ATHENS — Everybody in Boise, Idaho, is excited about the Broncos playing Georgia in the Georgia Dome on Sept. 3, but no one is more excited than Tommy Smith.
Smith is a junior inside linebacker for the Broncos and the only Boise State player from Atlanta, or Georgia, for that matter. As such, he has been the No. 1 thorn in the side of his teammates the past few weeks.
Players get just two tickets apiece for away games. Smith said he needs 27 — at least.
“I’ve got 17 right now,” Smith said in a telephone interview this week. “I thought this would be an easy game to get tickets for, but it’s been pretty hard. Hopefully I can get 10 more.”
Playing Georgia in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game — playing Georgia anywhere, in fact — is something Smith never dreamed of when he signed with the Broncos out of North Atlanta High.
“Definitely not in the Georgia Dome,” Smith said. “I’m really excited about getting back home and playing in the Georgia Dome in front of my friends and family. I found out when it was released to the newspaper. I started thinking then about how many tickets I could get.”
Smith is currently a backup to Byron Hout, a senior who’s best known for being punched and knocked out by Oregon’s LeGarrette Blount in 2009. Smith plays regularly and filled in last season when Hout was out with a broken foot. He has had 49 tackles the past two seasons.
Tailback talk
There were conflicting reports after practice Thursday as to how much tailback Richard Samuel was able to participate. Running backs coach Bryan McClendon said the big junior was able to do everything, including 11-on-11 work. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo insisted he did not have Samuel for 11-on-11.
Suffice it to say, Samuel is back and is involved in preparations for Boise State. The 6-2, 238-pound running back has been out for nearly two weeks with a strained quadriceps.
Nevertheless, McClendon indicated that, barring further injury setbacks, Samuel likely will start against Boise State.
“If they’re healthy it’d be Richard and Isaiah [Crowell] right now,” he said when asked the likely order of appearance.
Injury report
Asked to comment on the play of nose guard John Jenkins, defensive line coach Rodney Garner groused. “If you want to know about him you have to ask Ron Courson,” he said.
Courson is Georgia’s director of sports medicine. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Jenkins remains in Courson’s charge. He has been out a week with a pulled hamstring.
Running back Brandon Harton also was out Thursday with an undisclosed leg injury suffered in Wednesday’s scrimmage. McClendon indicated it was not serious. Fullback Bruce Figgins (hamstring) and wide receivers Marlon Brown (ankle) and Malcolm Mitchell (hamstring) also sat out.
Etc.
Offensive line coach Will Friend said sophomore Dallas Lee will be the “first guy in” off the bench for the Bulldogs at either guard or center. He would be followed by David Andrews, then Austin Long. However, Kenarious Gates would shift from guard to either left or right tackle if necessary. ... Outside linebacker Ray Drew has recovered enough from the separated shoulder he suffered in a scooter crash to be counted on to play against Boise State. ... Safety Corey Moore and cornerback Damian Swann are freshmen currently playing on the second-team defense.
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