Bulldawg illustrated 2015 season preview by Vance Leavy

Tick ... Tock ...

The Football ... The Fans ... The Fun ... 2015 Season Preview!

SOME PEOPLE SAY I’M THE Like his father before him, Mike “Big Dawg” Woods has become a ﬁxture in the college football world, known for painting a bulldog on his head. But also like his father before him, Mike had a heart attack at a relatively young age. He was recently treated by the Athens Regional Cardiology team who performed a triple bypass. Today, Mike says he feels as good as he has in years and can’t wait to be with 92,000 of his closest friends in the stadium again this fall. If you or someone you know has a history of heart disease, A-ﬁb or you’re experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, call 706.475.1700 to schedule an appointment today with the Athens Regional Cardiology Team.

My doctors, nurses and technicians at Athens Regional treated my wife and I like we were family. I couldn’t have been at a better place! 706.475.1700 To see Mike’s story visit AthensHealth.org/YourStory

FROM THE EDITOR: VANCE LEAVY Greetings Bulldog fans, it’s great to be back under the hood (or really behind the laptop) for our 13th year of producing the print issues of Bulldawg Illustrated. Yes, we are aware of all the negative connotations of the number 13. However by now, surely you the reader can appreciate that we’ve never been your typical publication, so a magical 2015 season in our 13th year seems like the ideal fit to me. Yes, you are right to sense a bit of confidence in my opening paragraph. The fact of the matter is UGA football is trending in the right direction on most fronts. Our coaching staff is killing it on the recruiting trail and our players have bought into their various new coaches that came on board since the beginning of the year. Without question, the positive morale coming out of Athens is off the charts. Earlier this week, a friend of mine who occasionally caters food for the football department said, “man is there excitement around that place like never before.” Then to read Loran Smith’s column on page 29, saying the same thing brought even more music to my ears. However, I think we can all agree that lofty expectations are never lacking for Georgia football, particularly in the preseason. The question now is whether Mark Richt, his staff and his team are truly ready to take the championship step in 2015? Obviously, the answer to that question will be decided on the field, but I’m happy to report that everyone at Bulldawg Illustrated is in championship form with this 2015 Season Preview issue. Rightly so, my great friend and BI extraordinaire from day one, Jeff Dantzler starts our coverage off on page 4 detailing game by game the 2015 schedule. It’s a manageable slate, but Steve Spurrier’s mastery of Georgia could derail things early, if our team isn’t ready. Then on page 6, JD analyzes position by position, giving his thoughts on who will be seeing the most playingw

time when toe meets leather at the end of August. For the title of this article, I borrowed from JD the old coaching saying that he lives by, “It ain’t the Xs and Os, it’s the Jimmy and Joes.” Thankfully, I truly believe this current coaching staff under Mark Richt completely gets this. And it’s going to be a blast to watch our playmakers put in positions to shine this season. The middle section of this issue is what our publication has and always will be about … fan photos and features. When we created BI 13 years ago, Cheri was agreeable to the concept and the hard work that it would entail, but under one stipulation. “By no means are we letting this just be a boring sports publication, we have to cover the fans and have Bulldawg lifestyle content that appeals to both men and women,” she said. I think after you enjoy the excellent content that she has put together in this issue, you will agree that she knew what she was talking about. And it would be remiss, not to give a shout out to the all the businesses that support our vision for BI. We are so thankful. Wow, I’m closing in on all my allotted space and I’m barely halfway through talking about this issue. What can I say about the job Murray Poole did in writing nine articles for this issue? Outstanding work fits the bill. Murray didn’t flinch when I sent him my long list of things that needed to be covered this goaround. QB race, Tailback U, Big Uglies, The Schotty Era, Pruitt’s D – Year 2, the Georgia Way 2.0. I know you will find all of Murray’s articles informative and will appreciate the fix they will provide for the long, hot summer that we must now all

2015 Season Preview Cha Cha Cha Publishing Inc. painstakingly survive. Tick, Tock … the football … the fans … the fun is at least coming around the final stretch now. Until our next issue for the first game, please keep up with recruiting and UGA happenings on our website and social media. In the words of Ben Crenshaw, “I have a good feeling” about the 2015 season and our 13th year of Bulldawg Illustrated. Finally, I sincerely encourage you to mark your calendar for July 11 for the Countdown to Kickoff Fan Festival, which will again be held in Sanford Stadium. It’s such a great treat for all of us at Bulldawg Illustated to be included in this marvelous annual event put on by Matt and Jon Stinchcomb (pictured below with some of last year’s attendees) and David Greene to benefit Georgia Transplant Foundation and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Go to page 30 for information or http://ugakickoff.com/2015/ fanday/. We look forward to seeing you there. Go Dawgs!!!

• Editor: Vance Leavy • Creative Director: Cheri Leavy • Multimedia Director: Greg Poole • Sports Guru: Jeff Dantzler • Layout/Design: Cheri Leavy, Vance Leavy • Sales: Caroline Kinney • Sports: Jeff Dantzler, Murray Poole • Sports Intern: Jacob Blount • Interns: Emory Kole, Hays Sligh • Sports Photography: Rob Saye • Columnists: Carlton DeVooght, Rob Sherrell, Loran Smith • Delivery: Jack Abernathy, Will Hayes, Bear Jordan, Tim Roberts, Cullen Sewell, Thompson Sewell, Champ Vance

2015 Season Preview - June 2, 2015

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J E F F DA N T Z L E R’ S B R E A K D OW N

Navigating the 2015 schedule ... By Jeff Dantzler Bulldawg Illustrated

September 5 Louisiana-Monroe – Sanford Stadium 2014 Record: 4-8 (3-5 Sun Belt) 2015 Over/Under Win Total: 4 Clearly this is one that Georgia will win, or else it goes down as one of the most humiliating losses in school history. The Louisiana-Monroe team that beat Arkansas and nearly Auburn is gone, and this is a classic tune-up. The big question for Georgia is who the starting quarterback and center will be. While a victory should be a foregone conclusion, the play of the Bulldogs at quarterback and center is of vital importance to Georgia’s championship hopes of 2015. The Warhawks will be the first test and the Dogs certainly want to get off to a good start. For Georgia fans, getting to see several members of this highly touted recruiting class, most significantly on defense and at wide receiver, will be a good treat for a taste of what’s to come.

September 12 Vanderbilt – Nashville Vanderbilt Stadium 2014 Record: 3-9 (0-8 SEC) 2015 Over/Under Win Total: 3 After going 9-4 in back to back seasons, including a 2013 campaign in which the Commodores pulled off a Haley’s Comet once in three generations and beat Georgia, Florida and Tennessee in the same season, James Franklin left for Penn State. The Commodores brought in Derek Mason and were far and away the worst team in the SEC. Vandy fell in the season opener to Temple 37-7. That was not a good tone setter. Vanderbilt projects to have the worst offense and defense in the SEC, but will be eyeing the early season upset of the Bulldogs. On Georgia’s last trip to Nashville, the Bulldogs suffered an embarrassing 31-27 loss to the Commodores in a game riddled with turnovers and special teams gaffes. Georgia rolled past the outmanned Commodores 44-17 a year ago in Athens. It should be another easy win for the Bulldogs this year. And this is the first of two straight “Burn the Boats” games for the Bulldogs. Because if the Dogs aren’t undefeated heading into October, it’s wait ‘til next year.

September 19 South Carolina – Sanford Stadium 2014 Record: 7-6 (3-5 SEC) 2015 Over/Under Win Total: 7 Steve Spurrier guided the Gamecocks to three straight 11-2 campaigns, unchartered territory in South Carolina’s morbid to mediocre history. Last year, the ‘Cocks fell to 7-6, but did beat Georgia – the team that Spurrier has beaten unlike any coach ever – for a signature moment of the campaign. To borrow from the great Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes, It is a “burn the boats” game for Georgia, just like the week prior (the story is an all-time great motivator). It’s a must win if the Bulldogs are to have any championship aspirations. It’s also a must win to avoid losing to South Carolina for the fifth time in six years, once an unfathomable thought prior to the arrival of “The Head Ball Coach.” South Carolina opens with North Carolina in Charlotte at the Panthers stadium and then hosts Kentucky the week prior to the trip to Athens. Both the Bulldogs and Gamecocks have major question marks at quarterback, but the Bulldogs are in better shape at running back and on defense. The difference this year could be made by defensive improvement. South Carolina’s offensive line pushed the Bulldogs around in Columbia and 35 points wasn’t enough to win. The boys in the striped shirts owe the Bulldogs one for the hold that wasn’t, which cost Georgia a long touchdown run by Todd Gurley and the lead. The Bulldogs also came up with two turnovers deep in Gamecock territory and managed only three points. To beat Spurrier, capitalizing is key. As he nears the end of a remarkable career, you know he would love another piece of the hedge to add to his Georgia hit list.

September 26 Southern University – Sanford Stadium 2014 Record: 9-4 (8-1 SWAC) This will be the first trip to Athens for the Jaguars out of Baton Rouge, La. Southern has been a longtime Southwestern Athletic Conference powerhouse, and has claimed nine Black College National Championships in its history. 4 • www.bulldawgillustrated.com

Last season, the Jaguars started 2-3, then ripped off a seven game winning streak that culminated with a 52-45 victory over Grambling in the Superdome’s Bayou Classic. The streak came to an end in the SWAC Championship Game to Alcorn State. Arguably more famous than the football program is the Southern University Marching Band. You won’t want to miss the halftime show for what may well be the best ever band to visit Sanford Stadium. Georgia should chalk up a “W” here and head into the monster showdown with Alabama and a grueling October slate with a full head of steam. If the Bulldogs are 4-0, things are in place for Georgia to make a run.

October 3 Alabama – Sanford Stadium 2014 Record: 12-2 (7-1 SEC) 2015 Over/Under Win Total: 9.5 The last time these two met, Georgia came painfully close to the SEC championship and a crack at the national title. But Alabama prevailed. The last time the Crimson Tide visited Sanford Stadium, the Bulldogs “blacked it out” and were losing 31-0 at the half. The hype for this game will be incredible, as both have a good shot at being undefeated. This is the start of a difficult four-game stretch for Alabama and a rugged month for the Bulldogs. Both will be coming off tune-ups, as the Dogs play Southern the week prior and Alabama hosts Louisiana-Monroe. The Warhawks and Georgia both beat Alabama in Nick Saban’s first year at the Crimson Tide helm. Bama has finished in the top ten every year since. As hyped as this one will be, the ones the next week are even bigger for both, as Georgia goes to Tennessee and Alabama hosts Arkansas. Those are division games, and if things break right, who knows, there could potentially be a rematch in December. Saban has recruited Georgia like no Crimson Tide coach ever, with the help of his longtime defensive coordinator, former Bulldog standout Kirby Smart. So a lot will be on the line from that front. If the winner of this one goes to 5-0, anything short of a berth in Atlanta with a shot at the playoff will be a disappointment.

October 10 Tennessee – Knoxville Neyland Stadium 2014 Record: 7-6 (3-5 SEC) 2015 Over/Under Win Total: 7.5 On the win-ability meter this one could be last for the Bulldogs. Tennessee is flying high after winning three of its last four SEC games in 2014 and then defeating Iowa in the Gator Bowl. Last season, Georgia edged the Vols 35-32, marking a fifth straight win in the series. The last three have been won by Georgia by seven, three and three. With Georgia boasting the far superior talent every time out. That talent gap has closed. The Volunteers, like Georgia, are stacked at running back. The Vols have big time juice at wide receiver, and are settled at quarterback and both lines of scrimmage. As important, Georgia will be coming off the Titanic tilt with Alabama in Athens. Can Georgia get up emotionally again – and then again the next week vs. Missouri between the hedges. Tennessee figures to also be coming off a physical test with Arkansas in Knoxville. The week prior, Tennessee is at Florida. The Vols can let it all hang out emotionally and physically, as an open date follows prior to the annual October tangle with Alabama – this year in Tuscaloosa. Tennessee has long losing streaks to Alabama, Florida and Georgia. The Vols have come so close to picking off the Bulldogs, especially the last two years. Florida came back to win 10-9 in Knoxville last year, but the Vols will at least be an even money pick September 26 in Gainesville. Without a doubt Tennessee has a legitimate shot at winning the SEC East. The schedule is tough, as always, and it may not let the Vols run to a great record. If the Volunteers don’t make it to Atlanta, it is still a good bet that there will be a couple of more signature wins to come for a proud program on the uptick – and the Georgia game is circled on the Tennessee schedule.

October 17 Missouri – Sanford Stadium 2014 Record: 11-3 (7-1 SEC) 2015 Over/Under Win Total: 7.5 For a second straight season, Missouri made it to the SEC Championship Game. Nobody saw that coming. Nobody. Not even the staunch-

photo by Rob Saye

est of Missouri football supporters. Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Spurrier-era Gamecock fans have figuratively challenged Vince Lombardi’s “What the Hell’s Going on Here?!” Since joining the SEC in 2012, the Tigers have won in Athens, Gainesville, Knoxville and the other Columbia. This will be season number four for the Tigers in the SEC, and Georgia is hoping to record the first home team victory in this series. Georgia won the 1960 Orange Bowl 14-0 over the Tigers in the only meeting prior to the Midwestern school’s arrival in the Southeastern Conference. In Mizzou’s first SEC game in 2012, the Bulldogs dominated the fourth quarter and won in Columbia 41-20. In Athens the following season, the Tigers jumped to a 28-10 lead and pulled away to a 41-26 win. It was all Bulldogs last year at Mizzou, as the Dogs cashed in on five turnovers and cruised to a 34-0 win. But Missouri wouldn’t lose again until the SEC Championship Game. Maty Mauck is back at quarterback and the Tigers have been able to overcome the loss of elite defensive linemen the last couple of years. Though Shane Ray leaves big shoes to fill. Clearly this is a game that Georgia needs. Falling again at home to Missouri and perhaps giving the Tigers the inside track to another return to Atlanta. This will be a fourth straight SEC game for Mizzou, and the Tigers will be coming off a home date with the Gators. So both teams will be in the midst of a tough stretch of games. If the Bulldogs come out of this one at 6-1 – or better – the hope for a dream season is still alive.

