ATHENS — A disagreement with Georgia’s new strength-and-conditioning coach over training methods contributed to offensive lineman Brent Benedict’s decision to transfer.
Benedict, a redshirt freshman from Jacksonville who was the second-team right guard when he left, quit the team June 26 after meeting with coach Mark Richt to air his complaints. Benedict was granted an unconditional release by the Bulldogs and decided Monday to transfer to Virginia Tech.
“I wanted to talk to Coach Richt to see if things could be resolved before I decided to leave,” Benedict said. “I really felt that was the last-case scenario. That was the last thing I wanted to do was to leave the program. So I talked to Coach Richt, and we weren’t able to work things out. Unfortunately, that’s the way it ended up.”
Benedict, who had a total knee reconstruction in November 2009, confirmed that he had a disagreement with first-year strength-and-conditioning coordinator Joe Tereshinki Jr. Tereshinki is emphasizing cardiovascular conditioning and lower-body development during Georgia’s off-season workouts.
“Coach Tereshinski came in and he has his own philosophy, and he and the coaching staff believe that it’s going to work and there’s no reason not to believe that,” Benedict said. “So there were a few things going on, and I wasn’t able to resolve that. Of course I hope Georgia does well, extremely well. I’ve told all my buddies back there I wish them the best of luck, and I really believe it will be successful.”
Benedict committed to the Hokies after visiting Blacksburg this past weekend. He will have to sit out the 2011 season per NCAA transfer rules, but will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Lott injured
Sophomore defensive end Derrick Lott of Kennesaw suffered a deep cut on his right calf in a scooter accident outside Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall on Tuesday. Lott was transported by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital and underwent surgery Tuesday night. He is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks.
“There was an accident around 3 or 3:30 p.m. [Tuesday] on Butts-Mehre property,” UGA Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said Wednesday. “The driver of a scooter made contact with a fixed object and suffered a non-serious injury. The accident scene was completed by police, but no citations were issued.”
Lott (6-foot-4, 303 pounds) is listed No. 2 at right defensive end behind DeAngelo Tyson. He is a graduate of North Cobb High.
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