Redshirt freshman Brice Ramsey has played in five of Georgia’s 11 games this season. So it would follow that he is the heir apparent to Hutson Mason as the Bulldogs’ quarterback next season.
As ESPN’s Lee Corso might say, “not so fast, my friend.”
Mason said it wouldn’t be wise to count out Jacob Park just yet. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound quarterback from Goose Creek, S.C., is one of only a handful of freshmen who haven’t seen the field in a game for the Bulldogs this season. But his coaches and teammates see him daily at practice, and they’ve been impressed.
“He’s got a lot of arm talent; he’s got a lot of ability,” said Mason, a senior who also went the redshirt route, although as a junior. “Strong arm and very athletic runner, too. Probably the most athletic kid we’ve got here at the athletic position. He can really run well.”
The most common comparison one hears for Park is Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers. So Park has all the athletic requirements for the position. It’s in other areas that he needs to focus his energy.
“For him it will just be diving into that playbook and learning it to the best of his ability,” Mason said.
Park is one of seven players in Georgia’s 2014 recruiting who has not played this season. The Bulldogs signed only 20 overall, one of whom quit over the summer, one had to give up football via medical hardship and another was dismissed from the team in early October. So Georgia has definitely gotten some bang per letter-of-intent. You may have heard of a few of their freshmen.
Tailback Nick Chubb has earned five SEC freshman-of-the-week honors and rushed for more than 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns. Outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter was tabbed defensive player of the week earlier this month. Dominick Sanders has started every game in the defensive backfield this season. Tight end Jeb Blazevich is the team’s fourth-leading receiver.
“It seems like all our young guys are playing,” senior linebacker Amarlo Herrera said. “There’s really not that many that aren’t playing.”
There are a few freshmen that the Bulldogs haven’t heard much from to this point, however, and their coaches and teammates are certain you will eventually.
The Bulldogs redshirted two of the four offensive linemen they signed. Kendall Baker (6-foot-6, 280 pounds) was a four-star prospect coming out of Marist but projects as a tackle and Georgia is well-stocked there at the moment. Fellow offensive lineman Jake Edwards (6-4, 275) suffered an ACL injury over the summer and had to sit out via medical redshirt.
But freshmen Isaiah Wynn and Dyshon Sims have both played a lot in backup roles this season, and Wynn will figure into the competition to succeed David Andrews at center.
“I think all four of those guys are really going to help out,” Andrews said. “They’re all good players, hard workers from what I’ve seen. … Isaiah has impressed me a lot. He’s just a naturally gifted kid and I think he can do a lot. Spring is going to be big for those guys. The season is such a grind and so much goes into getting the game plan down. In the spring it’ll be all about individuals and technique and that time is going to be huge for those guys.”
Defensively, cornerback Shattle Fenteng was in line to start before a shoulder injury forced him into a medical redshirt.
So athletic is Detric Bing-Dukes of Tucker that he has worked at fullback and linebacker for the Bulldogs this season. He finally settled on defense.
“He can be a big-time player if he keeps working,” Herrera said. “He’s back with us, and he’s looked good. He’s just got to learn what he’s doing.”
