Banged-up UGA shuffles starting lineup

Athens — The word obviously has gotten to Darryl Gamble that he’ll start at middle linebacker for Georgia on Saturday in place of the injured Dannell Ellerbe, who is still sidelined by a sprained knee.

“I think it’ll be one of my better games, my first game starting at [middle linebacker],” Gamble said. “It will be exciting for me.”

Georgia hasn’t declared Ellerbe out for the game against Tennessee, but linebackers coach John Jancek said Tuesday night that “it looks doubtful at this point” Ellerbe could play.

Jancek said Ellerbe, who suffered a sprained knee early in the Sept. 27 game against Alabama, did “mainly straight-ahead running” and “worked with trainers mostly” during Tuesday’s practice.

“But it’s only Tuesday, and anything can happen,” Jancek said.

Barring a major change, though, it seems clear that Gamble, a redshirt sophomore who has started two games this season at strongside linebacker, will start in the middle Saturday in place of Ellerbe, a senior who has started the first five games there.

Gamble “is having a great season,” Jancek said. “He really started coming on in spring and has carried that momentum through fall camp and into the season.

“I’m excited to see Darryl play. He’s done well all year long, so I don’t see any reason he can’t get out there and perform well.”

Rennie Curran will remain at weakside linebacker, with Akeem Dent likely starting on the strong side.

Freshman guard could start

There might be one change in the starting lineup on Georgia’s young offensive line this week: Freshman Cordy Glenn is battling redshirt sophomore Chris Davis at left guard, coach Mark Richt said.

Otherwise, the starting lineup will remain the same as for the past two games: junior Vince Vance at left tackle, freshman Ben Jones at center, sophomore Clint Boling at right guard and redshirt freshman Justin Anderson at right tackle.

“I think we’ve settled in pretty good,” Richt said. “I do believe we’ve got the right guys in the right spot, and we’re subbing properly.

“When we watch the film, we are not seeing four out of five [offensive linemen] blowing it. Every once in a while, we’ll see one out of five make a mistake. … We are not far off at all. I think any day now, any game now, we might really put a strong performance together. Hopefully, it might be this week.”

Backup tight ends impress Richt

Starting tight end Tripp Chandler is out with a shoulder injury. But based on strong practices by Aron White and progress by converted offensive tackle Kiante Tripp, “we may not be as thin at tight end as some people think right now,” Richt said.

White, a redshirt freshman from Columbia, Mo., will start against Tennessee.

“Aron White is actually taking the bull by the horns,” Richt said. “He’s seizing the opportunity. He’s blocking better than he has ever blocked. He has got more energy than he has ever had.”

Richt said Tripp is “a full-time tight end” for now and added “there’s a very good chance” that Bruce Figgins, who is contemplating shoulder surgery, will play.