FALL CAMP ISSUE
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RESTORING R E S TO R IN G FUNCTION. F U N CTIO N . R E S TO R I N G Q UA LIT Y O F LI FE. RESTORING QUALITY OF LIFE.
l to r: r : Frank Frannk C Clements, lements, PA-C; PA-C; Beau Sasser, Sasser, M.D.; M.D.; Buck Cavalier, Cavaalier, M.D.; M.D D.; Gary Gar y M. McClain, McClainn, M.D.; M.D.; Michael J. J. Sullivan, Sulliv u van, a M.D.; M.D.; Katherine Katheerine L. Maurath, Maurath, M.D.; M.D.; J. J. Melvin Deese, Deesee, M.D.; M.D.; Denny Denny A. A. Carter, Car a ter, M.D. M.D. LLOCATIONS OCATIONS
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From the Editor
With almost two weeks of practice in the rearview mirror for our beloved Dawgs and the start of fall semester at UGA, the anticipation of kickoff is getting to a fiery pitch here in Athens. Thankfully, the news from Fall Camp is just what you would hope. There’s talk of plenty of improvement, but by no means is there complete satisfaction from players and coaches alike. Without question, this mindset is coming from the headman at the helm of Georgia football, Mark Richt. On day one, Richt minced no words when addressing the members of the media. Last year was last year and without total dedication towards this year there could be no talk about lofty accomplishments. That carried over to that afternoon’s practice where the high-energy tempo led by the entire coaching staff is what left a lasting impressive on me. Mike Bobo was the most vocal, even providing a Steve Spurrier like visor/cap throw when something wasn’t done the way he desired. And Tony Ball openly challenged players to rise up when the hot conditions began to take toll. It was good stuff indeed and exactly what you would hope for if you’re like me and think the 2013 season could be magical. My own schedule prevented me from being at every practice of Fall Camp, but thankfully for our readers Murray Poole and Logan Booker were there for all of it. On page 6, our newbie, Logan sets the stage for this issue discussing how the commencement of football has brought the buzz back to Athens. While that is Logan’s lone contribution to this print issue, that’s hardly all he’s been doing. If you’re not keeping up with his coverage on our website and social media I certainly encourage you to do so immediately. His energy is contagious and we’re so proud to have him as a part of our team. Our crafty, veteran, Murray Poole just got back from spending his annual week at Fall Camp and has lots of goodies for this issue that I know you will love. On pages 12 and 13, Murray touches on 10 players on each side of the ball that have turned heads with their play thus far. The good news is that Murray could have mentioned 25 players on both offense and defense because unlike any year that I can remember this 2013 squad is deep with talent. That’s certainly going to bode well in the closely fought games where having fresh bodies that can perform at top levels could be the difference in winning and losing. And on page 14, Murray gives his overall assessment on Fall Camp. Again, the news is good. And be sure to see his projected starters at the end of his overview.
Beyond Fall Camp, Athens truly is alive right now. Each evening, the sounds of The Red Coats pierce throughout Five Points. And this last week, the main arteries of Athens were gridlocked as students arrived to move into their dorms and apartments. And on Milledge, fraternity and sorority rush was being held, which always brings a smile to all of us old-timers enjoying life in the fountain of youth that a college town provides. On page 9, enjoy Blane Marable’s rush photos. Blane is the modern day picture man documenting the wonderful happenings of UGA and Athens. He does a great job and I’m sure like anyone doesn’t mind some praise every now and then. On pages 4 and 5, Jeff Dantzler and Murray offer their usual insightful knowledge. JD puts it perfectly when talking about this year’s team saying they have the goods to be great. And if you’re like me and think our team seems to be faster than ever, you will love Murray’s Q&A session with Sherman Armstrong. He was brought to Athens two years ago for the sole purpose of building speed and it’s fascinating to learn about his methods. I’m running out of space and time, but did have a couple other Fall Camp observations to share. First and foremost, it’s been a pleasure to watch new defensive line coach, Chris Wilson. This guy is all business and stresses technique over and over again. It’s going to be a blast to see his unit’s progress in 2013. And being a former defensive back, sitting down to talk shop with Scott Lakatos is always a must for me. I told him that despite losing many studs last year that I thought his unit could be even better because photo by McGinnis Leathers they will have been under his tutelage the longest amount of time. Always humble, Lakatos wouldn’t boast, but I could tell by the twinkle in his eyes that he is anxious to see his guys shine this season. Finally, just when you thought Athens couldn’t get any better the last few weeks, Herschel Walker showed up both on campus and at his new, downtown restaurant. Can you imagine the excitement in the sorority and fraternity houses when #34 walked in out of the blue? I myself was lucky enough to interview the Goal-Line Stalker. It was an awesome thrill, but what made it so great was Herschel the man. He is so genuine with everyone he encounters, while remaining so grateful to the opportunity that playing at the University of Georgia provided for him. Herschel also talked with Murray Poole about the Dawgs’ chances this season. You can find that, my video interview and McGinnis Leathers’ (pictured here with me and Herschel) photo shoot on BI’s website. That is all sports’ fans. With this issue, all the hype is done. In two weeks, we’ll be back with our Clemson issue. Tick, tock … tick, tock … Go Dawgs!
