ATHENS — In a word, Georgia’s special teams have been deplorable this season.
What makes that such a shocking revelation is the fact that, entering the season, it generally was believed that the Bulldogs would have one of the best units in the country. They featured a Ray Guy Award winner in punter Drew Butler, a Lou Groza Award finalist in kicker Blair Walsh and a record-setting kick returner in Brandon Boykin.
Entering the final one-third of the season, the Bulldogs are last in the SEC in kickoff coverage, kickoff returns, field-goal percentage and opponents’ punt returns. They’re also seventh in punt returns and eighth in kickoff returns.
Georgia has had some colossal breakdowns. It has allowed two kickoff returns for touchdowns, a punt return for a touchdown, a fake punt for a touchdown and another fake punt for a first down that led to a touchdown.
The Bulldogs gave up 200 yards on five kickoff returns to Florida on Saturday, including a 99-yard touchdown. New Mexico State, Saturday’s opponent, is ranked 12th in kickoff returns. Wide receiver Taveon Rogers is tied for the national lead with two kickoff returns for touchdowns.
“Early in the year we were doing some things fundamentally extremely well, then we got sloppy in this last ballgame,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “We are challenging a lot of the guys who play more scrimmage downs to get involved.”
Several defensive starters and frontline players were seen working on the No. 1 kickoff team Tuesday, including Sanders Commings, Amarlo Herrera, Chase Vasser and Shawn Williams.
Harton, Karempelis get chance
Brandon Harton and Kyle Karempelis look like the big winners in Georgia’s Great Tailback Exodus, Part II.
Harton (5-foot-6, 174 pounds) is a sophomore who earned a scholarship right before the season. Karempelis (5-9, 180) is a freshman walk-on who has not played.
Each moves up after the Bulldogs lost four tailbacks to suspensions and injury Tuesday. Isaiah Crowell, Carlton Thomas and Ken Malcome were suspended. Richard Samuel underwent regular-season ending ankle surgery.
“[Harton] probably would have played some early if he hadn’t had a badly sprained ankle early,” Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said Tuesday. “He was behind Isaiah and Richard before that, and we were planning to play him. I feel confident in him.”
Harton had 11 carries for 33 yards against Coastal Carolina. Karempelis gained 5,756 yards and scored 93 touchdowns in high school at Wesleyan.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him run on Saturday,” Bobo said. “He’s got quickness, showed a lot of flashes in camp. He’s been on the scout team mostly. But he got out there today and ran behind those big boys and did a good job.”
Etc.
Offensive line coach Will Friend said freshman David Andrews will be the first player if the Bulldogs encounter another injury on the line Saturday. Georgia lost starting left guard Dallas Lee to a broken leg in the third quarter against Florida. He was replaced by Kenarious Gates, who played “the best he’s played this year,” Friend said. Andrews would take over at center, and Ben Jones would slide to another position. ... Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones was named the Bronko Nagurski national player of the week Tuesday for his four-sack performance against Florida.
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