There are no limitations on Keith Marshall this spring.
Marshall was working with Georgia’s running backs on the first day of spring practice and looked fully recovered from the many injuries that have caused him to miss much of the past two seasons.
“Keith has no limitations,” coach Mark Richt said Tuesday. “He looks good. He’s working on getting into playing shape.”
If healthy, Marshall could give the Bulldogs a formidable running back trio with Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.
Richt and Michel both said Marshall is leaner than in the past, but didn’t have his exact weight.
Marshall has missed most of the past two seasons with various injuries, but was more highly touted than Todd Gurley entering Georgia in 2013.
Michel, who also missed time last season with injuries, said Marshall is “100 percent, going full speed.”
“He was moving fast, moving good.”
Chubb said: “He’s back. Keith Marshall is back, and I’m excited about that. I look forward to Keith having a great year.”
Chubb was the SEC freshman of the year after rushing for 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2014.
Michel played in eight games as a freshman, rushing for 410 yards and five scores, and Marshall has 1,029 career yards and nine touchdowns.
A.J. Turman, who missed last season with a foot injury, also practiced.
Working out with the famous: There was no beach for Dominick Sanders.
The defensive back, who said he’s playing free safety, worked out with former Bulldogs A.J. Green and Justin Houston at Tucker’s Rock Hard Fitness during spring break.
Green is a Pro Bowl receiver with the Cincinnati Bengals, and Houston led the NFL with 22 sacks this past season.
“The workouts were early in the morning, so there wasn’t a lot of people in there who knew who they were,” he said.
QB race: New offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer spent at least part of practice watching Brice Ramsey, Faton Bauta and Jacob Park, who are competing for the vacant quarterback job.
Schottenheimer appears to be more calm than his predecessor Mike Bobo, who was hired as the head coach at Colorado State.
Schottenheimer knelt on the field and watched while the quarterbacks went through passing drills during the open media sessions.
“That’s going to be a hard call for the coaches to make,” Michel said. “All the quarterbacks are competing well and doing a great job.”
Linebacker Jordan Jenkins noticed differences in the offensive snap count during the part of practice when the two units lined up against each other. Chubb said the terminology is different under Schottenheimer and “and it throws you off sometimes.”
Ganus surprises: Jenkins wasn't sure what to expect from inside linebacker Jake Ganus, who transferred from UAB after that program was eliminated, but has been impressed with him.
“Ganus is fast, and he plays hard,” Jenkins said. “When we’re in the linebacker room, he calls plays the loudest. He’s not afraid to stand out from the pack.”
Ganus is one of several players, including Tim Kimbrough, who are in the running to replace Amarlo Herrera and Ramik Wilson at that position.
Kimbrough is the only returning inside linebacker who played in all 13 games last season.
Etc.: Georgia will go to full pads Saturday. … Malcolm Mitchell is at full speed and was practicing with the receivers after missing time last season with injuries. … Redshirt freshman Detric Bing-Dukes, who practiced at fullback last year, practiced with the linebackers. … Cornerback Shattle Fenteng, who was expected to contend for a starting job last season before missing the year with a shoulder injury, was practicing with the defensive backs. … Jenkins said he and offensive tackle John Theus almost had a "bout." He said he's ready to put on full pads and said some of the early entrees had what he calls the "high school daze." … New receivers coach Brian McClendon was very active running drills. New running backs coach Thomas Brown was more subdued working with his group. … Freshman defensive end Michael Barnett (shoulder) was in a green jersey.