Fall Camp Cha Cha Cha Publishing Inc. Editor Vance Leavy
Creative Director Cheri Leavy
Sports Guru Jeff Dantzler
Sales Caroline Kinney, Holly Stanfill
Multimedia Director Greg Poole
Sports Logan Booker, Murray Poole, Trent Smailwood
Layout/Design Cheri Leavy, Vance Leavy
Sports Photography McGinnis Leathers
Columnists Carlton DeVooght, Al Hickson, Rob Sherrell , Loran Smith. Chad White
Interns Pierce Persons. Annie Trice
Delivery Hatton Abernathy, Martin Cameron Matt Clutter, Will Hayes, Zack Miller, Frank Sinkwich IV, Champ Vance
Fall Camp issue, August 13, 2013
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Mention this ad for 10% off, throughout the 2013 season 4 • Bulldawg Illustrated
If there was one concern that stood out over the others – which will be duly covered momentarily – for the University of Georgia football program heading into the 2013 season, it was whether there would be a hangover from the devastating loss to Alabama in last year’s Southeastern Conference Championship Game? The first sign that there wouldn’t be was Georgia’s 45-31 comeback victory over Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl to close out the 2012 campaign with a 12-2 record and No. 5 final national ranking. A signing class that included an unprecedented 13 early enrollees brought some spunk to spring practice. Now, as preseason camp winds down, the answer appears to be a resounding no, there will be no hangover. Instead of agonizing over just how close the Bulldogs were to playing for the national championship, that proximity to the crystal ball has served as a fiery motivator to climb through a brutal schedule, return to Atlanta, cash in this time, then win it all. That’s the plan. There has been spirit, pep and drive during the Bulldogs preseason workouts, not the malaise of a team wondering “what might have been?” Out in the desert, the sharks in the silk suits agree. Las Vegas thinks highly of the Dogs in 2013. Georgia, two-time defending national champion Alabama (13-1 in 2012), Ohio State (12-0 and on probation in 2012) and Oregon (12-1 in 2012) are the only four schools favored in every regular season game this season. That’s a good thing. Georgia players littered the preseason AllSoutheastern Conference team at the league’s media days in Birmingham. That too is a good thing. Georgia has talent and everyone is expecting big things out of the Bulldogs. Not that this is any guarantee of course. The woods are filled with highly touted teams who floundered. Look no further than last season. Southern Cal was the consensus preseason No. 1, but the Trojans limped to a 7-6 record, losing to Tech in the Sun Bowl. Arkansas, despite Bobby Petrino and “Motorcycle Hot Young Blonde Gate,” was a preseason top ten choice by nearly everyone – including the brilliant Bulldawg Illustrated Top 25 prognositcator. The Razorbacks floundered to a 4-8 mark under John L. Smith, who did provide comic levity during several of his press conferences, as did the singing Hog Lady. The way to handle expectations is to win, and do it big. One of the most impressive aspects of Georgia’s season was the way the Bulldogs cut through the November schedule following the monumental 17-9 victory over Florida and the SEC Championship Game. Now things were nervous in Athens during the first half of the Ole Miss game. Georgia hit a big play to end the half up 14-10. But the Bulldogs dominated the second stanza and rolled to a 37-10 victory. The following week on the plains, there would be no upset scare against the old rival, as Georgia led Auburn 28-0 at intermission and roared to a 38-0 triumph to clinch a berth in Atlanta. It was mighty nervous the following week at home against Georgia Southern, as the Eagles were driving late in the half down 10-7. But the Dogs got a break on a penalty, Southern missed a field goal and Georgia drove down and scored on a big play with a second to go in the half a la Ole Miss to take a 17-7 lead. Georgia would go on to win 45-14. Against Tech, the Dogs led 7-0, but the Yellow Jackets were driving for the tying score. Then Baccarri Rambo came up with the big strip and return. The rout was on. Georgia led 28-3 at the half and buried Tech 42-10.
No one is saying those wins were easy, but the combined final scores of those four potential upset trap games came out to Georgia – 162, Ole Miss/Auburn/Georgia Southern/Tech – 34. That’s a margin of victory over 128, an average of 32 points per contest. That’s Elvis-esque Takin’ Care of Business. It’s quite simple. When you are a powerhouse, the fewer close games you play, the less the chances are for a loss. So in the games between LSU and Florida at Tennessee, at home with Missouri and at Vanderbilt – Georgia needs those types of overwhelming performances. Same goes for November. When it comes to the Bulldogs major question marks, the one that has gotten the most attention is the defense. Georgia returns just four starters, and the worry is, with such a tough schedule coming out of the gate, will the defense be too young too early. Now last year’s defense certainly wasn’t overwhelming, in fact, it was largely underachieving for much of the first half of the season and for the last two games. But there was a tremendous amount of talent on that defense, and big time players who made game-changing splash plays. Jarvis Jones in the wins over Missouri and Florida looked like Lawrence Taylor with a series of spectacular plays. Rambo had the aforementioned strip and return in the victory over Tech. Alec Ogletree made a monster interception in the win triumph over Ole Miss and had the blocked field goal and return for a touchdown in the heart-breaking loss to Bama. There is talent returning defensively, including one of those splash play-makers, Damian Swann, who made spectacular interceptions against Tennessee and Florida and had a long fumble return against Ole Miss. More of those big play-makers must emerge, and join Swann, Jordan Jenkins, Garrison Smith and Amarlo Herrera as frontline defenders. Georgia’s other big concern is field goal kicking. It has been mediocre to poor the last two seasons. In Georgia’s six losses in 2011 and 2012, there was a missed field goal in five of those games. It is such a fine line, especially in the rugged SEC, between being close and capturing championships. Georgia has been so close. But if you go back and study some of the excruciating losses that kept the Bulldogs from playing for the national championship, the common link has been red zone woes too often compounded by missed kicks. Now Georgia was exceptional in the red zone last season – not coincidentally the Bulldogs also had America’s best tailback, Todd Gurley. The sophomore sensation is back, headlining the offense, and the Dogs again figure to be strong in the red zone. It takes touchdowns, not field goals to win championships. But, when a drive does bog down, or if there’s a penalty, or if the clock is winding down, Georgia must be able to make the routine kick. No one is getting greedy and dreaming of a Kevin Butler or Rex Robinson or John Kasay-like game-changing All-American. But the 35-yarder and extra points have to be sure things. Despite the toughness of the schedule and these two major question marks, Georgia has the goods to be great. The bet here is that the Bulldogs will be. Georgia wins 11 or maybe 12 and returns to Atlanta, likely to face Alabama. But don’t sleep on LSU.