October 31 Florida – Jacksonville EverBank Field 2014 Record: 7-5 (4-4 SEC) 2015 Over/Under Win Total: 7.5 A year ago, downtrodden Florida blistered high-flying Georgia 38-20 in what goes down as one of the worst and most head-scratching losses of the Mark Richt era. Big dreams were dashed. It would be Will Muschamp’s lone win in the Georgia-Florida series and the signature moment of the Gators season. Georgia’s dreams were dashed in mind-boggling fashion. Florida has turned to Jim McElwain, who had outstanding success at Colorado State following a stint as Alabama’s offensive coordinator. The Gators, as always, have talent, led by star cornerback Vernon Hargraves III. The defense should again be very good, the question is whether a lot of offensive positions will be solidified when the cocktail party comes around. Virtually every offensive spot for the Gators has question marks, but that doesn’t mean talent is not there. Georgia missed out on a golden opportunity to make It four straight in a series that had painfully gone 18-3 in Florida’s favor from 19902010. Here’s the deal too, Georgia needs to start another Florida coach with a losing record in the series. A vast majority of Florida’s wins over Georgia in the 21-year stretch came under the watch of all-time great coaches Spurrier and Meyer. The two that sting extra bad were the two to Ron Zook in 2002 and 2003 when Georgia clearly had the better team, talent and coach. But those losses cost Georgia shots at national championships. And last year’s destroyed those dreams as well. If Georgia is in position, i.e. 6-1 or 7-0, avoiding a repeat of last season and giving Florida another winning streak in the series is a must on the path to championship dreams.

November 7 Kentucky – Sanford Stadium 2014 Record: 5-7 (2-6 SEC) 2015 Over/Under Win Total: 6 Mark Stoops seems to have the Wildcats moving in the right direction. Kentucky has pulled in a couple of front-line recruits and quarterback Patrick Towels is one of the league’s top returning starters. This game will simply be a case of hunger for the Bulldogs. Last season after the embarrassment in Jacksonville, the Bulldogs thrashed the Wildcats 63-31. Isaiah McKenzie set the tone, returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Georgia could have won by an even wider margin, but struggled on the field of short “lob wedge style” kickoffs. That problem reared its ugly head a few weeks later in one of the most horrific losses in school history. It will help the Bulldogs that the Wildcats have a big game the week before as well. With conference expansion and Kentucky moving the Louisville game to the end of the season, the Wildcats won’t close the season with Tennessee, they will host the Volunteers the week before the trip to Athens. Kentucky started last year 5-1, losing a 36-30 triple overtime heart-breaker at Florida. But the Wildcats lost their final six games of the season.

November 14 Auburn – Jordan Hare Stadium 2014 Record: 8-5 (4-4 SEC) 2015 Over/Under Win Total: 8.5

The following year, the Eagles beat Florida in Gainesville, and last year had the aforementioned close calls in Raleigh and on the flats. In a typically utterly ridiculous NCAA rule and upholding, the Eagles were denied a bowl berth because for some absurd reason, first year 1-A (now the Football Bowl Subdivision) schools can’t go to bowls. I guess 6-6 big boys who are ready for the season to be over are preferred. This longtime Division 1-AA powerhouse now has better depth with the move to Division 1-A. There is a lot of talent back for the Eagles, and they frighteningly catch the Bulldogs between trips to Auburn and Tech. While there are a lot of fans that support both schools, there is a large segment in Statesboro, which is a great Bulldog town, that doesn’t like Georgia at all. The Eagles will pull it all out in what figures to be the last regular season meeting between the two for a long, long time.

November 28 Tech – Bobby Dodd Stadium, Grant Field 2014 Record: 11-3 (6-2 ACC) 2015 Over/Under Win Total: 7.5

photo by Rob Saye

fense? There is a lot of talent there, but the defense wasn’t good last year, especially down the stretch when the Aggies, Bulldogs, Bama and Badgers lit up the scoreboard. Both teams will be in a difficult stretch of games and both are hoping that a victory will keep them in the hunt for Atlanta and the playoff. Auburn plays A&M the week prior at Kyle Field.

What a roller coaster it has been for Auburn over the past five seasons, highlighted by a pair of trips to the BCS Championship Game and lowlightNovember 21 ed by a historically bad 3-9 campaign in 2012. Gus Malzone is in his third year at the Auburn helm, and Georgia Southern – Sanford Stadium his fast paced offense is fully installed. “The Gus 2014 Record: 9-3 (8-0 Sun Belt) Bus” took Auburn to the brink of the national title 2015 Over/Under Win Total: 7.5 in 2013 – with some serious magic under the tires that season. Last year, the magic was there until Georgia Southern is gunning for Georgia. Make November, when the Tigers got their hearts brono mistake the Eagles see this as a golden opken by Texas A&M, got smoked at Georgia and lost portunity to pick up THE monumental win for the a shootout to Alabama. In Tampa, the Tigers fell program. to Wisconsin. The Badgers and Aggies both lost In its first year in Division 1-A, the Eagles were games 59-0 last season. undefeated in Sun Belt play and went 9-3, with a There is no rivalry like Georgia-Auburn, the deep 24-23 loss at N.C. State and controversial 42-38 south’s oldest and often most entertaining. Here is setback at Tech. a twist for longtime Georgia fans that give Bulldog Georgia has won the previous five meetings, fans yet another reason to look at the heaven’s and with the closest margin being 20 points. But there ask why us? Georgia has won seven of the last have been moments to sweat. At the top of the nine meetings with the Tigers, with the last three list, with Georgia having clinched a berth in the SEC Bulldogs wins coming by 38, 38 and 27 points. So Championship game and sporting a 9-1 record, the which team has twice played for the national title? Bulldogs were clinging to a 10-7 lead late in the first Auburn of course. Shake fist and head. half with the Eagles on the move. A costly penalty Jeremy Johnson takes over at quarterback led to a missed field goal, and the Bulldogs scored for the Tigers, Duke Williams is back at receiver on an Aaron Murray to Malcolm Mitchell TD on the and Auburn has newcomer impact coming on the last play of the half. Georgia pulled away to win perimeter and at running back. The big question 45-14. will be the kind of impact Muschamp has on the de- 11/19/14 6:04 PM Page 1 NBG_BullDawgIllus_Halfpg_DAWGS_2_NBG_Halfpg_Stokes_BI

Tech had one of its greatest seasons since the Bobby Dodd Golden Tornado days of the 1950s, as the Yellow Jackets beat Georgia and won the Orange Bowl. In between, Tech nearly tripped up Florida State in the ACC Championship Game. Georgia’s horrid self-inflicted wounds, some terrible decision-making and a powerful Tech running attack led to arguably the most ghastly late-game, heartbreaking loss in Bulldog annals. Shock, despair and “what the hell did we just do” were the themes of the Georgia people walking out that dreary Saturday. Georgia is 12-2 against Tech since 2001, one of the most impressive accomplishments of the Mark Richt era, but the theme is “two is too many!” The other loss was in 2008, when the Bulldogs had a 28-12 lead get away in a 45-42 loss that would have been Georgia’s eighth straight win in the series, matching the infamous drought of 1949-56. Dating back to 1991, Georgia is 11-1 at Grant Field, with the lone loss coming in 1999 when Al Ford and his crew simply cheated the Bulldogs out of victory with one of the worst calls in college football history. What set Tech apart last season was true star power in Justin Thomas. The sprinter/quarterback is a tremendous talent and the first five star threat for the Yellow Jackets since Giff Smith recruited in Johnathan Dwyer, Josh Nesbitt and Demaryus Thomas back in 2007-2009. There are high hopes for Georgia in 2015, but what is most important is winning the last two games and reclaiming the state crown. Anything less than 2-0 vs. the Eagles and Tech means a miserable off-season traveling throughout the state for the Georgia faithful.

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J E F F DA N T Z L E R’ S B R E A K D OW N

The Jimmy and Joes on the field By Jeff Dantzler Bulldawg Illustrated

Quarterback It is the biggest question mark – though not the most important one for the Bulldogs – heading into preseason camp. Will it be R-Jr. Faton Bauta, R-Soph. Brice Ramsey or RFr. Jacob Park starting at quarterback? There is the verbal commitment from prep phenom Jacob Eason, regarded as the country’s top high school signal caller, who plans on being at Georgia as a collegiate freshman for the 2016 campaign. Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said there was no starter after the spring and the competition would continue into preseason camp. It is a good bet that at least two, with Bauta and Ramsey being the front-runners, of the QB’s will play in the opener against Louisiana-Monroe, and possibly the following week in the Southeastern Conference opener at Vanderbilt. Ramsey played some last year, including a majority of the Belk Bowl after a battlefield promotion due to Hutson Mason’s injury. He looked solid, but did not overwhelm. Bauta is an outstanding runner who impressed during the spring. The ability to take care of the football could be the key to whom gets the nod. Park has talent, but is third in the derby heading into preseason camp, and needs to make up ground early to contend for the starting job. For the Bulldog faithful looking at this season as a stop-gap, assuming that Eason will win the job as a true freshman in 2016, this should be kept in mind – this is a third starter in three years and next year would be a fourth in four if that were to happen.

Running Back Georgia lost the best player in the country to the National Football League. But, despite Todd Gurley’s departure to the pros, the Bulldogs could have the best collection of running backs in all of college football. It speaks volumes for the job Tailback U. has done recruiting. Nick Chubb had one of the best freshman seasons in school history a year ago, and fellow classmate Sony Michel, who missed much of the 2014 campaign due to injury, is also an elite talent. No one can boast a better onetwo punch than these five-star phenoms who were electric as freshmen. Chubb runs with tremendous power and tenacity. Though he is not the top-end burner as Gurley, he has superb speed. Michel has lateral juice, standout speed, and despite not being quite as big as Chubb, he too finishes the run. The only downer for these two were one-yard line fumbles in the heart-breaking regular season finale that should certainly serve as great motivation for even better things in 2015. Keith Marshall, riddled by injuries the previous two seasons, is back and excited to be back in the mix. He has excellent hands, and if the knee is healthy, breakaway speed. Marshall could be utilized in packages to add another weapon to the outstanding arsenal of backfield talent. With power runner Brendan Douglas, a big, tough, physical back, and now-healthy spring standout A.J. Turman, the Bulldogs have the depth and elite talent to form the very best corps in the land. This will be the centerpiece of the offense. The injuries of the last two seasons mean one of two things, you can’t have enough depth at this spot, or Georgia should be in store for a healthy campaign at the position that more than any other, has made the Dogs famous.

Clearing the holes will be crowd-favorite Quayvon Hicks, a strong straight-ahead runner and excellent lead-blocker who also has good hands. First year offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will certainly be tempted to utilize various formations to get multiple game breakers simultaneously on the field.

Wide Receiver and Tight End Malcolm Mitchell’s health is the key to Georgia’s success at wide receiver. He has missed much of the last two years due to knee injuries, but when Mitchell is okay, Georgia has one of the top big play makers and game breakers in the league. His Jacksonville touchdown in 2012 and performance in Knoxville the year prior are prime examples of what he can do. Mitchell is anxious to return to the field and lead this group. Who will line up opposite him is a big question. Before a knee-injury brought his 2013 season to an end, sprinter Justin Scott-Wesley caught game-winning or swinging touchdowns in memorable victories over South Carolina and LSU. But he never got healthy last year. This is a position where Georgia did not recruit well for a couple of years, and it shows, especially having to replace Chris Conley, Michael Bennett and Johnathan Rumph. Recruiting elite talent was a top priority in this class, and Terry Godwin and Michael Chigbu in particular will be looked on to have an early impact. And then there is return ace Isaiah McKenzie. Will he make more of an impact on offense? Without a doubt, he is one of the SEC’s top big play threats. At tight end, the Bulldogs should be amongst the most well-stocked teams in the SEC and possibly, the entire country. Sophomore Jeb Blazevich was one of several Bulldogs who starred as one of the league’s elite freshmen. With a healthy Jay Rome, back for his fifth season, the one-two punch should be at the top of the SEC’s heap. Throw in highly touted true freshman Jackson Harris, who enrolled early and took part in spring practice, and Jordan Davis, and tight end and tailback are the positions where the Bulldogs are as good as anyone.

Offensive Line The impact of new offensive line coach Rob Sale has immediately been felt in recruiting. He re-secured the commitment and signing of Pat Allen and helped land Sam Madden. Already this spring, Sale has spearheaded a crop of offensive line prospects verbal commitments that is regarded as one of the best in college football. What a welcome change. For far too many years, the offensive line was the position of most concern when it came to depth and talent. In Mark Richt’s tenure, this position has caused more headaches for the Bulldogs than any. This is changing. As for this year, the biggest question mark is replacing stalwart center David Andrews, a Rimington Award finalist and All-Southeastern Conference selection. Juniors Greg Pyke and Brandon Kublanow are back at guard, while seniors Kolton Houston and John Theus return at tackle. There are still big questions for the unit. When Andrews went down against Florida, the Bulldogs offense went into stagnant and reverse. And against Tech, the Bulldogs couldn’t line up and punch it in on gwoal to go for the one yard line in the first and second halves. Can Georgia get that push when the other

photo by Rob Saye

6 • www.bulldawgillustrated.com

photo by Rob Saye

guy knows the Bulldogs are going to run? That answer will be yes, will it be this year, and specifically will it be ready by October? At center, it could be sophomore Isaiah Wynn or fifth-year senior Hunter Long. Wynn and Dyshon Sims got their feet wet as freshmen a year ago and have promising futures. There figures to be newcomer impact from at least two of Madden, Allen, Devondre Seymour and Sage Hardin. Also, redshirt freshmen Lamont Gaillard, who moved over from defense at the end of spring, Kendall Baker and Jake Edwards will fight for playing time. After years of angst, this is a position that is trending upwards in a big time manner.

