ATHENS — The secret is out. Safety Shawn Williams is going to play some linebacker for the Bulldogs. But he didn’t know it was known when he was first asked by reporters Wednesday. So he tried to deny it.
“I’m still a safety,” he said. “I don’t know anything about that position.”
But coach Mark Richt and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham had already confessed after Williams was observed working with the inside linebackers in practices Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Yeah, he’s doing a little work there,” Richt said after Wednesday’s workouts at Woodruff Practice Fields. “It’s so often that a safety does spin down inside the box to play the run in a certain gap. So he is a big-enough body and a guy who has played that responsibility. But I don’t think it’ll be an every-down thing.”
Then Richt added: “I’d also like to say to Coach Grantham, ‘they already knew coach, so don’t get mad at me.’”
Grantham had already begrudgingly admitted as much Tuesday.
Georgia is having to shuffle players around to fill the void left from the foot injuries of starting inside linebackers Alec Ogletree and Christian Robinson. Cornerback Brandon Boykin said Wednesday that Williams is working with the first team at Ogletree’s “Mo” linebacker position, and junior Michael Gilliard is manning the “Mike” position, which makes the calls on defense.
Williams is one of the Bulldogs’ best tacklers and often rolls down to man gaps on run downs. Starting both games at safety, he’s fifth on the team with 10 stops.
“I think I’m an athlete,” said Williams, who played some linebacker at Early County High. “I feel like I can play any position they put me at right now. If they want me at D-end, I feel like I can go out there and do it if I put my mind to it.”
With Williams at linebacker, Sanders Commings shifts back to safety from cornerback.
White sidelined
Georgia tight end Aron White missed his second day of practice this week with a sprained right knee and is considered “questionable as best” for Saturday’s game, Richt said.
White, a senior who already has graduated, was injured in Saturday’s game. He is the second-team tight end behind junior Orson Charles. Sophomore Arthur Lynch will absorb White’s playing time.
Figgins among captains
Fulllback Bruce Figgins was among four players designated as captains for Saturday’s game. The others are center Ben Jones, Boykin and Charles.
Richt felt especially good about the designation for Figgins. The senior from Columbus was switched from tight end after last season and has overcome suspensions, injuries and a late-career redshirt season.
“I haven’t seen Bruce this happy in a while,” Richt said. “It’s been tough. He’s had some tough bumps in the road, but this kid has overcome it. He’s become a leader. He’s become an excellent fullback. He’s still a very good tight end.
“I’m so thankful that this experiment worked out as well as it did.”
Smith ‘good to go’
Boykin has been a national sensation with his ability to play offense, defense and return kicks. Boykin leads the SEC and is sixth nationally with 194 all-purpose yards per game.
Ninety-four yards have come on runs on offense. That’s a role usually reserved for defensive teammate Branden Smith. But Smith hasn’t gotten an offensive carry. Georgia coaches say it’s because of a foot injury suffered late in preseason camp.
But Smith says he’s fine now and can take some offensive snaps if needed.
“I’m just waiting on my name to get called,” Smith said. “Right now they’re calling Brandon’s name, and he’s on fire, so I’m not mad. ... It’s the coach’s call. If he thinks I’m healthy enough to play offense, then he’ll put me in there. Like I say, I’m 100 percent ready. I can return punts, play defense, play offense, whatever, so I’m here to help the team win.”
Like Boykin, Smith also returns kicks and plays defense. He has returned three punts for 37 yards.
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