Georgia opened spring practice Saturday morning with its coaching staff intact after Tony Ball said 'no thanks' to Tennessee this week.
The Bulldogs' wide receivers coach interviewed with the Vols for their vacant running backs coaching position on Thursday. Ball was reportedly offered the job but chose to remain with Mark Richt at Georgia, where he has coached since 2006.
"I can tell you that I’m thrilled that he’s still here,” Richt said following Georgia’s first practice of the spring on Saturday. “Tony’s one of the best coaches I’ve been around. He’s so meticulous with his work and doesn’t take anything for granted.
McGarity declined to comment on reports that Ball will receive a raise from Georgia. He currently has a one-year contract as the Bulldogs' wide receivers coach and earns $210,000 a year, which is the average among Georgia's nine assistant coaches.
Ball is the third Georgia assistant coach who has been the subject of overtures from other teams since the end of the season. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham interviewed for the same position with the New Orleans Saints and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo was offered the same position with Virginia Tech this year. Bobo is also expected to receive a pay increase before his current contract expires at the end of June.
Ball came to Georgia from Virginia Tech in 2006. He was coaching receivers with the Hokies but coached running backs for the Bulldogs through 2008. Then Georgia elevated Bryan McClendon from graduate assistant to running backs coach in 2009 and moved Ball to receivers. The Bulldogs' wide receivers have played very well under Ball's tutelage.
Short on tailbacks
The idea of tailback Todd Gurley carrying the load in regular season isn't too troubling, but having to do so in spring practice is a bit unsettling. Gurley, who rushed for 1,385 yards and 18 touchdowns as a freshman last season, was getting the majority of work on the first day of workouts Saturday. Georgia's other two scholarship returnees at the position, Keith Marshall (hamstring) and Brandon Harton (unknown) were sidelined with injuries.
In order to shore up the depth, the Bulldogs' were working freshman J.J. Green at tailback. The 5-foot-9, 186-pounder from Camden County is a midyear enrollee who signed with UGA with "athlete" listed as his position. He's expected to end up at wide receiver and is also a kick-return specialist.
The only other tailbacks in school are walkons Kyle Karempelis and Dominic Bryant. Bryant was also in a green, non-contact jersey Saturday for an unknown injury.\
“Right at this moment we need (Green) to be (at tailback),” Richt said. “He’s not going to be a split receiver or a wide receiver. He’s going to be more of a slot receiver. That’s where we thing he’ll find his niche with us. Of course we’ll see what he can do on special teams as well.”
Practice schedule altered
The original spring schedule had the Bulldogs practicing 14 times before the April 6 G-Day Game. But Richt decided late this past week to move two practices to after the G-Day game. Monday's practice was been moved April 9 and the April 5th practice moved to April 11th.
Richt said he decided to make the change to build in off days between Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday practices. “That’s better for teaching and better for third bodies not to go every day,” he said.
Numbers game
Thirteen freshmen signees and first-year transfers were among the 110 players who were put through the paces on Woodruff Practice Fields for Georgia’s first workout of the spring session on Saturday. The Bulldogs practiced for two hours in helmets and no pads in mid-40-degree temperatures.
Following are the jersey numbers that the new players were assigned:
- DT John Atkins – 97
- OL Aulden Bynum – 70
- OL Josh Cardiello – 60
- LB Reggie Carter – 45
- TB J.J. Green – 15
- FS Tray Matthews – 28
- DB Quincy Mauger – 20
- NG Chris Mayes – 93
- QB Brice Ramsey – 12
- LB Ryne Rankin – 38
- WR Jonathan Rumph – 18
- WR Tramel Terry – 1
- CB Reggie Wilkerson -- 9
Scene and heard . . .
Tray Matthews was getting work with the No. 1 defense at free safety on Saturday. . . . Signee Leonard Floyd watched the defensive linemen and linebackers practicing from the sidelines Saturday. Floyd signed with the Bulldogs out of Hargrave Military Academy, a prep school in Virginia. But he was unable to get his academics in order in time to become a midyear enrollee. He has now finished school and is back home in Eastman, Ga., until he enrolls in May or June. . . . Sitting out practice with injuries Saturday were wide receivers Rantavious Wooten and Tramel Terry and offensive linemen Chris Burnette and John Theus. . . . There were a number of former Bulldogs watching practice Saturday, including David Pollack, David Greene, Ben Jones and Christian Robinson.