Defensive Line It is the second year for this defensive staff, and the impact and improvement a year ago was noticeable improvement. The big question is whether the defense – which could be great in 2016 – can make a similar leap in 2015? Georgia’s biggest problem last year was painfully evident in the three losses. Florida ran for over 400 yards, Tech for 399 and South Carolina ran out the clock. The Bulldogs made massive improvements, created a lot more turnovers (plus-nine combined in the wins at Missouri and Arkansas), had outstanding success at times going lateral (highlighted by a 34-7 thrashing of Auburn) and were organized. It was nice not having players frantically gesturing to the sideline, running in and out, giving up third or fourth and in the 20-plus yard range and just looking downright disorganized. Defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt and line coach Tracy Rocker are outstanding, at the top of their field. Rocker, a native of Atlanta, and one of the great defensive linemen in SEC history at Auburn, is one of the all-time elite Peach State talents that got away for the Bulldogs. As a coach, he and Pruitt helped put together a defensive line class that goes down as one of the best in school history the most highly touted of the 21st century. The problems of last year were addressed. Now that is no guarantee that the Bulldogs of 2015 will be the Purple People Eaters, Fearsome Foursome or Steel Curtain, but it the refreshing category it was certainly nice, despite the significant improvement, that the new look Bulldogs defense staff further addressed areas of concern. Just check out all the Peach State natives that got drafted the last two years and shake your head over how few went to Georgia. Like with the offensive line, things are getting much, much better. That certainly showed last year with defensive end/outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter, a potential All-American, and this year’s defensive line class, which includes the state’s top prospect Trenton Thompson, who has been compared to Warren Sapp. Chris Mayes, John Atkins, Sterling Bailey, Josh Dawson and James Deloach are veterans returning on the defensive line. It is fairly evident that at some point over the next year or two, the Bulldogs strive to go to much more of a base four man front, getting more beef. Mayes and Atkins fit that bill, and the newcomer help is there. Johnathan Ledbetter is a blue chip elite recruit who stood out in the spring game, as did fellow freshman early enrollee Natrez Patrick, who moved to inside linebacker. End Michael Barnett missed the spring with an injury, but is another true freshman who could help right away. Chauncey Rives, Justin Young and DaQuan Hawkins will all join the fold, along with Thompson, Ledbetter and Barnett. Though the true freshmen aren’t necessarily being looked at as starters this season, they will be needed to play a lot of snaps, and could certainly form the nucleus, along with a potentially second straight stellar D-Line class in 2016, and foundation of the kind of defense Georgia fans have been so thirsty and hungry for.

Linebacker Carter, in particular in an incredible performance at Kentucky, showed that he has the potential to be an all-timer. Leonard Floyd, a potential first rounder, and Jordan Jenkins, one of the league’s top returning seniors, combine with Carter to give Georgia an elite trio of “edge” defenders. This is a new term that doesn’t float every boat. Are you a good defensive end or outside linebacker? Can you play the run and the pass? Are you a first, second and third down player? Are you a cornerstone or satellite player? These three are the primary reason that the hopes are high for Georgia’s defense and it’s a good bet that the defensive staff, including linebackers coaches Kevin Sherrer and Mike Ekeler, will find a way to get these three on the field together as much as possible. The addition of Patrick, UAB transfer Jake Ganus and Junior College product Chuks Amechi should go a long way towards filling the shoes of Amarlo Herrera and Ramik Wilson, veterans who played a lot of snaps ad made a lot of tackles. There are other players in the program who will have a chance to step forward like Reggie Carter and Tim Kimbrough. But with the likes of DeAndre Walker and Roquan Smith coming in, there is more punch coming when preseason camp arrives. This Georgia front seven recruiting class was tremendous. And the future is very bright at a spot where teams flat out have to have the juice to compete for the SEC title and a shot at the playoff. Secondary Pruitt is assembling his type of talent, and several players who were in the news a lot more for off field transgressions than on field success are gone. Starring for the Bulldogs as a freshman was Dominick Sanders, and he leads the returning talent. Pruitt doesn’t like to specify cornerback and safety as much as most coaches. He prefers they all be able to cover and tackle. What a novel concept. Sanders can do it all, and his performance against Louisville in the Belk Bowl has Georgia fans hopeful that the Bulldogs have another great defensive back. Quincy Mauger has displayed a nose for the football and figures to start as a safety, along with Sanders. The other two spots, the traditional cornerback slots, could go to Malkom Parrish, who came on late last season and junior college trans-

photo by Rob Saye

fer and redshirt Shattle Fenteg. Help could come from newcomers. Georgia signed a lot of defensive backs, including five-star safety Rashard Roundtree and Rico McGraw. Tramel Terry, a highly touted recruit who has shifted positions, appears healthy and ready to challenge for significant playing time. Aaron Davis played a lot as a redshirt freshman walk-on last season and is still in the mix. The depth and overall talent level may be a year away from what Pruitt is searching for, but the potential of the front seven certainly lends to great expectations for entirety of the defense, and sound and solid secondary play.

Special Teams For all of the improvement of the defense, the kicking game made even greater strides forward. But….. Just like the Bulldogs inability to stop the run with the chips down, as much as the kicking game came around, in the three losses there were still major breakdowns that had everyone in red and black burying their hands in faces with painful cases of déjà vu.

Against South Carolina, Marshall Morgan set the SEC record by hitting a 20th consecutive field goal. Then he missed his next two in a three-point loss. In Jacksonville, the Bulldogs were for some reason rushing in a stadium where poor kicking has cost Georgia so much glory, as the first quarter came to an end. The kick was ruled no good. Florida then “pantsed” Georgia on a fake field goal for a touchdown. Then against Tech, there was the once again awful misplay of a short kickoff that led to a Tech recovery. There was a field goal that got blocked. There was the decision not to kick deep. And there was the timeout with Tech scrambling on what turned out to be the game-tier. These are the moments that separate 9-3 teams from 11-1/12-0 championship ones. Morgan is back at kicker. He has shown a great leg and improved tremendously since an up and down freshman season. Morgan is striving for a big more consistency, while the Bulldogs are hoping to not be too reliant on them. The point totals of both Billy Bennett and Blair Walsh are both points of pride and a reason the Bulldogs don’t have a national championship or two and another couple of SEC titles. Rodrigo Blankenship is a preferred walk-on, who had a stellar senior year at Sprayberry High, and is the heir apparent. Of his 60 kickoffs, 57 went for touchbacks. Punter is an area where Georgia needs better performance and consistency. In the second half of his freshman year, Collin Barber was outstanding, but has had a lot of ups and downs the last two years. This is his time and the Bulldogs need him to be consistent and good. The Bulldogs will miss Adam Erickson, who was excellent downing punts deep in enemy territory. Georgia should be in good shape at snapper with Nathan Theus and Trent Frix, who follows in the outstanding family line. McKenzie was the biggest difference maker, having the best year on kickoff and punt returns of any Bulldog in the 21st century. The Bulldogs were hopeful that he would have the kind of impact Brandon James had for Florida on the Gators runs to the 2006 and 2008 national titles. He is well on his way. Despite the breakdowns that marred the three losses of 2014, the improvements from the F-minus special teams campaign of 2013, were tremendous. Continued strives forward could be the key to get-

www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 7

JEFF DANTZLER ON THE FIELD ON THE FIELD

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED BULLDAWG ILLUSTRA ATED

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and five touchdowns, with also two picks. And Park, the 6-4, 202-pound product of Goose Creek, S.C. who would seem to be the Bulldogs’ best dual-threat option, showed 16 completions on 30 attempts for 315 yards and two touchdowns, with one the other as Georgia heldinterception. on to win 34-31 in overtime. The Richt in also likedwas the away Bauta −Tennessee said to bewon by far the 2006 game Athens shootout. 51-33, hardest worker on the team − and Park handled themselves scoring 27 points in the 4th quarter. Arian Foster had a big on G-Day throughout It theseems spring. day, scoring and 3 touchdowns. these games have been “Faton has also been a guy who has worked extremely high scoring affairs in recent years and that will probably be hard to get a comfort level with what Coach Schotty (new the case oncoordinator Saturday. Brian Schottenheimer) is trying to offensive

