Tech’s spring just turned into open tryouts at quarterback
Tech's spring update: No Josh Nesbitt (hurt) or Jaybo Shaw (transferring). (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
We all found out how important a college team’s spring football game was two seasons ago when Georgia Tech had 14 fumbles and a muffed snap on a field goal and went on to have pretty remarkable first season anyway under coach Paul Johnson. In other words, it’s not that important.
But this spring just took on added interest for the Yellow Jackets. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt is out after ankle surgery. And now it appears his backup, Jaybo Shaw, will be out, period.
Although there is no confirmation yet from Georgia Tech, according to our Doug Roberson, all indications are that Shaw, presumably tired of mostly sitting and watching behind Nesbitt, is going to transfer to Georgia Southern. In Statesboro, he can start and run the same option offense for former Tech assistant Jeff Monken.
Even if this isn’t perceived as a huge deal for Georgia Tech, it’s no minor concern, either. A few reasons why:
♦ Quarterbacks take a beating in the option offense. Nesbitt’s a tough kid and even he got beat up last season. There’s no guarantee he’ll make it through 12 to 14 games next season. The fact he’s coming off surgery just adds to that. (I know the school labeled the surgery “minor.” But I’ve got this thing about calling any ankle surgery minor when it comes to an athlete, let alone a 215-pound option quarterback playing Division I football.)
♦ Even Nesbitt will tell you it took a while for him to get a feel for this offense. Shaw obviously wasn’t at Nesbitt’s skill level. But he could run the offense and figured to get a bulk of the work this spring, which would have better prepared him for potentially more playing time next season.
♦ The three quarterbacks behind Nesbitt are Tevin Washington, Jordan Luallen and David Sims. Of those three, only Washington took snaps as a redshirt freshman. He went 1-for-1 against Jacksonville State. (It was a 21-yard pass, giving him an efficiency rating of 276.4.)
So how big of a concern do you think this is?
Photos from AJC.com: Jaybo Shaw’s QB career at Ga. Tech
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
240 comments Add your comment
Dogz
February 24th, 2010
3:03 pm
Hey voice, I really am not scared,, he tucked his tail and ran from tech, so I know what he is made of.. just like you..NERD 30-24 ohh so sweet
Sporty Black
February 24th, 2010
3:03 pm
@ Jaybo: Collectively, GT has a better group of receivers now. Melton and Hill will start. Sweeney and Bostic will also get some a lot of reps at receiver (and A-back). Tech is stacked at the skilled positions.
JB
February 24th, 2010
3:03 pm
Hummmmm…… 3 pass plays…..and we tried them all in the 4th Qtr against Georgia? ?
Bone
February 24th, 2010
3:05 pm
100th.
AND WHO CARES?!?!?!?!?
Alabama Jack
February 24th, 2010
3:07 pm
dumb delusional dawg fans are irrelevant.
Sporty Black
February 24th, 2010
3:09 pm
Tech can now score from all five skilled positions on offense at any time. Don’t forget, Tarrant did a great job returning punts and playing corner, but now he can focus at being a safety (his true position). The punt/kick return teams will be truly explosive.
Vick=Dog killing thug
February 24th, 2010
3:10 pm
Friend of mine is big into FB HS football and told me 2 weeks ago that Jaybo is leaving.
15 minutes of fame baby… hope you bug fans enjoyed it.. smirk
ncjacket
February 24th, 2010
3:11 pm
Not too concerned. If it was preseason, obviously it would be a big deal. But this just means more reps for the other QBs and a full spring and preseason camp for Johnson to figure out the depth chart.
ORIGINALWARRIORDAWG
February 24th, 2010
3:12 pm
TRY B.J. BOSTIC THE RECRUIT FROM JEFERSON COUNTY AT QB. I GUARANTEE HE CAN RUN THAT OPTION OFFENSE.
THE VOICE OF TRUTH
February 24th, 2010
3:13 pm
Dogz,,you really are embarrassing yourself..have you ever seen a real college football game ? I doubt it
We Own You
February 24th, 2010
3:14 pm
Just one more example of how Tech has been exposed. Players are leaving like rats fleeing a sinking ship. The Tech schedule is so soft that they will still win the Gailey 7 every year but the ACC Championship game against a pi$$ poor Clemson team in front of 30,000 frigid fans will turn out to be the high water mark of Man-Boob Johnson’s Tech tenure. Defenses will be able to key on Nesbitt next year and he will not last past the sixth game of the season. Get ready for a beat down in Athens nerds.