Poole Shots
by Murray Poole
Sherman Armstrong getting Bulldogs up to speed
photo by Steve Colquitt/Georgia Sports Communications
Did it seem to you that the 2012 Georgia Bulldogs, while storming to a 12-2 season which included playing eventual national champion Alabama down to the wire in the SEC title game, possess more speed and quickness than in previous years, especially in the vital skill positions? It certainly seemed that way to me and could it be just mere coincidence that the Bulldogs were in their first year under the tutelage of Sherman Armstrong, who came to UGA in March of 2012 as the new associate director of strength and conditioning but who is mostly known around the athletic department these days as the “speed coach.” Armstrong, the founder and head performance specialist at VAST (Velocity, Agility, Speed, Technique) Sports Performance in Tampa, Fla., has trained competitors in speed, agility and quickness on the high school, collegiate and professional levels but now, all of Armstrong’s knowledge is being poured strictly into the University of Georgia, to assist strength and conditioning director Joe Tereshinski, senior associate director John Thomas and assistant coach Justin Lovett, in making the Bulldogs stronger, faster and better able to avoid injury. In this question and answer, the Bulldog Nation is given an inside look at Sherman Armstrong, what he has brought to the Georgia athletic table and why he thinks the Bulldog teams of the future are going to benefit greatly from his program. How did you come to join the UGA staff?
Well, Coach T found me because in Tampa, we worked with professional athletes, college athletes and some of the top high school athletes being recruited. So that was kind of our business, preparing them speed-wise and strength-wise and Aaron Murray was one of the quarterbacks I worked with along with the quarterback from Alabama, Phillip Ely, and James Wilder from Florida State. So I guess it got to Coach T because Aaron Murray showed back up and he was in shape and looked good. So Coach T was wondering, ‘what have you been doing?’ So he (Murray) told him about me. With me leaving my business, it was a hard thing to do at first. I had kind of held out sending my resume in quite a few times but I then decided, ‘Ok, I’ll go ahead and do it.’ A week later, I got a call from Coach T and we flew in and loved what we saw and the rest is history. You brought the VAST philosophy to the Georgia football program. Why do you think it benefits the Bulldog athletes so much?
I think the biggest thing is preparing our athletes to move, preparing them to lift, preparing them to practice, preparing them for games. My philosophy hasn’t changed over the years; it’s the same philosophy we use in our business with our professional athletes, getting those guys ready to move. With our pre-draft athletes, getting those guys ready to move and making sure they don’t get injured. Over the years, I’ve kind of put a system together, things that really work in an orderly fashion to help keep guys healthy but also improve their hip mobility, decrease the chance of injury, obviously, and also increase the speed because they’re more mobile. They get their knees up higher and can bend more. That’s the biggest thing of course, along with speed. But getting them ready is the biggest thing. Many athletes seem to be born with natural foot speed. It’s in their makeup so how much quicker and faster can this program make them?
For me in my studies, speed is a skill that can be learned, and also unlearned. So no matter that level that athlete is in or how fast that athletes is, we can always improve their speed. Now how
much is the question but there will be some type of improvement from the fastest athlete to the slowest athlete. And it goes back into our approach, our movement prep we call it, and how we prepare them to move. But, then also, not giving every guy the same thing but having some time to work with select guys and plugging in some key things we feel they may need whether it may be more dynamic hip flexibility or hip stretching. So a lot of emphasis is really placed on the hips and also making sure we’re activating muscles that may be deactivated because some of our faster athletes may experience lower back pain or knee pain, and a lot of that goes back into, OK, their hips may be tight or the glutes may not be firing as they should so we’ve got to activate the glutes in our preps at some point. (On improving the speed of some of the Bulldogs’ fastest players as opposed to a 300-pound lineman) Some pieces would be different but in a team setting, we’re able to see our guys quite often, especially over the summer and preparing them for camp so we’re able to plug in certain dimensions every day or every other day. So if we got three days that we can really get in three different pieces that would on, say a Monday, work good for the Keith Marshalls or Reggie Davises and then on a Wednesday we can go with something more geared toward linemen. But it’s still good for our skilled athletes that are fast so I guess what I’m trying to say is everything that we do it can be differently catered to the specific position but it’s going to help every guy across the board. Since you came to UGA, how have the workouts you’ve implemented translated into better results on the field?
I think the biggest impact from last season would have to be our athletes’ strength. Coach T is big on getting our athletes strong but he’s also allowed us to have more freedom when it comes to working with specific athletes in the weight room and catering a workout program to that specific skill set. So if it’s defensive backs there’s a program for defensive backs. If it’s our quarterbacks, the workouts they do they’ll have pieces totally different than everybody else offensively that I’m working with. So we’re kind of where we’re not cookie cutting workouts, it’s really designed for that athlete and that particular group and for what they have to do on the field. And I think that’s important because it has a positive transfer to performance so once they go on the field the very same movements they use on the field we’ve worked those same muscle areas directly so you’re able to see greater force production, greater push off the ground and greater first step because of a lot of the things we did in the weight room. How do you see the Bulldogs’ potential in these areas developing even further in the upcoming 2013 football season and beyond?
