chart at the end of spring practice should bear that out. Both positions should have spirited competition.

Returning B-backs are Marcus Marshall, who led the team with 654 yards as a freshman, and Marcus Allen, who had 166 yards. But this spring will mark the long-awaited debut of C.J. Leggett and Quaide Weimerskirch, who both missed last season with injuries.

The most productive A-back who returns is Clinton Lynch, who rushed for 457 yards and five touchdowns and proved to be a reliable big-play receiver. From there the playing time will go to the likes of Isiah Willis, TaQuon Marshall (Harris County) and Mikell Lands-Davis, who also played B-back. Qua Searcy, who was off to a fast start last season before being injured, should be back, but Nate Cottrell will be held out of spring workouts. Also in the mix will be UGA transfer J.J. Green.

Who will be the go-to receiver?

The Yellow Jackets may have uncovered a diamond in Ricky Jeune, who led the team with 24 catches and four touchdowns. Jeune proved himself to be a dependable receiver and a threat to go deep. He averaged an insane 43.3 yards per reception.

Brad Stewart was worn down by the end of the season, but proved as a true freshman that his hands were beyond question. He will be factor.

Harland Howell and Christian Philpott were both redshirted in 2015 and Antonio Messick will get a chance to prove himself.

Can anyone rush the passer?

Georgia Tech struggled to rush the quarterback last season and had only 14 sacks. Three of those came from tackle Adam Gotsis and two from linebacker Tyler Marcordes, who both graduated.

Many eyes will be on junior college transfer Desmond Branch, who is expected to provide some help at defensive end. He could be a nice bookend for the overworked, yet very productive, KeShun Freeman, who had 2.5 sacks and four tackles for loss.

Rod Rook-Chungong and Antonio Simmons both have the most experience at the end, with the inside capably manned by Pat Gamble.

Any other newcomers to watch?

Two high school recruits were able to enroll in January and will participate in spring camp. Newnan linebacker Emmanuel Bridges and B-back Dedrick Mills of Ware County hope to get a leg up on their fellow freshman. It worked last year, when early enrollees Will Bryan and defensive tackle Kyle Cerge-Henderson were both able to play a lot.

Two transfers join the team: Green, an A-back who transferred from Georgia, and Lamont Simmons, a cornerback who transferred from Southern Cal.

This story was originally published March 26, 2016 at 9:51 PM with the headline "Georgia Tech opens spring practice trying to forget about 2015."