April 13, 2002
Junior running back Tony Hollings punctuated a solid week of practice with a strong performance in Georgia Tech’s second spring scrimmage, held Saturday afternoon at the Georgia Dome to avoid the rain.
Hollings, a 5-10, 211-pounder from Jeffersonville, Ga., rushed for 103 yards on 13 carries and scored three touchdowns on runs of 17, 14 and four yards. He then added two more short touchdown runs in the goal-line drill.
Head coach Chan Gailey praised Hollings’ work each day this week, noting that the former safety is becoming more comfortable on offense as he battles for a starting job.
“When you’re trying to find out whose going to run the football for you, you have to run the football to see who that’s going to be,” said Gailey after the scrimmage. “I thought Tony Hollings really stepped up and made some really big plays today. The offensive line, the tight ends, everybody did a good job, but he made a lot happen on his own, too.
“Today, he’s the number one guy. He’s shown that in the last four or five practices. Somebody else would have to step up and do something fairly dramatic between now and the end of spring to unseat him.”
Hollings and senior Gordon Clinkscale (6 carries for 34 yards) are Tech’s only healthy tailbacks, along with walk-on P.J. Daniels (Houston, Texas). Sophomore Jimmy Dixon (Arlington, Texas) is expected to miss the remainder of spring practice with a sprained foot. Senior Sidney Ford (Lindale, Ga.) has been sidelined for more than a week with a rib injury but could return next week. Junior Jermaine Hatch (Baton Rouge, La.) is limited to non-contact work this spring following a 2001 knee injury.
Quarterbacks A.J. Suggs (Powder Springs, Ga.) and Damarius Bilbo (Moss Point, Miss.) performed solidly, especially early in the scrimmage. Suggs completed his first eight passes before finishing 9-for-12 for 84 yards, including a four-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Smith. Bilbo hit his first five passes and finished 7-for-12 for 44 yards.
“We got a little erratic towards the end, but we did okay early,” said Gailey of the quarterback play. “We got on the corner and did some things with D-Bo [Bilbo], and A.J. made some good throws. We spread the ball around a little bit, and that was a good thing.
Smith, a junior from Argyle, Ga., had three catches for 17 yards and also scored on a three-yard run. Senior Kerry Watkins (LaPlace, La.) covered 52 yards on his two catches, while redshirt freshman Rahshan Johnson (Middleburg Heights, Ohio), a former quarterback, added four catches for 27 yards.
Gailey was disappointed in the offense following Friday’s practice but was happy to see the unit rebound in Saturday’s scrimmage.
“Football is about accepting challenges, and I thought they came out today and did some better things today,” he said. “We’re not perfect, but we did some better things.”
The Jackets conclude spring practice next week with workouts scheduled for Tuesday and Friday, followed by the SpringFest scrimmage next Saturday, April 20 at 11 a.m. at the Marist School.
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