I think there’s greater potential because when I first brought our whole coaching staff as far as strength, there were three new coaches, so when we first got there a lot of guys were kind of hesitant to believe in what we were doing because they were used to doing things a certain way. So when it comes to the speed workouts my audience wasn’t as big then compared to what it was this summer. This summer, we had 45 guys showing up consistently. So now, guys are believing. They saw from last season so now they feel like this guy, this unit that Coach T has put together, they know exactly what we need, they have it for us so we’ve got to take advantage. So with that bigger audience, you’re going to see more guys that didn’t show up to a speed workout last year who have showed out this summer and you’re going to see the difference on the field, I strongly believe.
Wee invite W invite yyou ou to ssupport uppor t yyour our Uni versity and yyour our University Association gift Alumni As sociation by making m ag ift to the Georg ia Fund ffor or or the Georgia Association. UGA Alumni As sociatio on.
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www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 5
With With summer summer over, over, it’s it’s time time to to strap strap in in and and enjoy enjoy the the ride ride photo by Logan Booker
By Logan Booker/BI any believe the term “calm before the storm” derived as a meteorological reference. But any football fan that has spent a summer in Athens knows good and well that the term has nothing to do with weather, and everything to do with the anticipation for college football in the south. As a lifetime Atlantan, this has been the first summer I have spent in the Classic City. I’ve never seen the downtown bars and restaurants not crammed with college kids at dinnertime on a Saturday night, or been able to walk my dog through campus in the evenings without seeing a soul. Never have I been able to walk across the Sanford Bridge on a nightly basis, always stopping to feel the ghosts of UGA past as they trigger nostalgic sentiment like no other place on earth do for a true member of Dawg Nation. These new experiences have only made the anticipation for what will happen on these hallowed grounds come fall even more difficult to withstand. On Aug. 1, the buzz around the Butts-Mehre building became the first sign in Athens that the storm was on the horizon. UGA Media Day ushered in the first practice of 2013, signifying the beginning of fall camp. While many freshmen players were strapping on helmets for the first time as a true member of the Bulldog football program, I pulled out my laptop in the media room at Butts-Mehre for the first time as a credentialed member in the fraternity of UGA writers. I am sure that my excitement and sense of accomplishment could only be rivaled by the eighteen year olds being issued their solid red practice helmets just a few rooms down the hall. As we were able to stray out onto the practice fields that first time, the sounds of whistles, shouted orders, grunts and groans, and the occasional clap-
M
6 • Bulldawg Illustrated
ping of equipment during light contact brought back the feeling of Christmas morning at a time when it was still believed Santa had snuck in and out of the house as you slept. Everything we have been craving since the final whistle of G-Day so many months ago had suddenly come back to life. The smell of the fresh cut grass and sensation of the hot August sun had taken on an entirely new ability to make you believe paradise has been located right here in Athens this whole time. And as the periods of the practice ticked off the clock one by one, it became more and more apparent that Athens would no longer be the calm, slow moving, Mayberry personality that it had adopted once the kids went home last May. Instead, there was finally work to be done. During these initial practices over the last couple of weeks, what has been allowed to be seen by the media is very limited. Coach Richt is of the utmost belief that the privacy of his coaching methods and team preparations is one of the most potent weapons he can control going into the season. But every day, for the fifteen minutes at the beginning of practice we are allowed to step into Richt’s world, we scramble aimlessly to gather as many observations and photos as possible. All of this to satisfy the burning thirst of UGA fans from every corner of the Peach State, and all ends of the football starved south. You can tell very little about an injured player who is donning a green non-contact jersey for the first time, or accurately translate anything a coach says to a specific player during fundamental drills. But that doesn’t mean that theories and consequence scenarios don’t fill my head, only to reach a boiling point through my typing fingers once back in the media room. Knowing good and well that a blunt question to a coach about said theories will only be greeted with a uniform and well rehearsed answer,
still any tidbit of information offered is enough to feed the starving masses. As a first time credential holder who doubles as a lifelong fan of the UGA football program, the access that has been handed to me doesn’t seem fair. Every day I have been able to hobnob with and get to know writers who I have religiously relied upon for the information that I am now gathering and reporting at the same speed as they. Getting on a first names basis with members of the coaching staff and players who I have followed since the beginning of their recruitment seems more of a dream come true than a job. And that is precisely the reason I have learned throughout this young experience that I have chosen wisely to pursue my dream through the Grady College of Journalism at UGA starting this fall. As football refills the air during the conclusion of another Athens summer, and students return from their scholastic reprieves of travel and revelry, that sacred, ominous calm felt in the Classic City these past months is slowly revealing its purpose. Athens is being rapidly resuscitated after seemingly being left for dead during the spells of humidity and cicada sung lullabies that have served as her only friends of summer. Over the next few weeks, the sidewalks of campus and streets of downtown will only pick up more and more strength and anticipation. The reason so many alumni, students, and fans admittedly wake up on fall Saturdays will soon return with full vengeance. No longer will be gush over practice reports and photos, but exhibit our Sunday-morningquarterback skills and talk tailgating plans going into the next weekend. Summer was the calm, and football is the storm. The forecast in Athens, and across the entire south, calls for extraordinarily rough seas ahead. But strap in and enjoy the ride. We all live for this.
