Jackets counting on Devine to lose weight
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson is hopeful that guard Shamire Devine will continue to make progress in the battle to control his weight and nail down a starting place on the offensive line.
Devine has the sort of size and strength that could potentially enable him to play at the next level. His issue has been weight, which reached as high as 386 pounds this spring. Even on his 6-foot-7 frame, that’s too much to be effective.
“Shamire is going to have to play,” Johnson said. “He’s got to play. He’s got to be the guy.”
The junior from Tri-Cities High School played in 11 games last year and started nine games at right guard.
Johnson said Devine has been working on his weight issues and has lost 10 pounds this spring.
“It’s a goal, a gradual process,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to try to get two or three pounds every week and if you do that, you’ll be where you want to be.”
After the scrimmage on Saturday, Johnson said the first group had done well. That included Andrew Marshall at center, Will Bryan at left guard, Eason Fromayan at left tackle, Trey Klock at right tackle and Devine and Brad Morgan at right guard.
Austin makes progress
Johnson isn’t one to throw around platitudes, so it was noticeable when he said, “Lance Austin’s had a pretty good spring.”
Austin is most famous for recovering the blocked field goal and returning for the winning touchdown as time expired against Florida State. He played in 10 games and had five tackles and two pass breakups. He played 14 games as a freshman.
Austin is being expected to compete for paying time at cornerback, where Chris Milton and D.J. White both graduate.
Austin said, “I’m trying to get better day by day. That’s the one thing as a cornerback, everybody is asking questions, working on their techniques and getting better.”
At 5-10, 188 pounds, the junior seems to be benefiting from competition at the position.
“Anytime you get to go up and compete, it’s going to make you better,” he said. “As long as you continue to push each other, it’s going to get us better. That’s one thing we’re going as a corner group, we’re pushing each other.”
Job swap
Defensive coordinator Ted Roof and coach Andy McCollum have swapped responsibilities for spring practice and perhaps this fall. Roof will begin working with the safeties and McCollum moves over to work with the safeties.
McCollum coached the defensive line for a couple of years when he arrived at Georgia Tech and mad the switch to linebacker. Roof, who played linebacker at Georgia Tech, has coached the safeties since he returned to the school in 2013.
Spring game weather
It looks like the Yellow Jackets may finally get a break in the weather for their spring game. After enduring cold and rain the past few years, Saturday’s forecast is for mostly sunny skies and a high of 79 degrees. Kickoff is at noon and admission is free.
This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 3:52 PM with the headline "Jackets counting on Devine to lose weight."