georgia football Kirby Smart

ATHENS — It’s Week Two for Georgia spring football, and it’s a safe bet Kirby Smart and his staff have a long to-do list.

Smart explained last week it’s supposed to be that way, and he embraces the teaching opportunity and the growth that takes place this time of year.

It might seem like the opening game with Oregon on Sept. 3 is a long way off, but on the football calendar, there are only so many opportunities for the team to improve on the field.

Georgia will once again have a very talented team with a nucleus of proven players returning.

Four players remain from the No. 1-ranked signing class of 2018, and of course, 24-year-old starting quarterback Stetson Bennett was originally a 2017 signee before leaving the program to play JUCO and returning in the 2019 class.

Bennett, along with two of the 2018 signees, Kearis Jackson and Christopher Smith, figure to be key leaders this upcoming season.

Here’s an early gauge on select players:

Stock soaring

Kearis Jackson: It’s a good bet Jackson will return to his 2020 form when he shared the team receptions lead with George Pickens and was especially effective with Bennett. Jackson could be an upset pick to lead the Bulldogs in receptions out of the slot.

Christopher Smith: Smith has put on another 7-to-9 pounds of muscle and has beefed up into an NFL safety prospect, but more importantly, will settle in as the leader of the secondary. Can Smith top his Clemson heroics and create another Oil Painting moment?

Sedrick Van Pran: All the talk about Van Pran’s potential came to fruition last season as he started every game at center and appeared to more than hold his own. Van Pran is a natural leader and player Georgia fans — and players — will hear a lot more from this season.

Zion Logue: Van Pran said Logue is a combination of Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt, and Kenny McIntosh backed it up. Jalen Carter is the unquestioned star of the defensive front, but if Logue can also play at an elite level at defensive tackle this UGA defense could once again be special.

Stock up

Jalen Carter: We guess? Still no interviews with Carter, which seems strange considering the impact he has had in games and the plays he makes. Does Georgia with the CFP Championship Game without Carter’s blocked field goal?

Adonai Mitchell: Pickens says he’s the next great receiver, and after the soaring, 40-yard catch he made in the end zone on a jump ball there’s no reason to question that.

Warren McClendon: This former third-year starter on the offensive line has evolved into one of the team leaders and continues to be assignment sound, looking to keep behemoth talent Amarius Mims behind him on the depth chart.

Kenny McIntosh: ended up second on the team in yards per carry last season (5.7) and is coming off a strong and healthy offseason. Count McIntosh among the “chip-on-shoulder’ crowd as it wasn’t so long ago Alabama counted him as a “second-tier back” on a recruiting list.

Stetson Bennett: Carson Beck filled in for Bennett at Pro Day throwing to teammates James Cook and Zamir White, a mild surprise. But Bennett hasn’t done anything to lose the momentum built as the Orange Bowl and CFP Championship Game MVP. The Mailman signed on with ESM, a preeminent marketing agency for college quarterbacks that includes JT Daniels and Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall.

Market Watch

Arik Gilbert: He’s back at the tight end position after seeing just how productive the position can be with an offensive whiz like Todd Monken pulling the strings. The “X” receiver position didn’t work out, anyway. Gilbert could be quite a compliment to All-American Brock Bowers and give defenses headaches.

Darnell Washington: It has been a tough two years for Washington at Georgia with injuries slowing him down, most recently a foot injury suffered while playing basketball, according to a source. Washington is one of the players who could enter the NCAA portal, though the fact he stayed for spring drills before the injury worked in UGA’s favor.

WATCH: Kirby Smart calls out Darnell Washington in championship game speech