Georgia coach Mark Richt will be trading in the red and black for army green in late May.

Richt will join four other coaches, including Auburn's Tommy Tuberville and Notre Dame's Charlie Weis, to visit U.S. military bases throughout the Middle East on May 20-26.

"It's for our soldiers, and I said I'm going, and I don't even know exactly where I am going, to be honest with you," Richt said. "I hope to let the troops know how much we love and care about them, and that the people back home are praying for them."

Richt and the others will meet troops and help coach flag-football teams. Richt knows that many of servicemen he will meet will be the same age as his Georgia players.

"There's a lot of similitaries [with football and military] with strategy and technique, and all types of things as far as training, discipline, and a bunch of guys who have got to do it right for everyone to succeed.

"[However] when we lose, we may get fired, or a kid may lose his job ... but the risk [in the military] is much greater. [And] in football, you play home and away games. We don't want our military to play any home games."

Knox impressing at free safety

One of the biggest surprises of the spring has been John Knox, who is challenging Reshad Jones at free safety. The 6-foot-2, 194-pound Knox, who was redshirted last season, has impressed coaches with the way he has picked up the defensive sets.

"John is ahead of where I thought he would be, but he's got to keep [improving]," Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said. "He'll be stealing more reps [in the future]."

Jones makes big plays in the secondary, but has always lacked consistency, which has presented a prime opportunity for Knox to break into the rotation.

"My expecations are to get ready to play that first game against Georgia Southern," Knox said with a smile. "Statesboro is my hometown, and what a better way to start off my career than to play against a team from Statesboro."

Does Knox think he can beat out Jones? "The only thing I have got to say is this: Only time will tell. I just play the best I can every time I'm out there in practice."