Georgia Tech top WR DeAndre Smelter doubtful for ACC title game
Georgia Tech will likely be without its top wide receiver in Saturday’s ACC Championship Game against undefeated Florida State.
Yellow Jackets head coach Paul Johnson said Sunday that DeAndre Smelter injured his knee in Saturday’s win over in-state rival Georgia and is doubtful to play against the Seminoles.
“I think it would probably be a reach,” Johnson said of Smelter’s chances of playing, per JacketsOnline.com. "We won't have an update until probably (Monday) when we can get further tests. It's probably doubtful at best."
Smelter, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior, has 35 catches for 715 yards and seven touchdowns for the 10-2 Yellow Jackets.
Though Georgia Tech runs the ball nearly 80 percent of the time in its option offense, the loss of Smelter is a significant one. His 35 receptions are 38 percent of the team’s total receptions and nearly 60 percent of the team’s receptions made by wide receivers this season.
In addition to his receiving abilities, Johnson said Smelter is an important perimeter blocker as well.
"He's been a really good player for us all year," Johnson said. "He's been a go-to guy, not only receiving but he's a really good blocker and a really good football player. If he doesn't play, he's a guy we'll really miss. Our deal has kind of been it's got to be the next guy up.”
Georgia Tech’s next leading receiver is 6-foot-5, 232-pound Darren Waller with 16 catches for 255 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson also mentioned sophomore Micheal Summers (five catches, 34 yards), freshman Ricky Jeune (zero catches) and senior Corey Dennis (one catch, seven yards) as wideouts who will “have to step it up” in Smelter’s absence.
For more Georgia Tech news, visit JacketsOnline.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