Tickets on sale now at jekyllisland.com
Sun, Sand and a Salute to the Military Family! Join us on Jekyll Island this August as we recognize
Headlining the weekend events will be
the champions of our country for the Rodney Atkins’
a concert from country music superstar
America’s Heroes Celebration Weekend!
Rodney Atkins, playing at the Jekyll Island
During this two-day party dedicated to the brave men and women who serve in our nation’s military, families will gather for several exciting events throughout
Convention Center on August 18. Singer and songwriter Rose Falcon will open the show at 4 p.m., with Rodney taking the stage at 5 p.m.
Jekyll Island.
MILITARY APPRECIATION FESTIVAL During the weekend of fun, sun and music, a Military Appreciation Festival will be set up in Great Dunes Park. This two-day showcase will feature PLOLWDU\ VSHFL´F YHQGRUV JDPHV DQG DFWLYLWLHV IRU IDPLOLHV DSSHDUDQFHV E\ several celebrities, and more.
SPECIAL FIREWORKS SHOW Saturday night will be a blast - literally. Make plans to make it a big weekend DV ZH VDOXWH WKH PHQ DQG ZRPHQ RI RXU PLOLWDU\ ZLWK D ´UHZRUNV GLVSOD\ OLNH no other.
A FREE FOR ALL Join us Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the free Beach Music Festival at Great Dunes Park. On Sunday, the festival continues from noon to 4 p.m. with more live entertainment from several local acts, as well as performances from Nashville newcomers Cole Taylor and Marjory Lee.
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Fall Camp head turners photos by McGinnis Leathers
By Murray Poole/BI nce again, if Georgia is to make it back to the SEC Championship Game for a third consecutive year and have another crack at playing in the biggest game of them all, then both the Bulldogs’ seasoned players as well as the incoming freshman and junior college enrollees will have to rise to the occasion in Georgia’s biggest games, starting of course with that twoheaded monster known as Clemson/South Carolinia. Here, Bulldawg Illustrated selects 10 offensive players and 10 defensive players who have caught their position coaches and teammates’ eyes – the head turners if you will – in this year’s preseason camp.
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OFFENSE Freshman wide receiver Reggie Davis
This Tallahassee product has come into preseason camp and impressed both coaches and fellow players with his natural ability and work ethic. Although only a slight 6-0, 159 pounds, Davis has dazzled with his tremendous speed and quick moves and could possibly give an already talented Bulldog receiving corps still another deep threat. “Reggie’s speed is in a different class than really everybody else on the team,” said junior quarterback Hutson Mason. “He got here in the summer and I didn’t even know who he was. But he made a name for himself real quick when he ran a ‘go’ route.” Sophomore tailback Todd Gurley
What can you say about this guy? He turned heads from the first game of his college career when he rushed for 100 yards and ran the kickoff back 100 yards against Buffalo. And, after his 1,385 yards and 17 touchdowns as a mere freshman in 2012, the 6-1, 232-pound bulldozer is still turning heads in camp as he preps for what could be an All-America sophomore campaign. “It's hard to find a weakness on Todd," said sophomore outside linebacker/end Josh Dawson. "You try to take away his speed, but he'll outrun the safety. You try to take power, but he'll run a defensive back or linebacker over.” Sophomore tailback Keith Marshall
The other half of the Bulldogs’ famed “Gurshall” combo and, yes, I know the two Georgia tailbacks don’t exactly relish that moniker. But Keith Marshall is the Bulldogs’ lightning to his buddy Gurley’s thunder. With his sprinter speed, the 5-11, 219-pound Marshall is a scoring threat from any spot on the field, as he showed in 2012 when he reeled off a number of long TD jaunts while rushing for 759 yards and a 6.5 yards-per-carry average. In the Bulldogs’ first scrimmage of this preseason camp, Marshall jetted 75 yards for a touchdown. “Keith had that long touchdown run in the scrimmage,” said Josh Dawson. “He can still fly and he’s got power. He’s looking bigger and faster too.”
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Junior center David Andrews
At 6-2, 295, David Andrews is the smallest guy on Georgia’s talented offensive line but also, one of the toughest. A motivator of the offensive front from his center position, Andrews has continued to display solid leadership in this preseason camp and could be one of the best centers in the SEC in this, his junior campaign. “Boss, David Andrews, is that solid, dependable guy in the middle and that’s what you need in your center,” said senior tight end Arthur Lynch. Junior wide receiver Michael Bennett
This guy, who was leading the Bulldogs in receiving after five games last year before then suffering a torn ACL in practice and missing the rest of the season, has returned to preseason camp apparently better than ever. Bennett is running his same precise routes, catching the ball in traffic and just doing everything that the leading receivers in the conference are expected to do. “Michael hasn’t missed a beat at all,” said fellow sophomore wideout Justin Scott-Wesley. “He’s confident, he’s physical, he’s blocking well and he’s running great routes.” Freshman tailback J.J. Green
This 5-8, now 195-pound freshman, who was one of the early enrollees that went through spring practice with the Bulldogs, continues to dazzle the defense with his quickness and speed. Currently the No. 3 tailback, he had maybe the highlight of camp thus far when, in a 3-on-3 drill that was caught by the ESPN cameras, Green landed on a pile of blockers and defenders, flipped over onto his feet and raced on for a touchdown. “All our freshman running backs had a great first scrimmage,” said sophomore defensive end/linebacker Josh Dawson. “J.J. is a scatback, kind of. He’s super fast and can make a defender miss any second. Then our other freshman running backs, A.J. Turman is a bruiser and Brendan (Douglas) is also a bruiser.” Junior wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell
Anytime this player is on the field, he’s prompt to turn a few heads. Now concentrating strictly on the receiver position after seeing action on both sides of the ball the past two seasons, this Valdosta speedster could surely be one of the most explosive pass catchers in the SEC this coming fall. The 6-1, 190-pound Mitchell, who will always have a special place in Bulldogs’ hearts for making the TD catch and run that put away the Florida Gators last season, had four catches for 64 yards in the first camp scrimmage last week. “Malcolm, he ain’t nothing to mess with,” said junior college transfer safety Kennar Johnson. “He’s a great receiver. He’s got a lot of experience. He’s fast and he knows how to play.”