By M Murray Poole Bulldawg Bulld dawg Illustrated Bob Kesling is one of the very best play-by-play anIt was very important. Beating a ranked team at home nouncers in the business. He followed the legendary John reinforced beliefthe that broke around University A rrash br oke outthe ar ound U niv nButch versity Jones’ plan for Tennessee Ward and the Volunteers couldn’t have had a better succeswascomplex working.this sprin Georgia spring. of G e football eorgia athletic ng. sor. A longtime “FoB.I.,” Bob was kind enough to once the buzz, excitement IIn n fact, f excitement and Richt said it was imperative that the eventual starting again give us his thoughts on Saturday and college football What Tennessee need to win? antici ipation Bdoes ulldogs newarm defe ensiv eto do anticipation that Bulldogs’ new defensive By Murray Poole quarterback have’the to throw the ball downfield. inBulldawg general. Illustrated Protect the quarterback much than did against coordinator Pruitt and hishe new coor d dinator JJeremy eremy P rimportant,” uitt nesaid. w better “It’s very “We’ve gotitguys andreally. avoid turnovers, which is were assistant staffcanbrought to Malcolm assista antOklahoma brrun, ought the U UGA who (Mitchell) fast.very Reg-costly teach them and I think he got better and better as the Talk thethe optimism surrounding program. against the Sooners. The constant Georgia is to slow Who is your pick to Richt. play in“Ithe SEC Championship program full-blown pr ogram has(Davis) turned into Isaiah a full-b blown against Whoabout will be University of Georgia’sthe starting gie is fast. (McKenzie) is fast. Justin spring went along,” said think Jacob ran more Butch Jones came with a tee planit to down its running Tennessee’s epidemic. quarterback when the in Bulldogs up rebuild on Sept.Tennessee 5 forepidem the mic. Scott-Wesley can game. really run. We’ll seelinebackers how these have otherbeen kids Game? reps with the two and three units but you can see his arm 2015 season opener againstlevel Louisiana-Monroe? run who come in. defense We’ve got whowill be important have football to a championship and the fans see that it is the strength ofe charges the so far in Tooyou many in ability the forest now make that Putting his defensive through an and Puttting defensiv throug ghguys talent, cantrees see his and right I think thistosummer is That Itwas theabout question that raged Georenough speed. Allon three (quartergoingThere to be crucial andeight important him, all of them working. is all recruiting andthroughout Butch is restocking containing the Georgia tailbacks. pick. are about teams for right now that havere-a accelerated, rapid-fire practice accele erated, rapid-fir e pace the pra actice gia’s spring practice year and it’s one that He apparently armplay toyer ally. Butchance. the more he gets comfortable with the system, the roster with bigger,this faster and better players. has made legitimate every player from field and a backs) giving have ev erythe single ethrow − fr om rage on with right the up through the first deep. doubt in the better he will compete. I think it’s still a race, I a will connection fans and fall the camp formerand players in agame very WhatThere’s issenior yourno Georgia? mostitseasoned totake the on unknown the m unkn nown againstway. the Warhawks. mind running on that. I think thinkfour there’s any question positive Great game and Whodon’t are your playoff teams? it’s going through freshman walk-on − the same number of potent offense. Defense fr eshm manmy numb bervery But one thing seems certain in this fight for the we miss too many balls summer and fall before get ready make a a lottunity of yards The SEC champion for sure. we Oregon lookstovery good equalupopportunity to in win rreps eps and a hasangiven oppor w thea passing game. Tennessee starting signal-caller job to succeed outgoing senior QB by throwing it too decision regarding who that guy is.” starting job, Pruitt invigorated WhatMason would...a win at Georgia for the program? and has takeindeed advantage of the Bulldog secondary. to me right now. I was impressed with Oklahoma when star tin ngwill job Pruitt invigoorated Hutson it’s going to be amean two-way battle between far,,try actually — just In their only spring meeting with the a G eo orgia str uggled mig ghtily Georgia defense that struggled mightily It would be the next big step beating a ranked program we went to Norman Michigan State. simply If the redshirt sophomore Brice Ramsey and junior Faton Bauta. all spring long. You media, last eachweek of theand three quarterbacks times over at tim mes o v er the past two seasons. onAfter the road. What are some past Georgia/Tennessee games that Spartans can run the table in the Big 10, I don’t think the guiding the scout team last season, redshirt freshman said they’re learning every day in Schotten“Coach Pruitt has won a championship “Coa ach P r uitt champion nship stand out to you? committee will hold the loss at Oregon against them. Jacob Park still has a ways to go on the learning curb and heimer’s new system, working as diligentlyOf (national at F Florida (natio onal title yyear eargame lorida SState), tate), How bigentrenched was the win South Carolina forthe Butch Lastlast year’s was very exciting. It didn’t turn out in course the wayasIthey pick’em, that group onlyplaybook the SEC is presently in over the No. 3 spot entering can infrom improving on their summer workouts. he that’swith a bounce one way or champ will getknowledge he’s’s ccoached some favor, of thebut bestcould and have that’s Jones a year ago? Tennessee’s there. and passing technique, and that But Georgia head coach Mark Richt has the eventual pecking order lies in the coaches’ the kkind of guy you you want to play for,” forr,” have have no sstarters; starters; we we have have no depth chart, charrt, Coach Pruitt Pruitt is going to show show everybody everybodyhands. clearly emphasized, both after the conclusion of Damian rrelated elated d Georgia Georgia senior safety D a amian we’re off of what of production we’re going goin pr oductio on he’s’s a man of his wor word d and he’s he’s going to “We’re spring drills and also on his UGA Days tour allngstarting fromkind zero,” said Bauta. excited SSwann. wann n. ““And And A I was vvery ery ex xcited c to kknow know he around the state, that all three players are still you the day before and this will y o ou had d befor e w give everybody a shot.” giv e ev er ybody shot. ” “It’s not like one of us knows the playbook more was position. he wa asConference going to be coaching my posi ition. It the was a big day the Southeastern with a couple of marquee games. in running for the No.for 1 assignment in than thecontinue other.” until the freshmen freshmen get here. here. “Coach Pruitt a new Pruitt brings brin ngs new energy The ccompetition level,” level,” said Swann, Swann,, “has Alabama and Mississippi State are the teams of the week. Oklahoma did a great job 2015. “I have When playingthey experience,” said Ramsey, get here, they’ll have an t ey her e e, t they ey ’ ll havewho a definitely,” offered to the field, most d definitely y , ” offer ed m d it so great grreatt for f r us to t gett outt here her h re and nd Jthree E F F touchdowns DANTZLER “Nobody in my upset. opinion hasThere nailed it aren’t amade threw for 333opportunity yardstun and while backavoiding the ton of big games on the docket for this week. The to compete, just like these oppor nity the ese sophomore Quincy Mauger. “He sophomor e safety Q u uincy M auger . “H e compete comp pete and put an impression impression on these down,” said Richt, speaking at the first There UGA ing up Mason last fall,guys. “but thattwo means now. I’m other weeks into fall camp guy ys. And weeks e nothing cam mp ball, there’s rallying up p to the there’s as conferences are bigger. arecoach more games. But as many good games coaches that guys can play. what it’saren’t hes play y. That’s Thatthere ’s wh hat it ’s talks about Days stop in Savannah. “All three guys have back to square one. I had just felt comfortable, right when we’ll get them into spots,” spots,” Pruitt Pruitt said. said. tackle no one-man single tack kle so he knows knows the we’ll used about, all abo out, competing and earning a job.” joob.” athere legitimate chanceto to be. be the starter. It will (Mike) Bobo left, with the playbook. I was like, `Yes, I “Maybe “Maybe there’ll there’ll be some guys this spring sprin ng I’m m here here to learn.” learn.” SSwann w wann said the coaching changes changees on game of football and I’ depend on what they do between now and fall got it,’ and sure enough (now) I’m into a new system. that kind of take that step, where you say, d step , wher e y ou o sa ay y, Mark Richt says the new defensive M ar k t ne w defensiv e camp and 1.then on what they do in the camp. But defense has made State entirely defen for an– Starkville entirely different diff just produces new 13. Notre Dame – Brian Kelly… hasItan19. challenges.” East Carolina – The Pirates have 7.se Mississippi is ffer ab-ent Alabama – It was big plays in the other outstanding team in South Bend. ‘Hey I know I can count on him.’ But right ‘H ey kn no w him. ’ B ut righ ht brought good competition to the staff has br ought had two spectacular weeks, upsetting they all have the talent base to get the job done. solutely on fire. “I created a lot of bad habits last year,” Park practice practi ice scenario. scenario . The Maroons victory passing game that made the difference In 2012, the Fighting Irish had an unafter thewon’t Hokies over LSU was a long time coming and Alabama’s over Florida. Amarithat will now a work and now wechuck-and-duck. ’reVirginia worTech k in aprogress prweek ogr ess won npast ’t Bulldogs’ B ulldogs ’ practices. And there in will be a lotwin of things happening defeated regular season and offered. played “I’d justwe’re I didn’t have “The practice is of the “Th The schedule one o took down Ohio State. Then thisgood means the world to the MSU faithful. Cooper is the top receiver in the counfor the national title. Getting Everett Saturday, they absolutely mauled North have starters until after the last scrimmage hav e star t ters scrimmag ge “It’s good to have competition, “I t ’ s always hav e help our quarterback do his job,” said Richt, alluding to protection last year on scout team, I didn’t really Prescott special quarterback try, and combines with one of the best things we to change and first Dak th hings we were wer eiseaable an nd do Golston back from a year long suspenCarolina, a sweet win for their alumni. stables of backsrunning in all theand landGeorgia’s to give experiencedwho gives State a shot every time out. Nick Chubb’s explosive sion has for beenjobs a hugeand boost. trust my protections, I tended to scramble of fall camp. guys who perform the caamp.soThe performout th heof competition competition differently,” “There’s just so much differ e ently y , ” he said. “Ther e ’ s m Alabama some big time punch. 20.next Tech – The Yellow Jackets are 4-0 offensive line. didn’t have to the pocket a lot. I knew I was redshirting last year,” best get the opportunity. I don’t think b th h he oppor tunity i y . don d ’ t thin hi nk k vs. defense,” said UGA’s head offense ff d defense, f ” id UGA A ’ s h d 8.y going Bayloron – The have back keptk itand 14. LSU – The Bayou Bengals were withBears running energy running and have a stellar quarterback in Justin have one of the country’s And that’s the thing starting 2. Texas A&M about – The this Aggies offensequarterback rolling undone at Tiger Stadium by Mississiptelland (Aaron) he said. “Now, I’ve actually got to sit and make Georgia whofast plays oThomas. GeorgiaHecare carisevery the ey and– athey good “It obviously coach.pi“I t ob viously makes each other the fans of forth from drilloffenses everybody for thmost from to drillonce andagain. ev erAre y ybody State, and then came storming back prolific continues to Trophy be incredibly explosive. Tech one blitzes, of the best teams battle. With Heisman candidate Chubb in the Murray to reads, sit injust thewant pocket, pick upisthe not runin a hail mary LSU get had won to win.” t passer. win. they the best team in the that Big ’sXII? It is better.. before better SSometimes ometimes yyou omiss.can ou into Kenny Hill has picked up right where the ACC”and that win over Virginia Tech getting reps. that’s what gettin ng a lot of r eps. And wh hat 21 of the previous 22 in the series. The backfield and a bevy of other talented tailbacks running looksback-shoulder the allisthe time, make good Johnny Football left off. Kevin Sumlin’s like Baylor and Oklahoma right a huge boost. “Coach Pruitt a football coach and hwas Pball ruitt an nddebut don’t seetoitand chuck a scheming b toI grind donaround ’tback Fightin’ contest Tigers have a lot of guys great, being goingnow. g toamake gr eat, b is sky front high and thereturns Aggies are right Art Briles has done great work behind an stock offensive that four starters from guy. cisions and throw completions. Now I’m playing actual stay in the SEC West race. there in the rugged SEC West. he does, does,” new SAM loves to do d21.what ” said new M more ore of, off, ‘Let’s ‘Let’s hook it loves Gators were right Florida – The get those reps able inttoWaco. repswas and not just sitting siitting happening. I see it mo last season’s 10-3 team, the Georgia coaches simply want Murray fundamental football and notwith backyard football.” there Alabama for most of the 15. South Carolina – Steve Spurrilinebacker and Star position coach Sherrer. linebacke er S tar S herr e er . physically day,’ up and see who physic cally wins the day y , ’ 3. Oklahoma to – Bob Stoopsfundamentally has maywatching whole practice. praactice. Ole Missto – this isthe rare air indeed for game until the Crimson Tide pulled their new quarterback be sound andback9.and going keep it in Whether er was worried about a letdown after it’s Ramsey, Bauta, or even Park, who is be his best team since 2008, when the away. Florida is a factor inpassionate the SECate East, both Ole Miss and Mississippi State to “He goes out there and he’s “H e goe s ther e he ’ s passiona really healthy for us.” which I think is r eally h us. ” the win over Georgia with Missouri on Everybody’s something,” verhave y play ybody ’s doing something, ” Swann Swann w not turn the football over while directing what shouldE be put eventually named Georgia’s starting fieldteam. general, their a much improved Dexter Fowler Sooners fell to Florida in the BCS Chamtheseand kinds of it years. If Bo Waldeck. South Carolina didn’t look great, I think thedisrupter players feed off playyers eof up Pruitt, when asked aabout the buzz he’s P ruitt, he’s about it and a tremendous fronto and It was upset in one of the pionship strongestGame. ground attacks in alert the Southeastern where wethe could w. avoid majorget turnovers, the said.lace can the three is capable guiding falling behind Vanderbilt,teammates but pulled itsay anyone of is Vernon Hargreaves a dynamite corner. couch burning Morgantown, but OklahoRebels can compete with anyone. That together to win by two touchdowns. of that because he demands things be b brought defense, quickly br ought to the UGA A Conference. Couple that fact with what is expected to be Very few times did Murray the Bulldogs to lofty heights this coming season. Going from drill to G o oing at the fast pace fr om dr rill ma was too much for the Mountaineers. sophomore class has a lot of talent. will be a lot of points this week photos There by Rob Saye 22. Kansas State – The Wildcats missed a tenacious defense under second-year coordinator Jeremy it out and the right certain g way y and cer tain ways. way yys. “They’re great in quarterbacks,” said sophomore corthrew all the credit assistant all done ew with credit too his ne the Gamecocks and new thewTigers. conditions thehave players better drill also a lay playythem ers e bette er for thr out on a bunch of opportunities – like Auburn – Theseem Tigersto edged 10. Brigham Young – The Cougars are Pruitt and 4.there wouldn’t be a Kansas need for the Bullgo get it,” Richt Malkom Parrish. “They deliver the ball on time NOTE:nerback All helmets and logos are trademarkedSometimes and the property you interpret that as a S ometim mes y o ou can interpr et staff. missing three field goals and having Game Day, Swann. G ame e D ay y , noted S wann. respective college or has university. State 20-14. It took some guts to sched16. Michigan State of–their Ole Sparty off to an impressive undefeated start. These logos are reproduced for editorial use only by AP members. dropped TD turn into an interception – dogs’ QB to for 300 yards a game. said. “It would have to be very evident that our guy got and know what they’re doing so the competition is there recovered nicely from that loss to Orulethrow a Thursday nighter on the road in the being a tough coach but it’s actually an t it ’ s a “You look at Coach Rock (Tracy “ Y o ou Co oach R o ock ( T racy r Bronco Mendenhall has done great that’s’s goin going ““Absolutely, Absolutely b y, and I think that ng to while falling to Auburn this past Thursegon. Mark Dantonio isbetween an excellent Bothtoteams some in misStill, iflittle youapple. listened Richthad closely his post-game workahead with this tradition rich program. and really stacked the guy for him to lay it out. If the quarterbacks and the team is working hard day. hard-nosed They are a factor the Big that XII. enthusiastic, typein coach enthusiasstic, har d-nosed th hat Rocker), at Coach (Kevin) oocker), yyou ou oand look a State (K Kthere evin) e coach Michigan is right us inthey the are longnot run, declared. helpAnd u run, too, ” he decllared. R cues, and Auburn was able to hang on. thetoo,” high powered remarks following April 11 G-Day game, it was twoof guys side-by-side, he wasSSherrer, going toyou rip look ittheonbest and amongst teams in thethey’re Big Ten.working hard. Whatever the coaches decide The Tigersthe host Louisiana Tech and then you got the passing attack Lavell Edwards glory wants to demand players do it the right play ers righ ht in at Coach Ek (Mike herr er r , y ou o E k (M ike 23. Utah – The Utes put the final nail We’re e’re going to hit it rrunning unning and we’re we’re They again have a strong defense and begins. feeling thattheit gauntlet could be the guy with the strongest arm,W backside ofcan that guy and complete He completed thecoaching coachescoffin … Iwith days.the These Cougars play physical Bradythat’s Hoke’son head NOTE: All it. helmets and logos are trademarked and the propertywho’s going to play this year, running game. feed off of that.” wayy. So So again, a a 26-10they that.” Ekeler) E keler) and yyou ou watch those guys coach,” coach,” way. of their respective college university. get theofnew coming in them g toa bunch ne w guys comin pounding of the Wolverines beBrice Ramsey, who will be taking the first snap againstgoingfootball. These logos in are reproduced editorial use only balls because hengkept play.orforWe’ve gotby AP members.don’t know anything about that.” 5. Oregon – At times this season the fore an emptied Bigpractice House. Utah isin 3-0 Pruitt said, with spring now P r uitt now Pruitt said. “They’re around P r uitt “They ’ r e flying ar ound the 17. Wisconsin – Melvin Gordon, one acclimated to what we’ve got going on and acclim mated w e ’ v e n Louisiana-Monroe. Ramsey, 6-3, 216-pound Camden 11. young NOTE: All and logosthat are trademarked and the property Ducks have looked the unbeatable. But who want tohelmets throw perfect, long bomb the quarterbacksand areisgreat to me,” declared junior favored to make it four straight UCLA –guys The Bruins had this past of the best tailbacks in the “All country, of their respective college or university. theNOTE: rearview mirror and camp looming rearAllvihelmets ieagainst w “and mirr or loomin ng it took everything had to holdaoff they’re their field, they ’ran e getting aft fter (and) we’re moving.” w e’reSaturday justbut going it mo ving. Washington State. These logos are”reproduced editorial use only by APyou’ll members. logos are trademarked and the property off to to keep get for big County product, stretched they the field with 72-yard touchhad awesome performance against when youready throw itthat too flat forand too far, never after freeguys safety Quincy Mauger. Jacob Parkfall has a great arm of their respective college or university. Washington State in Pullman. Marcus Thursday night affair with Arizona Bowling Green, going for over 200 These logos st, are reproduced for editorial use only by AP members. in August, he knows what he wants the A ugus u kno ws th he they’re very demanding so it’s not me, it’s they ’ r e v er y g it ’ s it ’ s And this, from more members of An d fr om two mor e membe ers down completion to Isaiah McKenzie and also a 60-yard complete a ballhas that’s thrown gotand to throw a great kid and student. Faton is– This a hard worker Mariota is a special quarterback. The 24. Arkansas might be the most yards chalking upand fiveis touchState. Brett Hundley some health too far. You’ve Ducks Davis. have loads of speed on the peimproved team in theAll country. ThevRaGeorgia fan base to see from his defensive G eorgia f fr om defensiv e them.” ”downs. strike to Reggie The Badgers are and the best team the Pruitt’s Bulldog secondary: P ruitt t’s B ulldog secondar y:a alittle questions. The Bruins are perfect 3-0 but them. the ball, usually, shorter outside. You’ll comhe knows game. Brice is the same. are great NOTE: All helmets and logos are trademarked and the property zorbacks rimeter. of their respective college or university. blew out Northern Illinois to in the Big Ten. but they have won them allare eight or and outside “I thought (Ramsey) made some nice plays,” said “C These logos areand reproduced for editorial use only by AP members. unit. “Well, I hope they see us get lined unit “ W ell ell, e line ed plete more balls that short than balls that almost daily depth chart As to the char t students of the game they’re all hard workers.” “Coach Pruitt came in from day one Co oach h P r uitt itt m fr om m d y n make it 3-1. The lone loss is the season less against not exactly the strongest to will Auburn. ThedHogs one 6. Florida State in – Jameis Winston led probablyand h 18.this Georgia – The Bulldogs did what Richt. “I think he overall the spring, I can are too far down the field.” “The (fall camp) scrimmages be big,” Richt up, hope us play hard every snap up, I hop peopener they see har ev erhave y sna ap spring, Pruitt said it all changes past sprin ng, P r uitt of slates. he meant what he said, everybody ev er y ybody NOTE: All helmets and logosthat are trademarked and the property of their respective college or university. of the country’s best running attacks. was expected in a 66-0 rout of Troy. the Seminoles to the national championThese logos are reproduced for editorial use only by AP members. talk in more generalities, but he’s done a very good job In the Bulldogs’ two spring scrimmages plus G-Day, concluded. “We’ll have two scrimmages. We usually have and hopee we “I hope we tackle well,” well, e ” he said. hop pe on the most rrecent ece ent practice. 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Georgia’s season of their respective college or univer of NOTE: studying, getting us in the protection, headache he right has been off the getting us also Ramsey 38 completions on 69““We’re attempts forNOTE: 625 three prior to game but that third scrimmage isare All helmets and logos are trademarked and thethe propertyfirst of their respective or university. of their respectivewhat college ora university. 3-0 cornerback with totaled UCLA coming to Johnson, town, we play the ball in the deep part of the w e par t th he These logos are reproduced for editor trying give everybody W e ’ r e tr ying g giv e ev er ybody junior Kennar said j unior K ennar e J ohn nson, Theseto logos are reproduced for editorial use onlyan by AP members. a much improved team and they have These logos are reproduced for editorial use only by AP members. is on the line. The Volunteers nearly Led side by the country’s best tight in the rightfield. hot and adjustment situations. He’s been and they have injury issues of their ownwith two interceptions. yards and four touchdowns, usually like a practice game. I’m hoping by then we’ll at their sights set on Georgia for what pulled off the upset in each of the last end Nick O’Leary, the ‘Noles pulled out field. You know, fundamental things Y o ou u kno w , just thin gs opportunity,” he said. “The guys that oppor tunity y , ” said d. speaking in the week prior to G-Day. speak king w eek e G-D ay y . at quarterback. The winner of this one a huge program win. toA.J. two years. They are gunning for who’s the really pretty accurate these spring Bauta, the 6-3, 218-pound junior from West Palm Beach, least say starting thewould first be game. We’ll just have a thriller overthroughout Clemson, which blew too practice a big leg up in the racecornerback for the Johnson is amongst the very lineupset. blockers, keeping thebestball strikiing baall perform beforee are form the day befor are the guys that … striking “One (freshman “O negetswalk-on (fr eshman corner rback per zone opportunities. situations, many to bered honest with you.” Fla. and likely the best runner of the three candidates, had see.” PAC-12 South. backers in the country. leveraged.” lev eraged d. ” Aaron Davis) was with the 1’s today so Aar on n D avis) 1’ s toda ay ones the next day. We get to go with the one es day y . W e And when the final wrap was put on spring practice, a total of 50 completions on 83 attempts, for 578 yards

2015 starter still to be determined

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COLORADO

TOP 25

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AUBURN

ARKANSAS

BAYLOR

Watkinsville

Auburn

Lawrenceville

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OFF THE FIELD

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

Betty Hatcher, Nick Chubb and Bill Hatcher

Pat More, Nathan Pasha and Doyle Mote

Brad Bell, Sterling Bailey and Asa Swift

craft brew tasting

UGA Athletic Scholarship Endowment Brunch

Rico Johnson, Kennar Johnson, Jean and Buddy Aldredge and Collin Barber

John Neel, Summer Dawn Neel, Malcolm Mitchell and Smisson Neel

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live music

family fun

cuisine

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arts and crafts

SEPTEMBER 18-20 A coastal favorite, the Shrimp and Grits Festival combines the classic regional dish with family-friendly entertainment, more than 100 arts and crafts vendors, live music, food and more.

