ATHENS — In the middle of what was a lot of hustle and bustle on UGA’s campus on Saturday, the Georgia Bulldogs ventured into Sanford Stadium for what will be the second scrimmage of the spring practice session.
Georgia’s campus is inordinately busy with activity as the school is hosting an NCAA Gymnastics Regional, a baseball series between the No. 4 Diamond Dawgs and No. 5 Vanderbilt, the Spec Towns Invitational track meet and sororities and fraternities were conducting their spring formals.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs were conducting practice number nine of 15 in what was expected to be a game-simulation scrimmage inside the storied, 90-year-old stadium. Georgia is just two weeks away from its annual G-Day Game, which will be played in the 92,000-seat facility on April 20 (2 p.m., ESPN).
Media were given a scant eight minutes to watch the team warmup and go through some 7-on-7 drills. As they did, the country music song “Comeback Song” by Darius Rucker blared from the humongous speakers inside the West End jumbotron.
It’s not clear if that song was directed at any particular recruits in attendance. Last week, Georgia played music chosen by elite offensive line recruit Sedrick Van Pran as he attended the Bulldogs’ practice last Saturday.
Following are a few observations from that viewing opportunity:
- Junior outside linebacker Jermaine Johnson was suited up again and back on the field after missing the last practice with what’s reported to be an ankle injury. Johnson, a JUCO transfer, was with his position group briefly but quickly retreated to a stationary bike on the visitor’s sideline
- Senior defensive lineman Julian Rochester, out for the spring while recovering from offseason arthroscopic knee surgery, was also dressed out but riding a stationary bike.
- Defensive line signee Travon Walker watched his future position group’s drills intently from behind the East end zone.
- Defensive lineman Michail Carter was going through drills in a black, non-contact jersey. He’s recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Linebacker Trezman Marshall was also in black and going through drills.
- Senior defensive end David Marshall was not initially with the defensive linemen in warm-up drills but emerged later on the sideline in full pads. He’s been working out mostly on the side as he continues to recover from foot surgery in Week 10 of last season.
- Still no sign of outside linebackers Robert Beal Jr. and Brenton Cox. They’ve not been with the rest of the team since their arrest for marijuana possession right before practice Tuesday.
- It may have been reported before but sophomore outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari has switched to the No. 13 defensive jersey last worn by Jonathan Ledbetter. Ojulari wore 38 last season.
- The No. 1 offensive line lined up this way: LT Andrew Thomas, LG Solomon Kindley, C Trey Hill, RG Cade Mays and RT Isaiah Wilson.
- Former Georgia coach Jim Donnan was among observers watching from the sidelines.
- Several hundred high school coaches, players’ parents and invited donors sat in the stands to watch.