Based on the statistics from Saturday’s scrimmage, A.J. Turman is Georgia’s top tailback, Matt Price is the top receiver and Jake Ganus is a budding star at inside linebacker.
Some or all of that may come true, but those facts provide a little perspective on what was on display Saturday at Sanford Stadium as the Bulldogs’ conducted their first game-simulation scrimmage of the spring.
It was a long and very productive affair, according to coach Mark Richt. But just who was getting what kind of work against whom was a subjective endeavor dictated by the coaching staff.
For instance, Nick Chubb, who had more than 1,500 yards rushing as a freshman last season, did not record a yard or even a carry.
“He played; he didn’t have any stats,” Richt said in a post-practice briefing at Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall. “He played every third down today. We wanted to focus on his pass protection and route-running, that kind of thing.”
Fellow tailback Keith Marshall did not participate because of a hamstring injury suffered in Thursday’s practice. Sony Michel (shoulder) was shut down for the rest of the spring earlier this week because of a shoulder injury.
So that left Turman, Brendan Douglas and Quayvon Hicks to take the majority of snaps in the backfield. Turman, a sophomore, ended as the day’s leading rusher, with 87 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. Most of his work came with the No. 2 offense. Douglas had 30 yards on 14 carries with the No. 1 unit, and Hicks, normally a fullback, had nine for 71 yards as the No. 1 offense went against the No. 3 defense.
Such idiosyncrasies led to inflated or deflated numbers for various players. Price, for instance, is a redshirt freshman walk-on. Working with the No. 3 offense, piloted by quarterback Jacob Park, he was sent deep twice and hauled in his two catches for 129 yards and a 69-yard touchdown. Conversely, working against the No. 1 defense, Malcolm Mitchell and Isaiah McKenzie managed three catches each.
Ganus, a senior transfer from UAB, was extremely impressive while logging time with the No. 2 defense. He checked nearly every defensive box from his inside linebacker position. He led all players with 10 tackles and also had a sack, an interception and a pass break-up.
Another revelation from Saturday’s scrimmage was a more accurate view of the quarterback competition. Park continues to impress, and he managed 187 yards passing on his limited opportunities (4-for-7). But comparatively, it was Brice Ramsey and Faton Bauta who got the real offensive work done. Primarily working with the No. 1 offense, Ramsey was 16-of-32 for 232 yards with 2 TDs and 2 interceptions. Working with the 2s, Bauta was 17-of-30 for 247 yards, two scores and one interception.
“There were flashes by all of them at certain times,” Richt said of three quarterbacks, who are competing to succeed Hutson Mason. “Sometimes they’d drop back and do exactly what they were supposed to do and throw beautiful strikes. … And then there were some times where you shake your head a little bit. They all have to learn that every play is not going to be successful and sometimes you’ve got to throw the ball away.”
Hurting at receiver: Once again, the Bulldogs find themselves paper thin at the receiver position. Richt revealed Saturday that junior flanker Blake Tibbs is out for the spring with a shoulder injury and while withholding the players' identity, added that another wideout my have sprained an ankle Saturday. That comes after losing Charlie Hegedus and Shakenneth Williams — both of whom were having great camps — to hamstring injuries earlier this week.
“We’re hurting at receiver right now, just from a numbers standpoint,” Richt said. “We were down to eight and trying to go with three units. … We may have to enlist a defensive back just to get us through practice.”
Of the 11 receivers enrolled for spring, only seven are on scholarship. Four signees will join the team this summer.
Statistics: Rushing — A.J. Turman 15-87-1, Quayvon Hicks 9-71, Brendan Douglas 14-30; passing — Brice Ramsey 16-32-232-2-2, Faton Bauta 17-30-247-2-1, Jacob Park 4-7-187-1-0; receiving — Justin Scott-Wesley 8-127-1, Clay Johnson 5-101, Jeb Blazevich 4-57-1, Malcolm Mitchell 4-44, Isaiah McKenzie 3-43, Reggie Davis 1-41, Kenneth Towns 2-35, Jay Rome 3-35, Brendan Douglas 4-26; defense — Jake Ganus 10T, INT, PBU, sack; Chris Mayes 7T, 2 TFL, sack; Tim Kimbrough 6T; Malkom Parrish 5T, INT; Sterling Bailey 5T, TFL; Jarvis Wilson 5T, 2 PBU, TFL; Chuks Amaechi 5T, TFL, Reggie Carter 5T, 2 PBU, 1 FF; Aaron Davis 4T, PBU; Josh Dawson 4T, TFL, sack; Quincy Mauger 3T, INT (41 ret). 3 tackles — John Atkins, Devin Bowman, Detric Bing-Dukes, Devin Gillespie, James DeLoach.
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