10 â&#x20AC;˘ www.bulldawgillustrated.com

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OFF THE FIELD

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

UGA Athletic Scholarship Endowment Brunch

Dave Brush, Allison Yeomans, Mary Cameron Yeomans, Claude Williams and Faye Butts Jones

Terry Stovall, Bob Rushton, Barclay Rushton and Tom Stovall

Jody Jackson, Jordan Jenkins and Ken Jackson

Members of the UGA gymnastics team and assistant coach, Phil Ogletree

Nick Chubb and Vickie Farmer

Brooke, Leon, Beau and Rebecca Farmer with Nick Chubb

Billy and Marta Slaughter

Will Glenn and Wayne Montgomery

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B E A C H B O U N D B U L L D O G S #cheriSHOPS HEERY’S CLOTHES CLOSET S‘ ince 1959, Heery’s Clothes Closet in the heart of downtown Athens has brought

the latest trends and hottest fashions to ladies of all ages. From Tom Ford sunnies, Mara Hoffman swim, Tory Burch beach totes, Tkees flip flops to Mignonne Gavigan shark necklaces, they have everything you need to be beach chic!

I am really excited to bring a spotlight on the women of UGA through our series featuring Q&As with University graduates, Georgia fans’ tailgate recipes and you know I can’t resist sharing some red & black fashion ... it’s all part of the lifestyle of being a Bulldog belle.

CHERI LEAVY

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

Creative Director

ONE LOVE ORGANICS

Come hang out with me @cherileavy on social media and we can chat about

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OFF THE FIELD

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

Loran and Myrna Smith and Andrew Platt

Circle of Honor Gala

Kelly Kerner, Trey Paris, George Benson and Jere Morehead

Gabby, Cindy Sheffield, Phoebe Hughes, Cheri Leavy , Suzanne Leebern, Cindy Fox, Kelley Blanton , Elaine Stowers, Jenny Vandenberg, Diane Davis and Rebecca Thaw

Yoculan-Leebern family

Circle of Honor inductee, Stephanie (Yarem) Ransom and Dave Yarem

George Bezecny, Rob Sherrell, John Mangan and Allen Miller

Jan Lanier, Mary Jeffcoat, Robert Miles and Helen Castronis

Lana Mitchell and Barbara and Vince Dooley

Andrew and Suzanne Platt

Irvin and Becky Alhadeff

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OUTFITTING DAWG FANS SINCE 1975 www.masadaleather.com 14 • www.bulldawgillustrated.com

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

OFF THE FIELD

Circle of Honor inductee, Stephanie (Yarem) Ransom (fourth from right) with her fellow UGA soccer players

Shannon Vreeland, Trent Allen and George Bezecny

Kate and Trav Paine

Harvey Humphries and Parker Middleton

Circle of Honor Gala

Michael and Mary Adams, Circle of Honor Inductee, Suzanne Yoculan Leebern and George and Jane Oas Benson

Larry Benson, Don Leebern and Debbie Ellerson

Don Leebern III and Lawson Leebern

Circle of Honor inductee, Steve Greer with his wife, Susan

Gary Hill, Jack Bauerle and Gordon Smith

Martha and Billy Payne

Circle of Honor inductee, Steve Greer with his fellow UGA football players and Coach Dooley

Circle of Honor Inductee, Suzanne Yoculan Leebern and Carla Williams

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

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OFF THE FIELD Atlanta, GA Atlanta, GA Atlanta, GA Atlanta, GA Athens, GA Atlanta, GA Athens, GA St. Simons Island, GA Lawrenceville, GA Chicago, IL Marietta, GA Atlanta, GA Dunwoody, GA Alpharetta, GA Kennesaw, GA Smyrna, GA Irving, TX Sandy Springs, GA Vidalia, GA Norcross, GA Mountain Brook, AL Alpharetta, GA Athens, GA Augusta, GA Conyers, GA Athens, GA Arlington, GA Anderson, SC Atlanta, GA Marietta, GA Buford, GA Mountain Brook, AL Jacksonville, FL Newnan, GA Washington, DC Johns Creek, GA Baton Rouge, LA Atlanta, GA Evans, GA Atlanta, GA Dawsonville, GA Atlanta, GA Atlanta, GA Athens, GA Atlanta, GA St. Simons Island, GA Gainesville, GA Atlanta, GA Athens, GA Atlanta, GA

2015 Bulldog 100 Businesses

Michael and Stephanie Azzolin and Carmen and Andy Barrs

Bill and Melonie Thomas and Walter Lee (III) and Bernina Jones

Nick Schkabla and Kevin Aycock

Marco and Marc Gorlin

Ron and Rachel Holt

Tim Keadle and Alva and Jim Youngner

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Brad and Jennifer Vickers

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Allen French and Drew French

Kevin Steele, Kitty Keadle and Teman Worku

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Steve Cole, Terri Cole, Mark Cole, Brad Barfield and Kim Barfield

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ON THE FIELD

The Big Uglies look to be uglier in ’15 By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated

Meet Offensive Tackle Kolton Houston Hometown: Buford Major: Graduate Financial Planning Parents: Tiffany and Shane Houston Siblings: Kollin and Konnor Who has been your big influence while being a player at Georgia and why? Ron Courson, he treated me like I was his own son and through my many struggles, he kept fighting and encouraging not me to lose hope. Do you have a game that sticks out in your mind as being one of your very best? What made it special? LSU at home in 2013. It was my first season to play and it was one of those high energy games. As a kid, I dreamed of playing between the hedges and it was a surreal moment when we had a curtain call after the game. Who is your greatest role model and why? Sir Thomas Carlyle is my greatest role model. His teachings and philosophies are non ending to the human race. Do you have a funny story about a fellow offensive lineman you would like to share? Last May, a couple of us went to the water park at lake Lanier. We clearly did not read that the rides had a weight limit and through out the day we were flying out of the rides because we were too fat. Your go to meal in Athens, why? Taqueria Del Sol, hands down the best tacos this side of the Mississippi. Your favorite band or song to listen to before games? I’m not a big “pump up” guy before the game. I listen to soft or indie rock. Explosions In The Sky is probably my favorite to listen to. What have you found to be the best way to stay grounded with all the hoopla that surrounds being a Division One football player? You can’t pay attention to the “noise.” I focus on the things we can control and the rest will take care of itself. Besides being an NFL player, what is your dream job and why? I would be a pilot. I started taking flying lessons when I was 15 but I quit the process when I was over half way because of football. My dream was to go to school at Annapolis and fly a fighter jet then fly for delta just like my grandfather.

In Mike Bobo’s final season as Georgia’s offensive coordinator and Will Friend’s final season as offensive line coach, the Bulldogs’ attack put up huge numbers with the 2014 offense in fact establishing several new school records. Georgia tallied 537 points and averaged 41.3 points per game (8th nationally), both program records. And run the football well, the Bulldogs did that with both Todd Gurley and then sensational freshman Nick Chubb enabling Georgia to rush for 257.8 yards a game. That mark led the SEC and ranked the Bulldogs 11th nationally in the rushing department and was the highest average since the 1987 team romped for 274.5 yards per game on the ground. Also, the Bulldogs set a school record pace by averaging 6.04 yards per rush. Now, the big question on the Bulldawg Nation’s mind is, this: With four of five starters returning from that 2014 O-line that made all these offensive fireworks possible, can Georgia’s “Big Uglies” repeat their brilliant performance of last season while under the guidance of new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and new offensive line coach Rob Sale? Indeed, can those four returning stalwarts ... senior tackles John Theus and Kolton Houston and junior guards Greg Pyke and Brandon Kublanow ... pave the way for tailbacks Chubb (1,547 yards rushing, 16 total touchdowns), Sony Michel (6.4 yards per carry), Keith Marshall, Brendan Douglas and A.J. Turman to inflict punishment on SEC defenses once again and, at the same time, provide ample pass protection for whoever becomes the Bulldogs’ new starting quarterback? Of course, if you know all about the four regulars up front returning for the Bulldogs, you also know all about the one name missing from last year’s offensive line. And that’s a big one, graduating senior center David Andrews, who was the bell cow of this Georgia line as a three-year starter, simply a tremendous leader who got the Bulldog offense into the right sets with recognition of opposing defensive alignments. So even with the four experienced starters back, that still brings up the question of whether the Bulldogs can find an adequate replacement for the steady Andrews from the likes of three guys who have tossed their hats into the ring for the starting job ... sophomore Isaiah Wynn, senior Hunter Long and the aforementioned Kublanow, who was given a number of reps at center in the final days of spring drills. According to both Georgia offensive and defensive players, the 2015 Bulldogs’ O-line won’t miss a beat this coming football season. They also say new O-line coach Sale brings the same intensity and sound coaching technique that Will Friend demonstrated with the Georgia linemen the past four seasons. “I think all the guys are doing well,” said 6-6, 313-pound left tackle Theus, a solid All-SEC candidate this season. “The thing about our offensive

line, we’ve got a lot of fighters on it so everybody makes adjustments at their position and gives it all they have, and that’s what makes us good. “Coach Sale is tough on the field,” said Theus. “He’s not afraid to yell at you but that’s what we need and I think that’s what every good offensive line needs, hard coaching. But he definitely loves us off the field. He told us he would do that and he’s been good about that as well. He’s a good teacher and a good coach and I think he gets the best out of us. There’s not too much difference between Coach Friend and Coach Sale. They’re both hard on the field and love you off the field. They might coach some different techniques and stuff like that but they both do a good job and they’re both good coaches.” Theus said with Andrews no longer on the field, he knows it’s imperative for himself and

photos by Rob Saye

fellow senior Houston to step up in the leadership role. “We knew coming in we were returning four starters but me and Kolton are kind of the older guys and have the most experience,” Theus said. “And we knew we were going to have to come in and fill the gap that Boss (Andrews) left. So we knew we had that responsibility coming in and we’ve taken that role.” “Our O-line is coming along very well,” offered senior center Long, who backed Andrews last season. “All we’ve known is Coach Friend for four years, at least me, and Coach Sale came in and we loved him right from the start. He’s been a great coach, great guy, great person to talk to off the field. I mean, losing David was a big loss but I think we’ll be fine. Somebody will step up and we’ll just keep moving. With Coach Sale, there’s a few minor things that have changed but as far as attitude, effort and all that stuff, everything is the same. We’re just trying to bring the same toughness we had last year.” Senior linebacker Jake Ganus, the transfer from UAB, quickly learned about the talent of the Bulldogs’ offensive front ... from the moment he arrived in Athens. “They’re outstanding,” Ganus said. “It’s the best O-front I’ve played against, which is good because it makes me better. Going against guys like that every play it does nothing but make you better. They’re all good … 1’s, 2’s and 3’s, everybody. The whole offen-

sive line, they do a great job. They’re physical, they’re fast and athletic and they get their hands on you; I just think they do a great job.” Wynn, the sophomore from St. Petersburg, ran with the No. 1 unit for much of the spring drills but Sale said the battle for the starting center spot will be an ongoing competition throughout preseason camp. “My philosophy is that everyone’s job is open in the spring and I tell those guys from day one and that’s only fair,” he said. “In fall camp, I’m going to say the same thing … hey, all the jobs are open because it’s their job for them to work it in the summer, putting in all the lifting, and then in fall camp doing the same thing. The jobs are open, then after the third or fourth week you kind of identify that, hey, these are the guys that can play. These are the guys I’m going to put in this spot here and that type thing. “The center job is close,” Sale pointed out. “Guys are doing a good job and at the same time you’re trying to create an edge to where they don’t feel complacent. I would just go with one guy one day and then might go halfline and flip it. Isaiah might go to guard, Brandon might go to center and vice-versa. Hunter might go to center with the 1’s and Isaiah the same type deal. For depth, we have several guys. Hunter is one, he can play the inside ‘3’ which is good. He knows what to do.” The coach said the fact that Kublanow is left-handed hasn’t impeded his development at the position. “Well, the ball hits the quarterback in the hand at a different spot,” said Sale. “Gun snaps really doesn’t affect them but I haven’t seen it to be a problem yet but at the same time, he hasn’t gotten live bullets in scrimmage and team run situations, 11-on-11 situations, so we’ll see.” “We don’t know who the center is going to be,” head coach Mark Richt remarked after the completion of the spring game and the subsequent final two days of practice. “Kublanow is capable, Isaiah Wynn is capable and Hunter Long is capable right now. Are they game-ready right this second? Probably not. Hunter is probably the most able to handle all the calls and everything going on and snap the ball consistently right this second. But there’s a lot of time between now and then for everybody to get better at the skills that they need to get better at and study the spring cutups and make sure they can make all the right calls and all that kind of stuff. Those guys will work all summer long.” Late in the spring sessions, Sale was pleased with the entire line’s progress. “I would say our run blocking might be a little ahead right now but we’re coming along in play-action as well,” he said. “Protection is coming along fine. You’re going to give up some pressures here and there and everybody’s going to get beat, especially in situational practice, but they’re doing a good job. I’m pleased with our progress thus far. I’d say the 1’s are doing better than the 2’s; the 2’s need to keep coming along – they’re the 2’s for a reason – but they are getting better. I think the four returning starters are right on par with where they need to be.” And that final statement by Sale could mean the Bulldogs could be headed for another record-smashing year on offense in the autumn of 2015.

