ATHENS — Georgia's football team experimented with a possible position change as spring practice continued Thursday.
Lamont Gaillard, a former four-star recruit as a defensive tackle, got some work at offensive guard during drills.
“We were just testing the waters with him,” offensive line coach Rob Sale said after practice. “He was receptive to it.”
Gaillard was working with the offensive line during the portion of practice open to the media, but later did other drills with the defense, Sale said.
“At least you can evaluate him … to see if he has the ability to (switch positions), and he showed some promising things,” said Sale, who indicated the experiment will continue for the remainder of spring practice.
Gaillard was redshirted as a freshman last season.
The offensive line is not unfamiliar to him. He played there some during high school in Fayetteville, N.C. In fact, coming out of high school, he was ranked the nation’s No. 4 defensive-tackle prospect by ESPN.com and No. 10 offensive-tackle prospect by 247Sports.com.
Center of attention: The Bulldogs enjoy the luxury of having four of five starters back on the offensive line, but are looking to fill a key vacancy at center, where David Andrews graduated.
“We need to develop a couple of centers … and come out of spring ball and find out who that guy is going to be,” Sale said.
Georgia is looking at three candidates at center: sophomore Isaiah Wynn, senior Hunter Long and junior Brandon Kublanow, who is the returning starter at left guard.
“It is close,” Sale said.
“Each of them is doing a good job. Hunter is doing a good job, Isaiah (is doing a good job), and we’re trying to put Kublanow in some game situations.”
Wynn appears to be the early — very early — leader. In last weekend’s scrimmage, he worked as the No. 1 center and made a good impression. Sale said Wynn has built on that performance in the two practices this week and likely will work again as the No. 1 center in another scrimmage Saturday.
“He’s kept moving forward,” Sale said of Wynn. “He’s on the up-climb.”
Kublanow indicated the position is a work in progress.
“Right now, I’m just playing wherever needs to be played — mainly working at guard, doing some center reps here and there, just trying it out,” Kublanow said. “We don’t have that much depth at center, and I may end up there. You never know.”
Injury update: Tailback Keith Marshall remains sidelined from practice with a hamstring injury, but running backs coach Thomas Brown said he hopes to have Marshall back before the end of spring drills.
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