April 20, 2002
Expected to be one of Georgia Tech’s big-play performers next fall, junior wide receiver Jonathan Smith displayed that ability with 185 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in the Yellow Jackets’ Springfest spring football game, won 31-10 by the Gold team over the White team before more than 6,000 fans at Marist School.
Smith, from Argyle, Ga., had four catches for 165 yards, including scoring plays of 70 and 38 yards. He added a 20-yard run.
“He has the ability to make a lot of big plays,” said Tech head coach Chan Gailey, whose squad held its spring game at Marist due to the expansion of Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field. “He made them today, and hopefully, we’ll continue to build on what he does. I think there’s no question he’ll be a big weapon for us.”
All three Tech quarterbacks showed positive signs. Junior A.J. Suggs (Powder Springs, Ga.) was 8-for-18 for 176 yards and two touchdowns for the Gold team, hitting Smith for the 70-yarder and Will Glover for a nine-yard scoring pass. Redshirt freshman Damarius Bilbo (Moss Point, Miss.) completed just three of six passes for 13 yards but displayed big-play ability in the running game, particularly on a 31-yard scramble. He scored the White team’s only touchdown on a one-yard run.
Junior backup Brian Camp (Dublin, Ohio) was 5-for-7 for 79 yards and two touchdowns, including a 38-yard scoring strike to Smith and a five-yard touchdown to sophomore Trevor Bowman (Fayetteville, Ga.).
“They all did things that we thought we had seen during the course of spring practice,” said Gailey. “A.J. threw the ball well. He threw the deep ball better than he has in previous practices, so that was a positive.
“It’s never an easy choice, but the good thing is that we have a choice between two good players,” said Gailey of the battle between Suggs and Bilbo to earn the starting quarterback job. “They both showed that they can move the team.”
Gailey reiterated that he would have no problem playing both quarterbacks.
“It’s been done plenty of times before, and there’s no question that can be done again,” he said. “It’s a test, even if you have one quarterback, to move the football against defenses today. Yes, it will be a test, but those guys on the other side will be tested, too, trying to face both of them each week.”
Junior tailback Tony Hollings, the converted safety from Jeffersonville, Ga., paced the running game with 16 carries for 72 yards, while senior Gordon Clinkscale (Doraville, Ga.) added 34 yards on eight carries.
“Tony has done a nice job,” said Gailey. “Since he started playing consistently at tailback, he had one bad practice, and that was Tuesday, but other than that, he’s shown some real positive things.”
Senior wide receiver Will Glover (Tampa, Fla.) caught three passes for 32 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown catch from Suggs that put the Gold team ahead for good, and senior Kerry Watkins (LaPlace, La.) had a 21-yard reception.
Senior safety Jeremy Muyres (Stone Mountain, Ga.) and sophomore defensive tackle Alfred Malone (Frisco City, Ala.) had fumble recoveries for the Tech defense.
“It’s hard to evaluate the defense with it being spread out,” said Gailey. “Half the starters were on one side and half on the other, and defense is about unity. It was good to see Greg Gathers (LaPlace, La.) get in the mix. I saw ‘Tee’ Anyansi (Austell, Ga.) make some plays. Even Nathan Burton (Lilburn, Ga.) got a big breakup on what looked like a touchdown pass.
“Overall, it was typical of the way spring practice has gone,” Gailey continued. “We turned it over a couple of times and we’ve got to quit doing that. We need a few more sacks than we got today, but I think those will come because we didn’t use a lot of the blitz package today. Overall, I was pleased, and this will be a great tape to evaluate for where we should be this fall.
“I think everybody got better during the course of spring practice, which is what you’re supposed to do. Consistency is a word I’ll continue to use. We have to be more consistent.”
Tech opens the 2002 season Aug. 31 against Vanderbilt at Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field.
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