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OFF THE FIELD

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

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Mark Fox, Max Rigby, Joni Crenshaw, Luke Rigby, Gracie Rigby and Mark Richt

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Joni Tucker and Carolina Tucker

Greg McKenzie, Jr., Griffin Gillis and Landon Pickle

Hill Popper, Collin Popper and Steve Popper

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ON THE FIELD

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

photo by Rob Saye

The Schotty Era Begins

New offensive coordinator brings big-time NFL credentials, which are well received by current players and on the recruiting trail

When then St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer accepted the same position at the University of Georgia on Jan. 7 of this year he said he expected “an easy fit” in Georgia’s pro-style offense. Going further, Schottenheimer said rather than bring all sorts of NFL terminology to the Bulldogs’ offense and have the players learn a completely new system, he would keep the same terminology used by former coordinator Mike Bobo, who was named as Colorado State’s head coach on Dec. 22. “We’re not going to reinvent the wheel,” said Schottenheimer at the time. “That’s going to allow these guys to play fast. There certainly will be some things that will have my fingerprint on it.” All that said, if you listened to Georgia’s offensive players during this year’s 15 days of spring practice, their new coordinator’s terminology was a good bit different than what Mike Bobo brought to the table. “I think we’re doing a good job with the new offense terminology,” said sophomore tight end Jeb Blazevich. “I told my friends who don’t play football it’s like having two other classes that you have to study for every night. Every night we’re all studying, all talking to each other, we’re all getting what we need to get done in terms of studying and I think it’s all starting to show through on the field a lot better.” Senior wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell said not only is Schottenheimer’s coaching methods different than Bobo’s but the offensive players are having to learn a lot faster as well. “Coach Bobo has been a college coach for so long and Coach Schotty is just getting back into that flow,” Mitchell said after the G-Day game on April 11. “So when he’s (Schottenheimer’s) teaching, he’s rolling through. It’s not taking five minutes to teach one play. It’s like 10 seconds and you better know it by tomorrow. He’s just brought that in. Every time we install, it’s quick. We might have a 30-play install that might last five minutes. His coaching is different but they’re two different people.” But, like Blazevich, Mitchell thinks the results of Schottenheimer’s coaching are already showing on the field, making the Bulldogs’ offense not only better as a unit but as individual players as well. “We love it,” he said. “Everyone in the room wants to go to the NFL. That’s where he came from. So if he’s doing that, he’s just showing us how to be at the next level.” Mitchell pointed out the primary challenge for the Georgia offense now is to get on the same page going forward into summer workouts and then preseason camp in August. “We need a lot more chemistry,” Mitchell said. “That’s not bashing the chemistry we have now because we do have flow. We saw a little bit of that (in G-Day) but we have a long way to go. Everybody needs to be on the same page. That will be straightened out once we get the quarterback position solidified.” Blazevich sees Schottenheimer’s newlook offense clicking in high gear by the time the Bulldogs line up for the season opener Sept. 5 against Louisiana-Monroe. “We keep installing new stuff and shoot, I can’t wait for fall camp,” he said. “We’ll have everything in and first game, we’re going to be able to show a lot. It’s just a different mindset on what we do against blitzes and

everything and just kind of different ways of going about some of these things. I just love what he’s doing, I love this new offense.” Another new face on the UGA offensive staff this season is running backs coach Thomas Brown, the former standout Bulldogs tailback who succeeded Bryan McClendon tutoring the Georgia backs when McClendon assumed the wide receiver coaching duties .... the position he played for the Bulldogs. Under Schottenheimer Brown envisions an extremely balanced attack, not simply a power-running football team like the system Brown coached in at Wisconsin last season. At the same time, Brown knows running the football well has always been Georgia’s bread-and-butter. “It’s somewhat of a different offense (than Wisconsin’s),” said Brown. “We can be a lot more balanced here, we’ll have more skilled players on the outside but we’ll definitely continue to attack and run the football well. Obviously, it starts up front and the offensive line is doing a great job. Coach (Rob) Sale does a great job with those guys and gets them to compete and work hard every day, and it’s my job to get these guys to clean up on the back end and make sure we maximize every run we have. I think our backs are very talented and they work extremely hard every single day.” Georgia fans are wondering if the Bulldogs’ offense under Schottenheimer’s guidance will produce more passes to the tight ends this coming season. Blazevich, the 6-5, 232-pound sophomore from Charlotte who, after moving into the starting role at tight end as a mere freshman and earning Freshman All-SEC and UGA Newcomer of the Year honors, definitely thinks that will become a reality this autumn. “I think so,” he said. “I think just because we’re all healthy, we’re all back, we’re all learning a lot more and we’re able to open it up a lot more, just expand what we can do. I think we’re getting the opportunity to move around a lot more. I felt like we could have done it last year but with the people we had and the inexperience by me we weren’t able to do these things but now everybody’s healthy and we’re able to open it up more,” said Blazevich. “The system that Coach Schottenheimer brought here to Georgia is really tight-end friendly,” said senior Jay Rome, who bounced back from past injuries in the spring drills and is expected to push Blazevich for the starting nod this season. “If we keep getting opportunities we’re going to keep making plays.” And although the Bulldogs were admittedly thin at the wide receiver spots this spring, Schottenheimer showed he intends to

photo by Rob Saye

stretch the field with deep throws in the 2015 season. That was evident in the G-Day game when sophomore quarterback Brice Ramsey uncorked a 72-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah McKenzie and also a 60-yard bomb to Reggie Davis. And with 5-star recruit Terry Godwin as well as outstanding receivers Jayson Stanley and Michael Chigbu reporting to campus this month to join incumbents Mitchell, McKenzie, Davis, Shakenneth Williams, Kenneth Towns, Justin Scott-Wesley, Charlie Hegedus and Clay Johnson, Georgia’s new starting quarterback − whomever it may be − should be blessed with plenty of downfield weapons. “Overall, as a receivers group, I think we’re coming together,” said junior split end Towns. “We’re adapting to the way Coach B-Mac wants and we’re just jelling together. Malcolm, he’s good. He’s out there running with no limitations, playing like he was when he first got here. “Everybody has their own ways but Coach McClendon brings the intensity he brought to the running backs,” added Towns. “Just like he helped Todd (Gurley) become the person he is, he brings that same intensity and is pushing us each and every play and making sure we don’t slack.” Of course, if Schottenheimer’s offense is to click like Bobo’s Georgia attack did the last few seasons, it will all come down to the new coordinator selecting the right guy to run things ... whether it be Ramsey, junior Faton Bauta or redshirt freshman Jacob Park. “I think we truly have three guys that are capable of doing it,” said Schottenheimer, who like Bobo coaches the quarterbacks. “We’re rotating the reps with the ones, giving them all a shot to work in there with the first group. What we’re looking for as a staff is, there are going to be good days, bad days, but we’ll come to a point with, ‘Who’s being the most consistent?’” Another contrast between Schottenheimer and Bobo is while the excoordinator called the plays from up in his press box booth, Coach “Schotty” will likely do so from the sidelines, like he did in his NFL days. “We haven’t really talked about it yet, but I believe he will be on the sideline,” head coach Mark Richt said. “But that’s not 100 percent.”

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ON THE FIELD

Tailback U alive and well in Athens By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated

photo by Rob Saye

Five with Mark Richt

By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated

Here are five questions Bulldawg Illustrated put to head coach Mark Richt during this year’s spring practice: 1. Some have noticed, you seem at ease this spring (your 15th). What would you attribute that to and how would you assess how the players and coaches (many whom are new) are gelling with each other? “I wouldn’t say I’m at ease, at all. I think we have excellent coaches and I think our players are trying very hard to take the coaching. I’m pretty pleased with everybody’s effort; there’s a lot to learn and you know when you try to get three units working it’s a lot of guys getting reps. So it’s not always going to be perfect.” 2. As we all know, close football games come down to a few critical plays, calls and decisions usually at the end of each half ... is there anything you and your staff are working on or implementing to excel in those moments in 2015? “There’s always calls that need to be made throughout the game. They just seem more critical when it is at the end of a ballgame. We’re always looking at those situations and having answers to those situations.” 3. What’s most important to you and Coach Schottenheimer in determining the starting quarterback for the 2015 season? And can y’all envision a situation where multiple QBs will play this season? “It’s hard to say if we’ll play multiple QB’s or not but right now everybody is getting a feel for Coach Schottenheimer and him for them. And we’re just looking for guys that make good decisions and accurate throws and to be able to handle the pressure of that job. So we’re putting them under as many situations as possible to help find out what exactly everybody can do. Will it be settled by the end of the spring? I’d say very doubtful.” (Of course, doubtful was the key word as Richt says entering the summer workouts and fall camp, the starting QB spot is still up for grabs between Brice Ramsey, Faton Bauta and Jacob Park) 4. The UGA administration backed the football program in a big way in the last six months (salary increase, additional positions, indoor facility). What did that mean to you personally and the program as a whole? And does that backing add any pressure? “Well, we feel like everything’s moving in a real positive direction and we’re always having expectations of playing winning football. So that’s going to be our goal.” 5. You and Coach Pruitt are now going into your second year with each other. What would you say is his most important contribution to the staff and team? And what are you expecting the most out of your defense in the upcoming season? “I’d just say our defense is more familiar obviously this year than it was a year ago. We did lose some really good players. I would imagine there will be a lot of young players in our two deep but the goal is going to be to continue to play hard and create turnovers and give opportunities for the offense. Coach Pruitt has done a very good job, no doubt.” Bonus question: How would you describe Nick Chubb as a football player, but more importantly a man? “Well, he’s fun to watch, I can tell you that. He’s just got a tremendous work ethic and he’s a very unselfish guy. He cares about his team and his teammates. He just works and his actions speak more than his words. He’s a man of very few words.” 26 • www.bulldawgillustrated.com

With his 1,547 yards rushing and 16 total touchdowns in the 2014 season, Nick Chubb became the most prolific freshman tailback at Georgia since the legendary Herschel Walker was running the Bulldogs to a national championship in the fall of 1980. En route to All-SEC First Team, SEC Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-America honors, the 5-10, 228-pound Chubb assumed the starting tailback position when Todd Gurley was slapped with a four-game suspension and proceeded to take the SEC by storm. As a starter, the Cedartown native had eight straight games with at least 100 yards rushing, the first Georgia player to do that since Walker in 1982. Chubb, who also had 18 receptions for 213 yards and two scores, averaged 7.1 yards per carry, which ranked first among the SEC’s top 10 rushers. In the Bulldogs’ 37-14 Belk Bowl pelting of Louisville, Chubb took his game to still another level ... romping for a career-high and SEC bowl record of 266 rushing yards on 33 carries. It was the second-highest single-game rushing total in Georgia history, behind only Walker’s 283 yards in his 1980 freshman season against Vanderbilt. It’s safe to say with Nick Chubb returning for his sophomore campaign in Athens as a bonafide All-America and Heisman Trophy candidate, that Tailback U is indeed alive and well at the University of Georgia. In this year’s spring practice, Chubb saw very limited action in the first two scrimmages and then, in the April 11 G-Day game, he carried the ball only three times for 34 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown run, and also caught three passes for 23 yards. One of the top priorities for Brian Schottenheimer’s new-look Georgia offense in the spring was to come up with ample depth behind Chubb at the running back spot. However, with talented rising sophomore Sony Michel and junior Keith Marshall missing most of the heavy contact work due to injuries, it remained for junior Brendan Douglas and redshirt sophomore A.J. Turman to carry the tailback load. As expected, Douglas continued his powerful, tackle-breaking ball carrying but what wasn’t expected was the way Turman, the 6-0, 215-pound product of Orlando, Fla. who was saddled by injury his first two years at UGA, made his presence felt on the depth chart. Running for 106 yards including a 52-yard touchdown gallop in the G-Day game, Turman rushed a combined 63 times for 333 yards and five touchdowns over the Bulldogs’ three spring scrimmages. Whether he would be able to climb any higher on Coach Thomas Brown’s tailback depth chart once Michel and Marshall return healthy for fall camp remains to be seen but, at the very least, Turman has

shown the coaching staff he can get the job done if called upon this coming season. “A.J. is a very physical runner,” said Chubb. “He gets downhill and is a perfect fit for what we do at Georgia. I think we’re all doing a good job just running the ball. We’re all − A.J., me and Brendan and now we’ve got Quayvon Hicks in there running − all are doing a great job and running hard.” “A.J. is a tough running back,” offered senior nose tackle Chris Mayes. “He’s overcome injuries and he’s just been dying to get on the field so he’s just waiting for his moment to shine and trying to make the most of his opportunities.” And this, from Georgia senior defensive end Sterling Bailey: “A.J’s coming off that foot injury, but

photos by Rob Saye

this spring he’s really playing hard and running the ball hard. It kind of looks like he hasn’t been injured. He’s really toting the ball well.” Turman said he’s just elated that he was able to get back onto the playing field this spring and make contributions to the Bulldogs’ offense. “It feels like forever since I’ve played in a game and I just can’t wait to play in a game this year,” he said. “It does feel good to be back out there with the guys again, I love it. I feel like I am 100 percent again. With Keith and Sony out, I get more reps and it gives me more of a chance to play. But I hope they bounce back fast, I know they will. “I learned a lot playing behind Nick and the others,” Turman continued. “Playing behind anybody you just find what they do successfully and what they do badly and just pick up little things and techniques. Nick is a powerful running back and he’s quick. I picture myself fitting in real good here because we’re all powerful running backs and that’s what Georgia produces and I think I fit in perfectly into this system. Coach is putting me in wherever he feels like. He’s giving me a lot of reps at everything. He just wants me to learn the playbook and I’ve been learning it. Every opportunity I get I try to be successful at it.” The spring emergence of Turman, the hoped-for healthy returns of Michel and Marshall and the continued tough inside running by Douglas should all add up to the Bulldogs boasting arguably the deepest tailback corps in the SEC this coming season. But, make no mistake about it, it should still be the “Nick Chubb Show” that will be featured at football stadiums across

