Paul Johnson wants more snaps for Jerry Howard

October 21, 2017 Atlanta - Georgia Tech running back Jerry Howard (15) celebrates with teammates after he scored a touchdown in the first half of an NCAA college football game at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, October 21, 2017. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

October 21, 2017 Atlanta - Georgia Tech running back Jerry Howard (15) celebrates with teammates after he scored a touchdown in the first half of an NCAA college football game at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, October 21, 2017. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said Wednesday he’d like to get more playing time for backup B-back Jerry Howard, but that circumstances haven’t permitted it.

“I’d like to have seen Jerry play more,” Johnson said. “He probably deserves to, but just the way the games have gone, it just hasn’t happened.”

Howard has 22 carries in seven games backing up KirVonte Benson, who has 172 rushing attempts. Howard has been productive, averaging 8.0 yards per carry with two touchdowns. The second of his 22 carries was a 65-yard touchdown run against Jacksonville State.

Removing the 65-yard run, Howard is still averaging 5.2 yards per carry, a hair under Benson’s 5.4 yards-per-carry average.

Howard, a freshman, has been a backup to Benson, along with Quaide Weimerskirch, after Tech dismissed returning starter Dedrick Mills for a violation of athletic department policy in August.

Tech plays at Duke Saturday.