Sporty Black
February 24th, 2010
3:14 pm
@ Original: Bostic has to put on about 30 lbs before we put him at QB.
Bill
February 24th, 2010
3:15 pm
To find the Real GSU, go to http://www.gsu.edu. The other school with the same initals has always been minor league.
GTBuzzMan
February 24th, 2010
3:16 pm
I don’t really think him leaving will effect the number of wins and losses next year. But, I do wish he would stay and graduate from Tech. He has been a key part of the team’s success and will be missed for more than just the minutes he spent on the field.
Trying to Create the News???
February 24th, 2010
3:17 pm
No big deal! He was not likely to be the starter next year anyway! NO arm strength and looked even slower running the option than Nesbitt. He also holds the ball entirely too much rather than either of the other options. He is a quality backup but nothing more.
THE VOICE OF TRUTH
February 24th, 2010
3:18 pm
once again you UGA fans just suck out loud,,all UGA supporters can’t be this stupid can they ?
BUCKY HONEYKAMP
February 24th, 2010
3:21 pm
jaybo is leaving before the story breaks about his relationship with richt
HugoStiglitz
February 24th, 2010
3:22 pm
This is a good thing. I think all Tech fans have wondered what is waiting for us after Nesbitt leaves. Now we can get some ideas.
crackbaby
February 24th, 2010
3:25 pm
If the report is true; good luck running the Eagles offense and thanks for your effort at Tech, Jaybo. Go with your heart and give it your all.
BUCKY HONEYKAMP
February 24th, 2010
3:31 pm
i mean. i am just saying…..
THE VOICE OF TRUTH
February 24th, 2010
3:32 pm
I live in my mom’s basement and never went to tech:)
BUCKY HONEYKAMP
February 24th, 2010
3:34 pm
any bulldogs in the draft this year? waterboys? maybe richt can be a towel boy.
gt
February 24th, 2010
3:37 pm
I’m more worried about Shaw’s dad getting upset with Tech. There are a lot of players coming out of Flowery Branch. As far as Shaw, he doesn’t ofter the second gear of running over you. He is effecient yet you got to believe we lost the Georgia game because we didn’t have Josh.
Tech's QB back ups and Al Ciraldo
February 24th, 2010
3:39 pm
The several coaches in the SEC would ask about the three back up Tech QBs ……. “um what? They are QBs ………..where??? ” Converse College maybe, or Wofford or Millsaps.
tech is in deep T. Nesbitt was special. Now? He is damaged goods and the ONE STAT that will prove it in 2010 will be fumbles. Tech will fumble like most historic wishbone teams did. The great ones did at TX, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Colorado and Arkansas. Tech had the Bone in the 70s and they too fumbled it away with Wishbone Danny Meyer, as Al Crialdo used to say on his broadcast to over 50 fans in Atlanta. Yes,…………..I said 50 fans on a good day.
LOL ………………….2010 will be one year for tech fans to remember ……..one to forget.
Go Dogs.
BUCKY HONEYKAMP
February 24th, 2010
3:40 pm
i mean…i’m just sayin….
BUCKY HONEYKAMP
February 24th, 2010
3:41 pm
Enter your comments here
The Voice of Truth II
February 24th, 2010
3:43 pm
The V of truth is that tech’s football coaches leave after 4.5 years and CPJ is in his third. This ugly season upcoming due to tech having NO QB ………will accelerate that trend. He will be looking to bolt when y’all get no bowl invitations at 5-7.
Change that you can count on.
LOL
Go Dogs
Conyers Yellow Jacket
February 24th, 2010
3:45 pm
it does not matter who plays quarterback if they can run the ball and take the beating that
this outdated offense requires. Frankly, I hope that Paul Johnson will come to reality
and try throwing a few passes. Example: Against Iowa one completion for 12 yards out of 2 attempts with one interception. How boring!!!!
THE VOICE OF TRUTH
February 24th, 2010
3:46 pm
Boys,boys,boys,,I can endure your slings and arrows,but please don’t post under my name,,It’s my job to point out your shortcommings so please identify yourselves ,I don’t come to your job and knock the broom outta your hand do I ?
Brad
February 24th, 2010
3:46 pm
bottom line to all this is…
It’s just Tech..who the heck cares.
THE VOICE OF TRUTH
February 24th, 2010
3:51 pm
obviously you do Brad,,you’re here aren’t you
THE VOICE OF TRUTH
February 24th, 2010
3:55 pm
Conyers,,in 2 years we have won the ACC and beaten all of our rivals at least once,,do you prefer the prostyle attack of the prior coach who did none of this ?,,Put down the crackpipe
What if um, aaaaaaah no, it can't be
February 24th, 2010
3:58 pm
WHat if Ga State U in it’s first year passes Tech in wins???
