Aaron Rodgers' brother is QB possiblity against UGA
ATHENS –- While the Falcons have seen quite enough of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Georgia might get a look at the NFL player's younger brother in Saturday's game at Vanderbilt.
Junior-college transfer Jordan Rodgers will compete with senior Larry Smith for Vanderbilt's starting quarterback job in practice this week, Commodores coach James Franklin said Monday.
Smith, who has started 25 games over the past 2 ½ seasons, left last week's game at Alabama in the first quarter with an ankle injury. Rodgers played the rest of the game, though Franklin said afterward that Smith could have returned.
Asked whether Smith or Rodgers will start against Georgia, "We're going to determine that this week and have a competition and kind of see," Franklin said at his weekly news conference in Nashville.
Rodgers, who at 23 is four years younger than his famous brother, redshirted last season after transferring to Vanderbilt from Butte College in California. He underwent shoulder surgery in November.
Rodgers has relieved Smith in each of Vanderbilt's five games this season, getting his most extensive playing time in the 34-0 loss to Alabama. He completed 11 of 18 passes for 104 yards against the Tide but threw two interceptions. He ran four times for 23 yards.
"I thought Jordan played extremely well in the first half," Franklin said. "I don't think he played as well as he would have liked to play or we would have liked him to play in the second half."
Honors for Gilliard
Michael Gilliard had not started a game in two-plus seasons in Georgia's football program until injuries to Alec Ogletree and Christian Robinson put him into the lineup at inside linebacker last month. He has made the most of the opportunity, leading the Bulldogs in tackles in each of the past four games.
Gilliard had his finest game yet in Saturday's 20-12 victory at Tennessee, and on Monday he received two accolades for the performance: He was named the SEC's defensive player of the week and the College Football Performance Awards' national linebacker of the week.
Gilliard recorded a career-high 12 tackles against the Vols, including a sack (for minus-14 yards), and had a forced fumble, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.
"For him to get that player of the week honor, I'm happy for him ... because I know the work he has put in and the time he has invested," Robinson said Monday night. "And people were doubting him."
Said cornerback Brandon Boykin, "Like Coach [Todd] Grantham says, injuries create opportunities for other people. [Gilliard] got in the game, and he's been doing great. It adds a lot more depth for us as a defense."
Robinson has played in the past two games after missing the previous two with a foot injury, and Ogletree, who suffered a broken foot in the season opener, is expected back Oct. 29 against Florida. "I can't wait 'til Tree gets back," Robinson said. "He's getting ready."
Etc.
Placekicker Blair Walsh was named the SEC's special teams player of the week after making both of his field-goal attempts at Tennessee. ... Vanderbilt has something that none of Georgia's past three opponents can claim: a victory over an SEC opponent this season. While Georgia's past three opponents, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Tennessee, are a combined 0-7 in SEC games, Vanderbilt is 1-2, having won its league opener against Ole Miss. ... Georgia reached the halfway point of the regular season with a 4-2 record, marking the first time in three years the Bulldogs have been above .500 at midseason. They were 3-3 at this point in 2009 and 2-4 last season. ... On Georgia's latest depth chart posted Monday, Marlon Brown and Michael Bennett are listed as equal options to start at wide receiver in place of Malcolm Mitchell, sidelined this week with a pulled hamstring. Tavarres King is the starter at the other wide-receiver spot.
About the Author
Tim Tucker, a long-time AJC sports reporter, often writes about the business side of the games. He also had stints as the AJC's Braves beat writer, UGA beat writer, sports notes columnist and executive sports editor. He was deputy managing editor of America's first all-sports newspaper, The National Sports Daily.
