Georgia Tech football will be without one of their star offensive players for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury against South Florida on Saturday.
Georgia Tech head football coach Paul Johnson delivered unfortunate news on Tuesday at his weekly press conference when he announced that star b-back KirVonte Benson will be out for the remainder of the season.
Benson suffered a knee injury during the first quarter of Saturday’s 49-38 loss to South Florida. The redshirt junior stumbled on what can be described as an awkward run before getting hit in the knee by a USF defender. Benson would stay on the sideline for the remainder of the first half and was seen on a stationary bike but following half time came back out in his street clothes.
The game was Benson’s first start of the season after being suspended for the first quarter of the Jackets week one game against Alcorn State. Benson finished with 10 carries for 75-yards and two touchdowns against the Braves. In the USF game, Benson was off to a great start for the day picking up 41-yards on eight carries.
.@GTPaulJohnson announced that redshirt junior B-back KirVonte Benson will miss the remainder of the season due to an injury suffered Saturday. pic.twitter.com/7uiOYnQB8V
— Georgia Tech Football (@GeorgiaTechFB) September 11, 2018
For the Yellow Jackets, Benson will be a huge loss offensively as he rushed for over 1,000-yards a season ago, his first year as the starting b-back for the Yellow Jackets. Benson this year was expected to have a similar or even better season. As a redshirt junior, Benson has already burned the redshirt available to him that he could’ve used after only playing in two games this season. That being said, Benson should be eligible to apply for a medical redshirt if he wishes though that would not be a guarantee for him to receive.
With Benson now out for the season, the Jackets will turn to Jordan Mason and Jerry Howard as their primary b-backs. Mason, started week against Alcorn State and has picked up 180-yards and one touchdown on 24 carries this season. Howard so far this year hasn’t seen a ton of carries, with just four carries through the Jackets first two games. Last season, Howard saw time throughout the season and finished with 23 carries for 175-yards and two touchdowns. Mason will most likely be the starter going forward but expect Howard to have an elevated role as well.
The Yellow Jackets will need to learn to live without Benson quickly as they prepare to take on the Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday in Pittsburgh.