AAAAAAAAAAhHHAHAHHAHAH, sort of like when G Souterhn came on line with all of the NCs and titles. Tech ten was the THIRD SCHOOL in the state and might be again. ARGHH,AAAHARGH
Nesbitt, why did you blow out your body? argh, aaaaaaaah, i CAN’T TAKE IT.
Shaw left because of all the criminal violence around tech and he knows that tech men will not hang out laying in the shrubs to capture the Gun Toting thugs. Get it? G un T oting. Go Taliban.
1-9 it is soon to be.
THE VOICE OF TRUTH
February 24th, 2010
4:01 pm
Hey “What If”….what if you had a brain..
Coach
February 24th, 2010
4:02 pm
Hey Jaybo,
Are you really a quitter?
THE VOICE OF TRUTH
February 24th, 2010
4:03 pm
Hey Coach,,are you really a dope ?
THE VOICE OF TRUTH
February 24th, 2010
4:04 pm
no free passes for idiots today
oldfart
February 24th, 2010
4:05 pm
Good luck in the future Jaybo.
Quit judging this kid’s decision people without knowing any underlying facts. It could be he wants to be an educator like his father and therefore a degree from Southern would work better for him. I could be anything including a young man’s fancy. Respect his decision and move on. I couldn’t believe the comments on here from the UGA contingent because a kid changed his mind and went to Tennessee. It’s his own life and not your’s to live through vicariously for your(?) precious amateur(?) team.
BG
February 24th, 2010
4:11 pm
This will not matter. Tech will suck anyway!!!!!!!!
John
February 24th, 2010
4:14 pm
DAN, I’ll have some of whatever you are smoking. The pass was what it was and it was a PICK, just like if BAY BAY had caught the “other pass” it would have been a 1st down not a touchdown which most techies seem to think. Just remember…30 – 24 DAWGS!
THE VOICE OF TRUTH
February 24th, 2010
4:16 pm
BG,,good post on a topic that you obviously have expertise
shane
February 24th, 2010
4:19 pm
any bulldogs in the draft this year?
Yup Shawn Jones and Renee Curan could go as early as the first round.
shane
February 24th, 2010
4:20 pm
Conyers,,in 2 years we have won the ACC
Which means absolutely nothing
insider
February 24th, 2010
4:23 pm
There is no truth to this at all, don’t believe he is transferring, much less to GSU. Crazy how Schultz you know about this, but even GSU coach Jeff Monken had no clue about it. Way to try to report a breaking story. Next time make sure you have facts straight.
insider
February 24th, 2010
4:29 pm
i stand corrected…
Tech woulda,coulda, shoulda
February 24th, 2010
4:35 pm
Tech used the pass to move the ball on UGA but it was too late. The game was over in the middle of the second qtr. Had the kid caught the LAST DROP, it would have been ONLY a first down. The receiver could have also fumbled it and the cb for UGA could have run it all the way back or just downed it. Game over.
Nesbitt on the ensuing first and ten, assuming the kid made the catch, could have fumbled the snap or thrown a pic or anything could have happened. Game over. A receiver could have made a 10 yd grab ONLY to fumble it. Game over.
All of the techies wining and crying is hillarious to Dogs. LOL
The good news? UGA get to taunt your lil techi creeps again come Novemeber and we are gonna whup you but good, you nerds.
Meanwhile ………30-24 and 1-8 and soon to be 1-9 and it is so funny. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA
PS tech w.o. a QB will go 5-7 in the ACC lil boy league.
the real Old Gold
February 24th, 2010
4:37 pm
One less QB means more snaps in practice for those below. Tevin has experience, and so does Jordan.. they’re not brand new Freshman.
THE VOICE OF TRUTH
February 24th, 2010
4:42 pm
hey”woulda coulda”,,If your mother “woulda” layed off that crystal meth right before you were born then maybe you “coulda” had an IQ higher than a doorknob and you “shoulda” made something of yourself instead of being a nothing happening loser
THE VOICE OF TRUTH
February 24th, 2010
4:44 pm
if you say something stupid i’m gonna hammer you
Dan
February 24th, 2010
4:45 pm
Shane, neither of them will go in the first round, although I think Curran will be a player at the next level. We’ll see about Jones. As athletic as he is, his production never matched his potential.