ATHENS — John Jenkins won’t start the game when the Georgia defense takes the field against Boise State at the Georgia Dome on Saturday, but that has done nothing to lessen the anticipation of the nose guard from Connecticut, who was one of the Bulldogs’ biggest signees last February.
When Jenkins, a 6-foot-4, 350-pound junior-college transfer, signed with UGA the Saturday after signing day, it was expected that he would start for the Bulldogs when they opened the 2011 season. But a couple of things happened that nobody expected seven months ago.
One, Kwame Geathers came into his own. The 6-6, 350-pound sophomore out of Georgetown, S.C., perhaps motivated by the coaching staff’s feeling it needed to recruit over him at the position, was the Bulldogs’ defensive MVP during spring practice and carried that momentum into preseason camp.
Two, Jenkins sustained a hamstring injury midway through preseason camp. With him on the sidelines, Geathers operated unchallenged. Meanwhile, defensive line coach Rodney Garner expressed frustration with Jenkins’ absence.
“You can’t make the club from the tub,” Garner told reporters before Jenkins returned to the practice field earlier this week.
But Jenkins said all as well. As for incurring the wrath of Garner, he said. “That’s love. That’s love. That’s all that is.”
Tamburo’s role minimal
Michael Tamburo told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution early last month he didn’t plan to have any pow-wows with Georgia coaches about Boise State’s offense. This week, Bulldogs coaches insisted they resisted the urge to ask.
Tamburo, a sophomore quarterback from Suwanee, transferred to Georgia from Boise State this summer to get closer to home and finish his degree requirements at UGA.
“It’s obvious that we have everybody’s film,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “We can study everyone’s film. We can talk to all the coaches that have played them in the league. So that’s where we get our information from. Now [defensive coordinator Todd Grantham] might’ve spent time with him. I don’t know.”
Said Grantham: “You know, we really just watch tape and the plays that were run and the way they run them, and all that stuff tells them what you’ve gotta know.”
Injury report
Starting tailback Richard Samuel, who has been out the past two weeks with a strained quadriceps, was expected to practice full speed for the first time as the Bulldogs conducted a dress-rehearsal practice at Sanford Stadium on Thursday, a practice closed to the media.
Meanwhile, third-string tailback Brandon Harton continues to battle an ankle injury. The former walk-on, placed on scholarship this summer because of his impressive practice performances, has been in a walking boot and on crutches when not on the football field.
“I’m maybe not quite at 100 percent, but before Saturday I should be,” Harton said. “I feel confident that by game time I should be ready.”
Every tailback Georgia has been sidelined with some sort of injury this fall, including freshman Isaiah Crowell (groin), redshirt freshman Ken Malcome (groin) and junior Carlton Thomas (ankle).
Etc.
Boise State was scheduled to arrive in Atlanta between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Friday. An NCAA rule prevents teams from arriving earlier than 48 hours before a competition while school is in session. ... Boise State coach Chris Petersen and Richt will hold a joint news conference in advance of the game at 1:25 p.m. Friday at the Omni Hotel. ... Boise State’s radio play-by-play man Bob Behler is a 1985 graduate of UGA. ... Georgia’s tennis team plays Boise State at the Atlanta Athletic Club at 4 p.m. Friday. ... Sports radio station 680 The Fan has organized a concert in Centennial Olympic Park in conjunction with the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game. O.A.R is the featured band for the “Downtown Touchdown Concert.” Gates open at noon, with music set to start at 1 p.m.
About the Author
