Georgia Tech’s offensive line went into Saturday’s game against North Carolina thin on experienced players. And then it lost a key contributor midway through Tech’s 33-7 win at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Right guard Shamire Devine left the game with an upper-body injury, which necessitated walk-on tackle Bailey Ivemeyer coming into the game as a replacement as Will Bryan shifted from tackle to guard. Toward the end of the game, freshman Connor Hansen came into the game to burn his redshirt, playing snaps at guard.
“He’s going to have to play,” coach Paul Johnson said of Hansen, who is the first freshman offensive lineman to play this season.
Tech already went into the game shorthanded on the line, as tackle Andrew Marshall has yet to play this season due to a lower-leg injury suffered in the preseason. Starting left tackle Jahaziel Lee was out for the game with a lower-body injury, as was backup guard Brad Morgan with an upper-body injury.
“It was patchwork up there on the offensive line,” Johnson said.
Ivemeyer had not had significant game experience and there was no one else on the bench behind him who had much, either. Left guard Parker Braun said he tried to block that out.
“You just sort of have to relax and just do your job and not think about it the what-ifs of the situation,” he said. “Just take it play by play and do the best you can.”
Johnson did not give an injury update on Devine after the game. He was injured in the second quarter and came back in the game. He was declared out for good in the third quarter. Devine has been a valuable member of the Tech offense thus far, performing well in creating a surge at the line of scrimmage to open up running lanes in the interior.
Tech’s open date coming up is well-timed for Devine and others dealing with injuries.
“Hopefully we’re going to get some guys back,” Johnson said.
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