Senior tight end Arthur Lynch
No question, this guy has gotten better and better over the course of his five seasons (redshirted in 2010) in Athens, so much so that he’s been named to the AllSEC preseason first team at his tight end spot. A rugged blocker who can snare the ball in traffic and also drag defenders along with him after the catch, the 6-5, 254pound Lynch teams with sophomore Jay Rome to give the Dogs one of the best tight end tandems in the nation. In Georgia’s first preseason scrimmage, Lynch had four catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. “Artie, that’s a big guy,” said Kennar Johnson. “You got to be careful with him. He’s not easy to bring down after he catches the ball, he’s going to keep trucking.” Junior wide receiver Jonathon Rumph
After enrolling early after two outstanding seasons at Holmes Community College, this 6-5, 215-pound receiver began opening eyes in Georgia’s G-Day game when he caught four passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns. And Rumph has continued to sparkle in preseason camp, having four receptions for 53 yards in the first scrimmage. With his size, speed and leaping ability, Rumph figures to play an integral role this season in the Bulldogs’ already deep receiving corps. "I see a big difference in him than I did in the spring,” said head coach Mark Richt. “You could really see his gears turning in the spring, trying to figure out how to line up, what route to run, how to run routes. Now, he had a tremendous summer, he's in great shape, he has a better working knowledge of the system. He's certainly not perfected everything but he certainly looks so much more confident." Senior quarterback Aaron Murray
You didn’t think this guy could have been left out, did you? Saving the best for last, Murray is the undisputed leader of the Georgia Bulldogs this season. Coming back for his redshirt senior season instead of jumping to the NFL, Murray is drawing a bead on all of the UGA and SEC career passing records. But, more importantly, he’s providing the kind of leadership that every team with championship aspirations must have from its senior quarterback. Certainly, if the Bulldogs are to make the SEC title game again this year, win it and then go on to play in Pasadena for the national championship, it must be Aaron Murray leading the way. “Aaron’s more vocal now,” said sophomore wide receiver Justin Scott-Wesley. “Last year, he was a leader but it was more by example. This year, he’s more vocal. He’s not afraid to chew a guy out because he’s not moving fast enough, he’s not afraid to step up and get in the receiver’s face and tell him ‘get out of the break, get on the line.’ Aaron’s the man. He’s a great quarterback, he’s our guy and he’s going to lead us to however far we’re going to go.”
photos by McGinnis Leathers
DEFENSE Sophomore outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins
The heir apparent to two-time All-America linebacker Jarvis Jones, the 6-3, 250-pound Jenkins brings all the tools to be a great one and, make no mistake, despite him being just a sophomore, Jenkins is already one of the undisputed leaders of this young Georgia defense. He’s showing as much in this camp after a freshman season that saw Jenkins play in all 14 games, make six starts and end the year with 31 tackles and five sacks, second on the team to the great Jarvis. “Jordan’s got great burst off the ball,” said defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. “He’s very explosive; to me, as explosive as anyone in the country. Jordan has all the characteristics you look for in playmakers. I think it’s just a matter of working and developing and perfecting his craft. If he does that, I think I’m excited about what he can do.” Freshman outside linebacker Leonard Floyd
When one is discussing head turners of Georgia’s 2013 preseason camp, this guy deserves to be right at the top of the list, that said despite the fact Floyd was sidelined the opening week of contact drills with a fractured left hand. But before his injury, the 6-4, 220-pound former Dodge County High and Hargrave Military Academy standout was drawing raves from both players and coaches due to his tremendous athletic ability and his quickness off the edge in both rushing the passer and stopping the run. "Both Shaq Wiggins (freshman corner) and Leonard Floyd are amazing," junior linebacker Ramik Wilson said. "Those two are putting on a show right now and they're going to help this team out if they keep doing what they're doing. He (Floyd) is unblockable. His pass rush is unblockable. He plays like Barkevious Mingo from LSU." Junior strong safety Corey Moore
With Bacarri Rambo, Shawn Williams and Sanders Commings no longer patrolling the secondary, this would appear to be Corey Moore’s time and, from the looks of his performance in this preseason camp, the 6-2, 214-pound player out of Griffin is aware of that fact. Moore played in all 14 games for the Bulldogs last season so he teams with Damian Swann this year to bring much-needed experience to the rebuilt defensive backfield. “I like Corey Moore,” said junior cornerback Damian Swann. “He’s had a great camp. And I think with the reps he’s been getting, he’s going to be big, too. He’s just been waiting his turn. He’s been playing behind a veteran guy in Shawn Williams. He just
hasn’t had much of an opportunity but now I think with him having an opportunity, he’s taking advantage of it and he’s ready.” Junior defensive end Toby Johnson
This four-star rated, junior college transfer from Hutchinson (Kan.) CC, is bringing both size and athleticism to the Bulldogs’ defensive front. A native of College Park, Ga. where he played at Banneker High, Johnson wowed his teammates prior to preseason camp when he, at 6-4, 305 pounds, did a standing back flip, despite him coming off a torn ACL in juco last season. And you can bet the Georgia staff is hoping Johnson can bring that athletic ability into play in getting after the quarterback and opposing ball carriers over the next two seasons. "Toby's been great," new defensive line coach Chris Wilson said. "He's been in every drill we've asked him to do, and shown flashes of what he was coming out of junior college. He’s kicking butt right now. We’re being smart with his reps. He’s learning our process on how we do things, how we work, how we get going.” Junior cornerback Damian Swann
