The third-ranked Georgia football team takes on Florida on Saturday here at EverBank Stadium. Check here for regular updates, notes and observations in the lead-up to the game:
Defensive note
It looks like Malkom Parrish may be reclaiming his starting left cornerback slot, at least in Georgia’s nickel package.
Parrish has only played in dime coverage in the past four games, after missing the first three games with a foot injury. Tyrique McGhee, the sophomore, took the left cornerback spot and ran with it.
But during warm-ups, it looks like Parrish is playing the left CB spot in nickel coverage, with McGhee coming in for dime coverage. That’s not altogether surprising, as McGhee was one of the corners victimized by Missouri passes two weeks ago.
In base defense, it’s still Aaron Davis at the left cornerback spot, with Deandre Baker at the right spot. J.R. Reed and Dom Sanders remain the safeties in all formations, with Reed playing up on running downs.
Also: Reggie Carter is indeed the starting inside linebacker, next to Roquan Smith. Carter has returned from a two-game absence due to a concussion.
Travel roster notes
Some injury-related updates are in the paragraph below. A few other notable players not making the trip:
- Freshman receiver J.J. Holloman is not here. It’s not clear if that’s injury related or just the depth chart. Holloman has played in five games but doesn’t have a catch yet.
- Players who have not played yet this year and appear headed for a redshirt: DB Tray Bishop, WR Matt Landers, DB William Poole, OLB Robert Beal, DB Latavious Brini, G Netori Johnson, OT D’Marcus Hayes (a JUCO transfer), and OT Isaiah Wilson.
- Other scholarship players not on the trip: ILB Jaleel Laguins, ILB Rashad Roundtree (injured), OL Pat Allen (injured), OL Chris Barnes, OL Sam Madden, TE Jordan Davis, ILB Jaden Hunter, DE Justin Young and punter Marshall Long.
Trenton Thompson and other injury updates
As expected, Georgia junior defensive lineman Trenton Thompson is on the trip and expected to play, after missing two games with a sprained MCL. Thompson has practiced the past couple weeks.
Receiver Jayson Stanley (lower leg) and inside linebacker Reggie Carter (concussion) are also on the trip after missing time with injuries. Carter is expected to start after missing two straight games. Junior Juwan Taylor and freshman Monty Rice had started in his absence, and the absence of Natrez Patrick, who will serve the third game of a four-game suspension.
Sophomore defensive lineman David Marshall is also on the trip after missing a game with an undisclosed injury.
But junior DL DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle (undisclosed) is not on the trip and will miss a second straight game.
Uniforms
By the way if you haven’t heard Georgia will be wearing white today, instead of the customary red vs. blue jerseys. The official word on Thursday was this was a joint decision by the schools.
And yes, Georgia is also wearing the gray pants. Well, silver if you want to believe so.
The McElwain storyline
The phrase “that escalated quickly” has been over-used in the post-Anchorman world. It seems to apply to what’s happening to the Florida Gators.
Jim McElwain won the SEC East each of his first two years in Gainesville, turning around the fortunes of a program that came close to bottoming out under Will Muschamp. Under most other circumstances that would buy a coach a grace year in his third season.
But as the Gators take the field it appears McElwain’s job really is in jeopardy, thanks to a 3-3 record propelled by a struggling offense – again – and the “death threats” saga. So this appears to be a self-inflicted problem for McElwain, who doesn’t appear on the same page as his administration, at least when it came to the death threats thing.
(As I write this I’m watching McElwain walk onto the field, waving briefly at the Florida band, and behind me is Gators athletics director Scott Stricklin.)
Three-and-a-half hours ago, Stricklin released a statement denying an internet report by Darren Heitner, a UF grad and sports legal analyst. Heitner tweeted that Florida and McElwain’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, were negotiating a buyout. Stricklin’s statement was very specific that it wasn’t happening. But it didn’t say anything like, “We look forward to coach McElwain being at Florida for a long time,” or anything that did anything but deny Heitner’s specific report.
So all that’s swirling around Florida. You’d think that can’t be a good thing for the Gators, unless it’s a rallying cry.
Georgia, meanwhile, comes into this game blissfully content and cruising.
Look at the scoreboard
That’s not a taunt. It’s a warning: You won’t be able to avoid seeing the scoreboards. Both of them.
The Jacksonville Jaguars may not be a big-market team but their in-game video presence is akin to one, with scoreboards at two ends of the stadium that are longer than a football field (they’re 362 feet) and are 60 feet high. And the quality is very good.
So as this reporter sits down to perhaps re-analyze the national picture, he can gave upon a couple related games: No. 6 Miami struggling at North Carolina, and No. 11 Oklahoma State with a first-half lead at No. 22 West Virginia.
There’s also the Arkansas-Ole Miss game, but that’s just a coaching death watch at this point.
Which the Florida game may be too!