the Deep South this fall. And one thing you can bet your life on: The mighty freshman accomplishments Chubb recorded last season haven’t changed the player who wears No. 27 one iota. Nor will what Chubb does in his approaching sophomore season change him either. He’s still the humble, soft-spoken guy that he was as an elementary and high school student in Cedartown. He’s the ultimate team man, a player who simply does what the coaches want him to do and a person who would never, ever toot his own horn. “Nick is one of the hardest working guys on the team,” said former Georgia star tailback and new running backs coach Thomas Brown. “That doesn’t say a whole lot, I’m still trying to get even more work out of him (laughing). But he’s a model of consistency,” said Brown. “He shows up every single day and does what I ask him to do. He goes after it every single day, he attacks and I think having all those guys when we’re healthy and full strength, pushing each other every single day is going to make all of us better, not just Nick by himself. I’m trying to get him into a leadership role to where he’s going to be in that position of being one of the more high profile guys on the team but also having great production as well. My deal about leadership is not trying to force yourself to be somebody different than what you are,” Brown added. “I’m not about guys being rah-rah guys, yelling and screaming and doing a bunch of different stuff like that but I think there are times when guys need to step up and be vocal and keep other guys accountable. I think Nick can be that type of guy but that will be up to him.” “There’s always ways for me to improve ... just gain a little more weight, get stronger and be more of a vocal leader,” said Chubb. “Obviously I don’t talk much so I guess it will mean more once I do and they’ll listen and we’ll get rallied up and ready to play. I’m always focused on weights and running.” During spring practice, Chubb was thrilled, and a bit in awe, to be able to have a meeting with the top Bulldog running back of all time. “It was a great experience for me, meeting Herschel, probably Georgia’s greatest running back ever,” Chubb said. “I didn’t know what to say. It was just shocking for me to get to meet him. I heard a lot about him obviously and knew about Herschel when I was young, just watching highlights of him running the ball. I never got to meet him ... I always heard he was different and he’ll tell you that, too. Herschel told me it’s always great to come back to your state because it’s always going to be home for you and people are always going to support you and love you. So seeing him go through the process I’m in right now, I’ll be able to come back one day to Georgia and it makes me happy and proud. Herschel gave me great advice, just always work hard and it’s not going to come easy. “Herschel was the greatest running back at Georgia and obviously hearing people say we’ve got some similarities, it makes me happy,” concluded Nick Chubb, who well could emerge into the first Bulldog tailback to seriously threaten the fabled Walker’s single-season and career rushing records.

Delving into Pruitt’s D, year two By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated

No question, the Georgia defense made tremendous strides under first-year coordinator Jeremy Pruitt during the 2014 football season. The Bulldogs led the SEC and finished fourth nationally with a +16 turnover margin, which was the fourth best mark in school history. The season before Pruitt came to Athens, Georgia struggled mightily in that department with a -7 turnover margin. Overall, the Bulldogs improved five spots to finish No. 5 in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 20.7 points per game. Georgia scored 110 points off 29 turnovers in 2014 and the defense scored four of those touchdowns. But certainly, there were some glitches in the team’s defensive performances last autumn. In a 38-20 stinging upset loss to Florida, the Gators pounded the Bulldogs to the tune of 418 yards on the ground and in another 30-24 upset loss to Georgia Tech in the regular season finale, the Yellow Jackets rushed for 399 yards against the Georgia defense. That said, Pruitt’s defense certainly bounced back to acquit itself well in a 37-14 Belk Bowl victory over Louisville, limiting the Cardinals to only 62 yards net rushing. Now, big question is, with six defensive starters and several other players who saw considerable action returning from the 2014 unit, what will Pruitt’s stop-em crew look like going forward into the new 2015 campaign? And, subsequently, who will be the standouts and leaders of this year’s Georgia defense? Almost to a man during the recently-completed spring practice, the Bulldogs’ returning starters expressed confidence that the defense will ratchet things up to another level this coming fall, primarily because of the fact they’re in their second year of learning under Pruitt’s tutelage. “I feel like we have one of the best coaching staffs – if not the best coaching staff – in the nation and I take pride in listening to what they tell me to do and try to execute it to the best of my ability,” said sophomore outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter who, despite his youth, is drawing accolades from his teammates, not only for his outstanding physical skills but for his leadership on the field as well. “I think the coaches knew what they were getting in me (fierce pass rusher) so they’ve been working with me, trying to get me to reach my full potential,” Carter pointed out. “I don’t think Coach Pruitt has changed any from last year,” he said. “He is just continually teaching us what we need to know about his defense. He’s been intense since the day I met him and he’s going to stay that way (laughing) so there’s nothing new. “We just feel comfortable as a defense right now. I feel like we’ve had pretty good practices (this spring). I feel like we have

a lot of players that can play for us right now so we’re just going to have to wait and see who the coaches pick. “We’re all working hard as a team to get better and I feel like if we’re not pushing each other we’re not doing each other a favor,” Carter continued. “We’re just hurting each other. I feel like with the offensive linemen, we’re competing against each other as hard as we can in practice so I’ll get him (John Theus) one time and he’ll get me another time. We’re just going back and forth, it’s a battle.” Carter said the Bulldogs’ outside linebacker unit is really a tight and close-knit group. “We just call ourselves the Wolfpack,” he said. “We’re that tight and when one person slips up in a play, we’ll all jump on him. We won’t let anybody slack off. It’s a group thing, making sure each player is doing the best that they can and if one player is doing better than another player, we’ll give him his credit to keep doing what he’s doing. The lead wolf? We’re mostly alpha wolves, alpha dogs. Of course, I’d have to say myself because I’m the best (chuckling),” Carter said. “Nah, we look up to Jordan (Jenkins) because he’s been here and has a lot of experience. Leonard Floyd, even though he’s hurt, he’s still in the meeting with us making sure that we play attention. I’ll still lean over there and ask him a question about a coverage or two. Davin Bellamy, we all have our roles.” Outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins thinks the defense will get good leadership from this year’s group of seniors. “All the leaders as seniors, me, Josh Dawson, James Deloach, Sterling Bailey … we just all have to step up in a new role and get more playing time,” Jenkins said. “I learned a lot from the first year under Coach Pruitt just by observing guys like Mike Thornton and Toby Johnson playing there. I understand the concept that it required a little more finesse plus group strength so I had to learn that. Coach Pruitt basically has the same scheme and same stuff and he’s just like tweaking them a little bit and improving on them so even the new guys get a hang of things. Coach Pruitt has the same goals and the same mentality because we didn’t reach our goal last year … winning the national championship,” declared Jenkins. “That’s still our main goal and just to improve every day in the effort.” Sophomore cornerback Malkom Parrish says Pruitt’s expectations never change. “He still wants us to work hard and do the right thing every day,” Parrish said. “He’s not hard to please but he is a hard-working guy that wants perfection. He knows he’s not always going to get perfection, but he expects us to do as good as we can. If he doesn’t like it he will get on you but that’s a good coach in my eyes.” Certainly, Georgia players on both sides of the ball think Lorenzo Carter and sophomore free safety Dominick Sanders, who started all 13 games as a freshman last year and recorded two interceptions in the Belk Bowl win, will be among the very

photo by Rob Saye

best performers on the Bulldogs’ defense this coming season. “Right off the bat I just want to say Lorenzo Carter is going to be one of the greatest defensive players to come through this university,” senior LB Jenkins said. “He’s a young man who is gifted athletically, gifted mentally and just has all the tools you want in a kid. If he stays focused and commits to the offseason and commits to getting better, the sky is the limit for that guy.” “The biggest difference I’ve seen in a player on the field, offense or defense, is Lorenzo Carter,” offered senior offensive tackle Theus. “I have to go against him every day. He was special last year but he’s that much better this spring. It’s kind of freaky and scary at the same time. I’m glad he’s on my side of the ball come Saturdays and he makes me better every day. He’s going to be a special player.” Senior tight end Jay Rome is especially high on Sanders. “I’m really proud of what Dominick Sanders has been doing,” Rome said. “And I think people could see especially towards the end of the season just what kind of caliber of player he could be and he’s going to be. And he’s continuing on that path, of just being a ball hawk, and a great football player.” With other defensive regulars such as Leonard Floyd, Quincy Mauger, Sterling Bailey, Josh Dawson, Devin Bowman, Aaron Davis, Chris Mayes, James DeLoach, John Atkins, Tim Kimbrough, Reggie Carter, Davin Bellamy, Reggie Wilkerson and Tramel Terry all also being ready to step up their game in their second year under Pruitt’s watch, combined with the influx of outstanding freshman talent, this Georgia defense could indeed become a band of mean Junkyard Dogs in the 2015 football season that lies just ahead.football season that lies just ahead.

Here’s to winning it all in Lincoln style! www.FitzFord.com

www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 27

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

ON THE FIELD

Plenty of youngsters are making waves By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated

photo by Rob Saye

Houston, Jenkins and Theus tabbed as leaders by Richt By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated Each year, after spring practice concludes, Bulldawg Illustrated asks Georgia head coach Mark Richt to name two leaders on each side of the ball, for the coming football season. When the question was put to Richt at the April 21 UGA Days stop in Savannah, Richt didn’t hesitate with his answer this time. But, at the same time, he would only identify three definite team leaders for his 2015 Bulldog edition. “Offensively I would say John Theus and Kolton Houston,” the coach responded. “Not only are they playing a very unselfish position but they’re also playing a position that’s very difficult to be good at in our league ... at tackle when you’ve got to go against the greatest pass-rushers in the country, in practice and throughout the season. Those O-linemen, they do a lot of dirty work and they don’t get a lot of credit.” Senior left tackle Theus, the 6-6, 313-pound senior from The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., will be a starter for the fourth consecutive year for Georgia. After making AP Honorable-Mention All-SEC last season, Theus looms as a solid all-conference as well as All-America candidate this season. Houston, a 6-5, 287-pound senior right tackle from Buford, is in his sixth year at the University of Georgia, having been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. In July of 2013, Houston was granted reinstatement by the NCAA after three years under suspension following routine NCAA drug testing which detected a banned substance medically administered following shoulder surgery in high school. Last season, Theus and Houston helped pave the way for the Bulldogs to rush for an SEC-leading 257.8 yards per game. On the defensive side of the ball, Richt quickly tabbed senior outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins, the 6-3, 252-pound senior outside linebacker from Harris County who, like Theus, has been a starter in all three of his years at Georgia thus far. In 2014, Jenkins received the team’s Most Improved Player of the Year award while also being named to Phil Steele’s Third Team All-SEC. Richt did throw in another name who could possibly join Theus, Houston and Jenkins as a primary leader of the 2015 Bulldogs. “I’d probably start with Jordan Jenkins and I don’t know if I wouldn’t just stop there,” Richt said. “I think Leonard (junior outside linebacker Floyd) is a guy they all respect. If Leonard is going well, everybody else is kind of going good, too, so he’s got the ability to lead by example. He wasn’t there in the spring (due to shoulder injury) to assert that leadership. But I know they all have a high regard for him.” The coach said some of the Bulldogs’ younger players could also be emerging as team leaders. “We’ve got some potential guys who probably could, but right now it’s those two guys (on offense) although the quarterbacks will have to lead throughout the summer,” Richt said. “If you want to talk young guys who have performed well and have that potential, you look at (Nick) Chubb and (Jeb) Blazevich, guys who have come in and really contributed but their work ethic is impressive. Dominick Sanders (soph. DB) is a really hard worker, is focused every day and giving it up in practice, meetings, schools. He’s a really solid guy who has that ability as well.” 28 • www.bulldawgillustrated.com

They’re mere sophomores-to-be but all avid Georgia football fans are well aware of the major impact that Nick Chubb, Lorenzo Carter, Dominick Sanders and Jeb Blazevich had on the Bulldogs as true freshmen in the 2014 season. Now, as Georgia has come through spring practice and is involved in the summer conditioning workouts while looking ahead to the start of preseason camp in August, who are the other youngsters that made their presence felt in the spring drills and could also become household names among Bulldawg Nation when the ‘15 season arrives this September? Both among the early midyear enrollees and the returning reserve players from last year’s team, there were Bulldogs that caught the eyes of their teammates as well as the coaching staff. Making their presence felt quickly on the depth chart after finishing their high school requirements early and arriving at UGA following the Christmas break were such names as Jonathan Ledbetter, Natrez Patrick, Jarvis Wilson, Johnathan Abram and Jackson Harris. Ledbetter is a 6-4, 265-pound defensive tackle from Tucker High School; Patrick is a 6-3, 255-pound inside linebacker from Mays High in Atlanta; defensive backs Wilson (6-2, 197) and Abram (6-1, 202) both hail from Mississippi, and Harris is a 6-6, 250-pound tight end by way of Columbia, Tenn. In the spring drills, all five incoming freshmen displayed the skills and knowledge to see the playing field sooner, rather than later. “All the young guys are doing well right now,” said senior nose tackle Chris Mayes. “I’d like to say Jonathan Ledbetter, he’s standing out to me with his fight. He’s a feisty little guy, always working hard. He has an attitude about him that he can’t be beat, won’t be denied and that’s what I like about him.” “Defensively, little Jon Ledbetter’s been doing well, working hard,” chimed in sophomore outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter. “And Natrez (Patrick), that’s my boy so I have to give him kudos to how hard he’s been working and taking coaching. The two Mississippi boys (Abram, Wilson) have been playing well … pretty much every freshman that came in early has been doing a great job.” From the other side of the line of scrimmage, senior offensive tackle John Theus has likewise been impressed with Ledbetter and Patrick’s early showings. “Young Ledbetter, Jon, he’s a good player and a good guy,” said Theus. “It’s crazy how young those guys are, they’re still seniors in high school. But there are definitely some playmakers … Natrez is another. They’re coming in and being able to get reps with the 1’s and 2’s right away. It’s pretty spe-

cial to see those guys do that.” And says junior inside linebacker Reggie Carter: “Natrez Patrick can play any of them (LB spots), inside or outside. That kid there, he’s a baller. You can tell he loves football. Even today, the feel he has for it is natural. He was unreal (in an early scrimmage).” In the G-Day game April 11, Patrick proceeded to lead the Red team in total tackles with eight and that included a sack and tackle-forloss from his inside ‘backer spot. Georgia head coach Mark Richt said at the conclusion of the spring sessions that Patrick may have made the most impact of any of the Bulldogs’ early enrollees. “It’s hard to say, but Natrez looks like he found a home,” Richt said. “I think he’s got a good body type and a

photos by Rob Saye

good disposition to play that middle linebacker position. He’s got good instincts. Sometimes he was flat-out unblocked and made a play in the hole, but he brought the wood,” Richt said. “He brought the wood to people. He’ll strike, he’s a pretty good athlete, a pretty sharp kid. Again, he’s got a ways to go but if you’re asking who of the group, he probably made the biggest impression.” Senior tight end Jay Rome has been notably impressed with his freshman understudy, Jackson Harris, who in one of the three spring scrimmages caught three passes for 37 yards and two touchdowns. “I’m really, really proud of Jackson and what he’s doing,” said Rome. “The way he’s picking up everything. I was telling him, man, you were just in high school three months ago and now he’s out here picking up everything in Schotty’s (offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer) offense really well. He’s making catches, getting up-field and he’s blocking well.” Not only did a number of the mid-year enrollees make their marks in spring practice but so did a couple of guys who, while not exactly youngsters, are still new to the team. That would be transfers Jake Ganus and Chuks Amaechi. Senior inside linebacker Ganus (6-2, 220) enrolled at Georgia when the UAB football program was terminated while junior outside linebacker Amaechi (6-3, 220) came to Athens from Arizona Western Junior College. Ganus was the Bulldogs’ leading tackler in the first two spring scrimmages and

