A.J. Suggs
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| Personal Info | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 8, 1980 | |
| Place of Birth | Powder Springs, Georgia | |
| Height | 6' 4" | |
| Weight | 215 pounds | |
| Player Information | ||
| Position | Quarterback | |
| Number | 17 | |
| School | Georgia Institute of Technology | |
| Bowl Games Started | ||
| 2002 Silicon Valley Classic | ||
| Teams Played For | ||
| Tennessee Volunteers Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets |
1999-2001 2002-2003 |
|
Aaron Joseph 'A.J.' Suggs (born December 8, 1980) was the starting quarterback for Georgia Tech in the 2002 season, and for the University of Tennessee during portions of the 2001 season. A.J. went to McEachern High School and graduated from Georgia Tech with a B.S. degree from the College of Management in 2004.
Contents |
[edit] High School
Suggs was a 4 year starter at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, GA. Suggs earned many honors including All-State, All-Region, All-District and AP Player of the Year for the state of Georgia. After his senior season, he was named to the SuperPrep All-American team.[1]
[edit] College
Suggs started his carreer at the University of Tennessee. He was given a redshirt season in 1999. In 2000 he started four games for the Volunteers and played in three others, completing 53.8 percent of his passes for 785 yards, with 5 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He was initially sharing playing time with sophomore Joey Mathews but both ultimately lost out to freshman Casey Clausen.[2][3]
He transferred to Georgia Tech in 2001 and ushered in the new Chan Gailey regime, being the first skill position player to play for Gailey who was not recruited by previous coach George O'Leary.[1] Due to eligibility rules, he had to sit out the 2001 season.[3] During that time, he apprenticed under former star quarterback George Godsey and eventual Delaware transfer Andy Hall.[3]
In 2002, A.J. posted a 7-6 record as a starter, tossed 12 touchdowns against 15 picks, posted 2,142 passing yards, and had a 57.3% completion percentage. A.J.'s last start was in 2002 against Fresno State University in the Silicon Valley Bowl. He was benched for change of pace redshirt freshman Damarius Bilbo.[4]
A.J.'s most notable game was a victory on November 2, 2002 in Raleigh, NC. Georgia Tech was 5-3 headed to face a 9-0 N.C. State squad lead by All-American Philip Rivers. A.J. quarterbacked the Jackets past N.C. State in a dramatic fourth quarter rally that ended Rivers' Heisman hopes and N.C. State's national title dreams.[5] A.J. passed for 211 yards and a touchdown in the victory.[5][6]
2003 saw ten Georgia Tech football players become academically ineligible.[7] During Spring practice, Bilbo continued to struggle and A.J. seemingly secured his starting position. In late Summer however, Chan recruited a quarterback from Stone Mountain named Reggie Ball. Ball would start every game but one for the next four years and A.J.'s senior year saw A.J. coming off the bench in a backup role. His major minutes in 2003 came in the loss to Georgia and the blowout of Tulsa in the Humanitarian Bowl.[1]
| Preceded by George Godsey |
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Starting Quarterback 2002 |
Succeeded by Reggie Ball |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Official profile
- ^ "COLLEGES: FOOTBALL; Tennessee's Suggs To Join Georgia Tech", New York Times, January 3, 2001. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
- ^ a b c Peck, Ryan. "Battle-tested Suggs comes back home to Georgia Tech", The Technique, 2002-08-30. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
- ^ Suggs benched in Silicon Valley Classic
- ^ a b Kretschmann, Scott. "Tech outscores NC State in final period to end No. 8 Wolfpack's bid for an undefeated season", The Technique, 2002-11-08. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
- ^ Jackets Rally Past Wolfpack
- ^ 11 Student Athletes found Ineligible