While Aaron Murray and senior guard Chris Burnette were designated by Mark Richt back in the spring as the team’s offensive leaders this season, the only defensive player tabbed by the coach at the time was Damian Swann. Swann is simply one of the most experienced and talented players returning to the Bulldogs’ rebuilt defensive unit and is the undisputed leader of the secondary after a sophomore season when he led the Bulldogs with four interceptions and a total of 53 tackles. “Swann is a great player who can play the ball,” said junior cornerback Kennar Johnson. “He’s not perfect, nobody’s perfect but he deserves to be out on the field and play his role. He’s an All-SEC type player.” Junior linebacker Amarlo Herrera
With Alec Ogletree now playing for the St. Louis Rams, the 6-2, 244-pound Herrera has assumed the leadership role among the Bulldogs’ middle linebacking corps. And Herrera has stepped up his role in this preseason camp following a sophomore season when he played in all 14 games and recorded 70 tackles, an interception, forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Clearly, if the Georgia defense is to develop into a championship unit, Herrera must have a big junior campaign. “Amarlo makes almost every play, he’s going to be somewhere around the play,” said freshman tailback J.J. Green. “He’s like my big brother, we’re always doing something together.”
Freshman cornerback Shaq Wiggins
This 5-10, 165-pound defender out of Sandy Creek High has impressed both the veteran and younger players with his nose for the football and solid work ethic. His quickness and leaping ability in defending passes could possibly mean Wiggins sees the field a good bit in this, his first season in Athens. "Shaq is a little fiery thing, like a little bug that won't go away," said sophomore cornerback Sheldon Dawson. "He's doing his job, and I think he'll give receivers problems because they'll be like 'Oh, he's so small, I can get past him.' It's phenomenal that he's that small but plays so big." Freshman free safety Tray Matthews
The 6-0, 196-pound Matthews set tongues to wagging the minute he stepped on campus as an early spring enrollee. With his ability to track the ball in the air and his ferocious hitting ability, Matthews grabbed a lock on a starting position almost immediately and though he’s been sidelined a bit in camp with a shoulder sprain he’s on track to help lead the secondary in the season opener at Clemson. “Tray Matthews is going to be the next guy at Georgia,” said freshman tailback J.J. Green. “When he stepped on campus, everybody knew Tray. The next three or four years, Tray is probably going to be first round.” Freshman cornerback Brendan Langley
Like Shaq Wiggins, Langley has come into this camp and impressed the coaches and fellow players with both his pass coverage and hitting ability. And with the Bulldogs desperately needing to build depth in the secondary the former Kell High of Marietta standout looks to be just what the doctor – or rather defensive backfield coach Scott Lakatos – ordered. “Brendan Langley and Shag Wiggins, they’re both doing good,” said junior cornerback Damian Swann. “They’re trying to mature into the players we need them to be. We’re expecting a lot out of those guys, we’re putting a lot on their plate. They don’t have a choice but to step up and be big.” Junior linebacker Ramik Wilson
With people like Ogletree and Christian Robinson no longer in Bulldog red, this would appear Wilson’s time to shine. And, with his speed and quickness to the ball, the 6-2, 232-pound Wilson should team with Herrera to give the Bulldogs a very solid inside linebacker corps in ‘013. “Ramik is athletic. He plays like a safety but he’s too big to play safety so he plays linebacker,” said J.J. Green. “He can run, he can cover, he’s doing everything a veteran needs to do, like Tree did.”
www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 13
Fall Camp overview photo by McGinnis Leathers
By Murray Poole/BI n August a year ago, while I was on the University of Georgia campus covering a week of preseason camp for this publication, I said there was a common vein running through the Bulldogs and their coaching staff. It was one of optimism concerning the then approaching 2012 football season and, you might say, a quiet sense of confidence as well. After all, Georgia was bringing back a defensive team that returned nine starters from the unit that was ranked No. 5 in the land the previous season. Also, even though the Bulldogs were going to be fielding a reconstructed offensive line in ‘12, there was still plenty of potential on that side of the ball as well … what with veteran quarterback Aaron Murray guiding the attack, a score of excellent receivers and two highly-touted freshman running backs in Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley. Well, as you are now aware, the optimism permeating throughout 2012 summer camp turned out to be well-founded. Despite that highly-regarded Georgia defense not putting up the numbers it did in 2011, a surprisingly potent offense went out and established several school records to help overcome the defensive unit’s liabilities in certain games. The result? … A splendid 12-2 season record which included a second consecutive victory over arch-nemesis Florida, a second straight trip to the SEC championship game where the Bulldogs dropped a grueling 32-28 game to eventual national champion Alabama, and a bowl victory over Nebraska. Now, fast forward to this 2013 preseason camp. After spending all last week in Athens, I can tell you that same optimism, enthusiasm and confidence is present among these new-look Bulldogs. But then, it must be pointed out I don’t think there’s a college football team in America that isn’t waxing optimistically prior to the opening kickoff. When you interview these players, you wouldn’t expect them to say, “We don’t have nothing this year, we’ll be lucky to win five ball games,” would you? But in the case of these Bulldogs, you get a feeling they’re not far off the mark when they talk about making it back to the SEC title game, and beyond, this coming autumn. After all, they can point to a potentially explosive Georgia offense that returns AllAmerica candidates Murray and Gurley, Keith Marshall, its entire offensive line, and a deep, deep corps of wide receivers. An offense that is certainly the big reason the nation’s coaches voted the Bulldogs into a No. 5 ranking in their preseason poll. And a defensive unit, that despite bringing back only four starters from last year's team, is being said to be quicker and more athletic than Georgia's 2012 defense.