Amaechi also showed a nose for the football throughout spring and recorded eight total tackles including three sacks in one of the Saturday morning scrimmages in Sanford Stadium. “Jake Ganus, with his ability and toughness, he’s really playing hard,” said nose tackle Mayes. “That guy’s a beast, man.” “I expect a lot out of Jake,” offered outside ‘backer Lorenzo Carter. “He’s a great player, came from UAB. We’re going to have to see what he does in the season because he’s been balling out this spring.” “Chuks is a fast cat,” said senior outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins of Amaechi. “He’s not the tallest but he can bend, and he is quick as ever,” Jenkins said. Richt thinks all of the early enrolling players are capable of helping the team this coming season. “The young safeties (Abram and Wilson) have been hot and cold and making some plays,” he said. “Jackson Harris I think is a guy who has got the skill set to play well and he’s learning pretty quickly. He had a real solid spring. (Jonathan) Ledbetter is learning a lot. Chuks (Amaechi) and (Jake) Ganus, those guys are going to help us win. Chuks and Ganus are older guys, a junior college guy in Chuks and Ganus coming from UAB. I think they all got a lot of solid work in.” Among the young players returning from last season’s team, you would do well to keep your eye on such names as Reggie Wilkerson and Tramel Terry in the autumn of 2015. Wilkerson is a 5-11, 181-pound redshirt sophomore who rebounded from a torn ACL last season to move into a starting role in the “Star” position this spring. Playing for the Black team No. 1 defensive unit in the G-Day game, Wilkerson notched three tackles along with a sack and tackle-for-loss. “Reggie’s been great since he’s come back from his whole knee injury and stuff like that and this year is kind of like a breakout year for him,” said junior safety Quincy Mauger. “I know he’s been working his butt off day in and day out. You should expect some big things from him.” “Oh man, Reggie is making big strides, like tremendous strides,” said inside linebacker Reggie Carter. And also redshirt sophomore cornerback Terry (6-0, 197), who underwent knee surgery after being injured in his high school all-star game, continued to make big strides in the spring. He recorded six tackles and a pass breakup for the Red team at G-Day. “He’s one physical player,” Dominick Sanders said. “He’s got the right mindset, and he’s got 100 percent effort every time he touches the field.” So these are a good sampling of the young Bulldogs you can watch for between the hedges in the new football campaign. And with the arrival this month of the remainder of Georgia’s talented 2015 recruiting class, many more new faces are bound to jump into the headlines as well as the minds of Bulldog fans.

‘The Georgia Way’ ... 2.0 By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, running backs coach Thomas Brown and offensive line coach Rob Sale aren’t the only new staff members making an impact on the Georgia football program. During the Christmas break, the athletic program named Mark Hocke as the Director of Strength and Conditioning, succeeding long-time assistant coach Joe Tereshinski, and in Aaron Hill and Carter Blount, have new faces in the team quality control positions. With these moves, it would appear head coach Mark Richt, with the full support of athletic director Greg McGarity, is leaving no stones unturned in an effort to steer the Bulldogs’ program back into championship status. Addressing the “little things” in every area of the football team − the little things that can spell the difference between victory and defeat in a close game − now seems to be paramount with Richt and his staff as they attempt to capture Georgia’s first SEC Championship since 2005 as well as earn a spot in the college football playoffs. Doing everything correctly in “The Georgia Way” seems to be permeating the football program more than ever before now and with all the new faces on the staff − remember, defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt and defensive assistants Tracy Rocker, Mike Ekeler and Kevin Sherrer are all just beginning their second season in Athens − it certainly wouldn’t be out of order to tab this thing “The Georgia Way, II.” There’s no question that Hocke brought new enthusiasm and energy to the strength and conditioning program when he was hired away from the Alabama Crimson Tide during the Christmas break. After quietly observing the Bulldogs’ former way of doing things in the weight room, Hocke discarded the old mat drills as such and replaced them with arguably even more high tempo workouts coupled with what seemed like to the players as running that never stopped. Several Georgia players in fact said during this year’s spring practice sessions that they had never run as much in their lives, as they did in the winter workouts under Hocke’s guidance. And they attributed their increased stamina during the spring drills to the strenuous off-season early morning sessions in January and February. “First off I would like to say everybody’s bought into the program so I really think that’s kind of big,” said Bulldogs’ senior cornerback Devin Bowman. “Everybody’s just listening, working their butts off and we’re just doing everything we need to do to be good in this conference.” Senior inside linebacker Jake Ganus, who transferred to the University of Georgia to play his

final season after the elimination of the UAB football program, said he found out in a hurry what “The Georgia Way” is all about. “Absolutely,” said Ganus, “we focus on that every day in the weight room, training room, meeting room; wherever we are we just focus on the little things because that’s what wins and loses ball games.” And Ganus said playing with confidence is an attribute that every Bulldog player needs and one he brought with him from Birmingham. “I’ve never really had any problem with confidence or anything,” said Ganus. “I’ve always been the guy that

photos by Rob Saye

when I stepped on the field or on the basketball court in high school, I knew that no matter who was lined up against me I was going to come out the winner and that’s just the mindset I think you have to have. Herschel Walker came to talk to us this spring and that’s what he said and I’ve really took that to heart. He said no matter who lined up against him he was going to come out on top. He was going to win that rep or that game or whatever it was so that’s kind of how I look at things. I don’t think about coming from UAB and playing here, I just try to focus on getting better every day and working on what I can do to be a better player. Coach Ekeler has really transformed me in the way I play linebacker. I’m pretty raw with the technique and the way I do things and that’s something I’ve emphasized this spring, and he’s just done a great job working with me and helping me to become the linebacker who can make plays in scrimmages and stuff like that.” New running backs coach Brown, who has known “The Georgia Way” ever since he enrolled as a freshman tailback in 2004, is impressed with the way Georgia’s players have adapted to all the different terminology and techniques brought in by the new staff members the past two years while, at the same time, retaining all the sound teachings they learned under the existing UGA staff. “I’ve seen the guys buy into this 100 percent,” said Brown. “I think as we kind of move forward we’ll get some older guys start to hold some guys accountable more if they do mess up, but those guys (young

players) have been great so far and done everything we’ve asked them to do. The young guys are learning that (Georgia Way) – they don’t have a choice.” Back to the Georgia players having to learn to do all the little things right, senior punter Collin Barber reflected on that in an interview with Bulldawg Illustrated’s Greg Poole in the early portion of this year’s spring drills. Reported Poole: “Collin had a rough season in 2014. He told me yesterday that he suffered from a bulging disk that contributed to his demotion to backup punter (although he emphasized that his health was not an excuse). Additionally, Barber talked at some length about the new strength and conditioning program and its contribution to his physical recovery. “Then, offhandedly, he referred to the new special teams analyst, Carter Blount, and how he has changed the way kickers go about their business. UGA, like most Power 5 schools, does not have an on-field coach dedicated to special teams. Responsibility for the various special teams functions is divided among the position coaches. “According to Barber, prior to 2015 kickers had set their own practice agenda and went about their business with little guidance or accountability, at least in terms of a practice routine. Now they are given a detailed daily practice schedule to complete. Although analysts cannot coach on the field, they can review film and practices are videoed just like games. Now there is someone directly supervising the practice habits of kickers and planning their activities as part of an overall special teams scheme. Attention to detail – that is what the additional quality control and analysts bring to the table. They cover the details and free the coaches to … coach.” Though Barber didn’t have a showing in the spring game like he, or his coaches, wanted, this increased attention to detail in practice should prove beneficial to him and all the Bulldog kicking corps when the games are played for real beginning in September. Richt says quality control coaches are vital to the overall health of the football program. “A quality control coach is basically a guy who will do just about everything a coach would do other than that they can’t be on the field coaching,” he said.”There’s only so many coaches who can be field coaches. The nine full-time coaches, myself, and a couple of graduate assistant coaches on each side of the ball. Student assistant coaches can do some of that, but there’s just so much film breakdown that’s gotta be done. A lot of things that have gotta be done. Even in-house recruiting and things of that nature that these guys can get involved with. That’s what those guys do for the most part.” Richt said The Georgia Way simply involves his players doing things in a first-class manner. “The bottom line is we want to teach these guys to not only become great football players but great young men as well,” he said. “And I think we’ve got the right guidance with this coaching staff and I think our players are really growing in that way.”

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

LORAN SMITH

When I walk thru the UGA coaches offices nowadays, I almost need to request name tags to match up names with faces. In the last two years, there has been so much turnover to the extent that only two guys are holdovers from 2013—Bryan McClendon and John Lilly. Interestingly, nobody has been fired during this time. Head coaching opportunity for Mike Bobo brought about his taking line coach Will Friend with him to Colorado State. Todd Grantham and Tony Ball accepted opportunity at Louisville and LSU, respectively. Scott Lakatos retired from coaching, and Kirk Olivadotti returned to the Washington Redskins. Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, football coaching staffs make different impressions. It doesn’t matter a staff’s energy, intellect and inventive savvy—they will be evaluated on their ability to win football games. Even with losing valuable assistants, I, nonetheless feel that Mark Richt has assembled his best staff since he came to Georgia in 2001. This takes into account coaching AND recruiting. Time will tell if this is a correct assessment. There is a new modus operandi these days with the addition of auxiliary staff in the form of 15 quality control and other assistants having been added to the staff. There is more recruiting information being churned out, all of which requires auxiliary personnel working non-stop each week. It smacks of ridiculousness that high school kids actually keep count of emails and text messages. But they do. Which means, to make sure you keep pace, you have to address the real world circumstance. You gotta email, within the rules, as much as your opponents do. While I miss my old friends who have moved on, I do like the refreshing atmosphere I find when I wander about the current coaches offices. There is an air of confidence that Georgia can compete for championships. That actually is nothing new, but there seems to be a certain buzz in the air when you walk the halls these days. The new staff is big on the recruiting potential in our state. They see limitless opportunity and conclude that high school football in the state of Georgia is as good as it is anywhere--better than most states. They are buoyed by the alumni support. They like it when they travel the state and see all those mailboxes with the Georgia “G.” “Remember,” says Jeremy Pruitt, defensive coordinator, “I coached at Alabama, but you can’t find more advantages than what you find at Georgia.” Winning aids and abets recruiting and vice versa. The consensus is that Georgia has a tough challenge this year when it comes to personnel across the board. Next year, the forecast is that there should be more talent and more depth, hopefully, a break-out year. This year’s schedule is quite challenging, although it is nice to have two tough SEC opponents, South Carolina and Alabama, playing between the hedges. There are never any guarantees, and playing Tennessee in Knoxville after Alabama will be one of the greatest challenges a Mark Richt team has ever had. It was the Volunteer’s great coach Gen. Robert Neyland who always said, you never schedule two tough opponents back-to-back. In his day, he could manipulate his schedule. No coach can do that today. If you want to know what makes Nick Saban so successful, consider that he is probably a better recruiter than he is a coach. This is not to take away from his astute coaching ability, but nobody in the SEC in the last ten years has enjoyed more depth across the board than Alabama. What General Neyland was saying about scheduling is that it is tough to get your team ready emotionally to play a peak game on back to back weeks. Your team is just not going to be sharply competitive on successive weekends. That is why Saban has the best record in our league lately. He has enough depth to win when his team has an off day. That is where Georgia wants to be. I believe Mark Richt has the staff to give him that advantage. This year, however, he will have to get by on coaching and a few breaks.

www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 29

OFF THE FIELD

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

Alex Grill, Claire France, Courtney O’Conner, Hope Cochran and Lauren Tinkey

2015 G-Day Game

Chris Kinnas, Robert Kinnas, Walker Way, Carson Mathis and Chris Kinnas, III

Brandon Gordan, Terrance Smith and Jason Wallace

Joel, Julie, Elena, Emily, Everett and Ethan Goodrow

Barrett, Campbell and Molly Barth

Bob, Sarah, Ava and Jan Bobcock

Cooper, Melody and Jackson Mann

Front: Hank Stephens, Jason Lefkowitz, William Beckum, Back: Alexander Leahy, Price Swann, Hank Stephens, Robert Beckum, Jack Abernathy, Adam Lefkowitz

Rob Buffaloe and Keith Mauriello

Chris Atkinson and Phillip Hight

Miranda Williams and Jameson Kenerly

Frank Burns and Natalie Jones

Bradley Kitchen and Jeff Andrews

Rachel Mohler and Wes Roberts

Sheila Wilson and Barb Parks

Mike Beckum and Cary Stephens

Stacy Stephens and David Abernathy

Greg, Gavin, Stephanie and Elly Pease

Vincent, Victor, Sr. and Victor, Jr. Payne

Chris Sharrow (below) and Grant Sharrow

Lily, Solomon, Sarah and Samuel Humphreys

Tyler Hubbard, John Hubbard and Rick Jones

O.J. Greene, Jr. and Tiffany Houston

• • • • • •

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Join former UGA Bulldogs Matt Stinchcomb, Jon Stinchcomb and David Greene as they host the 10th annual Bulldawg Illustrated’s Countdown to Kickoff Fan Festival. All proceeds benefit the Georgia Transplant Foundation & Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM SANFORD STADIUM - ATHENS, GA $25 INDIVIDUAL TICKET OR $75 FAMILY PACK (Family pack includes 4 tickets & refreshments) This is your opportunity to be involved with an event that draws more than 1,000 UGA football fans together with current and former players for a day of personalized autographs, photo opportunities, and family fun!