Georgia Tech quarterback James Graham will be academically ineligible to play in the Quick Lane Bowl. Coach Paul Johnson made the announcement Monday following the team’s practice.
Graham has played in three games this season as a backup behind starter TaQuon Marshall and No. 2 Tobias Oliver.
“It’s disappointing,” Johnson said. “Disappointing for him, as well.”
With the three games played, he can claim this season as a redshirt and go into next season as a redshirt freshman.
Graham is the only player on the roster who won’t be available to play in the bowl game, against Minnesota on Dec. 26 in Detroit. Johnson said that everyone else is eligible and healthy.
“We’re as good as we’ve been,” Johnson said of the team’s health. “Unless we get somebody hurt, between now and then it’s good.”
Tech will practice Tuesday morning and then be released to go home. The team will reconvene on the evening of the 21st, practice on campus on the 22nd and then fly to Detroit. Johnson said he hasn’t given much thought about his time winding down as he prepares to coach his final game at Tech.
“I’ve tried to approach it like every other game,” he said. “It’s more about the players. They’re the ones who won six of the last eight games and we want to try to give them a good plan to get ready to go play and certainly (we) want to go out as a winner if we can. That’s been all my effort.”
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