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Once again, however, can preseason camp optimism translate into how the Bulldogs actually perform when they start playing games for real on Aug. 31? Will Mike Bobo's offense live up to its lofty preseason hype? Will Murray, Gurley and Marshall be able to equal or better the outstanding seasons they rang up in 2012? Will that ultra-experienced O-line be able to pick up where it left off against Alabama and Nebraska at season's end? And on the other side of the ball, where most of the questions abound, will Todd Grantham's seven or eight new starters be able to step in and fill the void left by departing seniors or early NFL enrollees such as the great Jarvis Jones, Alec Ogletree, Bacarri Rambo, Shawn Williams, Sanders Commings, Branden Smith, John Jenkins, Kwame Geathers, Michael Gilliard, Cornelius Washington, Christian Robinson and Abry Jones? Folks, that's a whole lot of beef missing from the defensive side of the ball. And, too, can the Bulldogs' special teams and kicking games show improvement over last season? If this team is to reach the high goals it has set for itself, quality performances in those two areas are a must. While the Georgia players themselves are barking that they, without question, have the talent level, confidence and team unity that will enable them to run to Atlanta for a third consecutive December, let's hear what Bulldog coordinators Bobo and Grantham say as their charges are now just two and a half weeks away from teeing it up in Death Valley, S.C. "Right now, we're still in camp mode," said offensive chief Bobo, speaking this past Saturday morning as the Bulldogs were in their 10th day of August camp. "It's a grind and learning how to fight through, learning how to play when you're a little banged up and a little tired and still being able to do it fundamentally right. It's not supposed to be easy and I'm proud of them for being able to fight through. I'm proud of the guys' effort every day. I think we've fought and gotten a little tougher," he said. "You've got to be tough in this league, not just physically but mentally to win this league so I've been pleased with that. Wednesday (this week's second camp scrimmage) will be a better gauge, how improved we are since the last scrimmage. But, overall, I've been pleased with the effort every day and focus," he said, adding coaches will start zeroing in more on the opening-game starters after Wednesday's scrimmage. If you know Mike Bobo, he's not one to dish out praise where it's not merited so I would take those comments to mean he likes where his offensive unit is as the drum beat for opening night grows louder. And this, from defensive coordinator Grantham when asked the same question, where his unit stands as the countdown to Clemson is about to begin in earnest.
"I think the guys have worked really hard," he said. "I think they've worked to progress and improve every day. We're still going to continue to evaluate them over the next little bit and see where they stand and put them in places where they can help us be successful and try to define their roles over the next middle third as we start teaching the concepts of the offenses we're going to see for the whole season." Like Coach Bobo, that sounds a little "coach speak," so to speak, but in talking with the very analytical Grantham, I also get the feeling he thinks his unit will be ready to play when they gaze across the line of scrimmage at Tajh Boyd, Sammy Watkins and the rest of the Tiger offense on opening night. But back to those players themselves, I think all the Bulldog Nation should get fired up over the words of Jonathon Rumph, the 6-5 junior college wide receiver transfer who stepped on campus for the first time this past spring and, even to the coaches' surprise, enjoyed a huge G-Day Game. "I've never been on a team with so many weapons," said Rumph. "And that's the scary thing. We have so many weapons, and everybody knows what to do. So we can rotate so many receivers and everybody knows what to do. We've got a great backfield, a great running game, a great O-line and great receivers so that's what we're trying to do, play to our ability. I really feel like we can shock a lot of people and it's really not a shock because we know what we're capable of," added Rumph. "I just think if we all keep each other accountable and stick to our roles, we can do amazing things." And Georgia fans are relishing the thoughts of those amazing things happening from the get-go of this season, when the Tigers and Gamecocks are to be confronted, back-to-back. So, preseason camp 2013 has been a positive one thus far, just as the 2012 camp was. Let's see now if it translates into the same type success on the field. Depending on the remaining two scrimmages, injured players snapping back and no further serious injuries, here is how the Bulldogs should line up in Death Valley on the last day of this month: Offense: LT-Kenarious Gates; LG-Dallas Lee; C-David Andrews; RG-Chris Burnette; RT-John Theus; TE-Arthur Lynch; WRs-Malcolm Mitchell, Michael Bennett; QB-Aaron Murray; TB-Todd Gurley; FB-Quayvon Hicks. Defense: E-Garrison Smith, Sterling Bailey; N-Mike Thornton; OLBs-Jordan Jenkins, James DeLoach; ILBs-Amarlo Herrera, Ramik Wilson; CBs-Damian Swann, Sheldon Dawson; SS-Corey Moore; FS-Tray Matthews; PK-Adam Erickson; PCollin Barber.