Georgia Bulldogs
UGA LB Nakobe Dean missing from scrimmage
Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean takes the field for the annual G-Day football game on Saturday, April 20, 2019, in Athens. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
The Georgia Bulldogs conducted their second game-simulation scrimmage of preseason camp Saturday at Sanford Stadium. A cloudless sky and temperatures that reached 95 degrees greeted the Bulldogs, who will open the season on the road against Vanderbilt in exactly two weeks.
Some observations from the 10-minute viewing window offered to media:
- Freshman Nakobe Dean was not spotted among the inside linebackers as the Bulldogs warmed up by position group before the scrimmage. The reason for his absence was not immediately known. "He wasn't able to scrimmage today," Smart said of Dean, ranked the No. 1 high school linebacker in America last year, "but he's going to be fine, we think. He got out there and moved around some, did some stuff." Smart didn't specify Dean's injury. Dean was the No. 1-ranked inside linebacker prospect in America when he signed with UGA out of Horn Lake, Miss., in December. Currently he's running behind Tae Crowder, Monty Rice, Channing Tindall and Quay Walker.
- Senior defensive end David Marshall was back on the field with the defensive line after missing all or parts of the past two practices. He's still recovering from a Lisfranc fracture in his left foot that sidelined him for the second half of last season and required surgery to repair. He did not appear to have any limitations Saturday.
- Inside linebacker Nate McBride was back to full speed after missing several practices last week with an undisclosed injury.
- Running back D'Andre Swift was participating without any obvious limitations. The junior missed part of a practice earlier this week.
- After position work, the Bulldogs held a 7-on-7 competition and a one-on-one pass rush competition before scrimmaging.
- Ben Cleveland and Cade Mays continue to alternate reps with the No. 1 offense at right guard. Mays, a sophomore from Knoxville, Tenn., also is working at center behind starter Trey Hill and at both tackle positions.
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