March 25, 2004
ATLANTA – Perhaps for the top priority for the Georgia Tech football team during this spring practice is filling three starting positions at linebacker, which has been the strength of the Tech defense the last few seasons.
The Yellow Jackets continued spring practice Thursday at Rose Bowl Field, practicing in full pads for the second time this spring.
Tech’s linebacker corps, led by all-Atlantic Coast Conference honorees Keyaron Fox and Daryl Smith, has been the backbone of the Rambling Wreck defense. Smith and Fox combined for 384 tackles last fall, and Tech also graduated its third starting linebacker in Ather Brown.
The Jackets can plug in one experienced player in junior Gerris Wilkinson, who started every game last fall at defensive end. The 6-3, 230-pounder actually moved from linebacker to end just prior to last season. He was undersized but effective at defensive end, making 47 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and four sacks. Still, coaches feel he is better suited to the strong-side outside linebacker position.
“Gerris performed very well at defensive end and he will be a solid player for us at the strong-side linebacker position, which is his more natural position,” said Tech head coach Chan Gailey.
The other two linebacker positions appear less settled. The most likely candidates are a pair of sophomores in Nick Moore at middle linebacker and KaMichael Hall at weak-side outside linebacker, although senior Tabugbo Anyansi could play either position.
“Nick Moore and KaMichael Hall will have to come in and play well for us,” said Gailey. “[Tabugbo] Anyansi is a senior who is going to have step up futher than he has to this point.”
All three played on special teams last fall but did not see any signficant action on defense. Hall collected 10 tackles, Anyansi seven and Moore six.
The Jackets will continue practice Friday at 4:15 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m.
