Georgia coach Mark Richt indicated the recent move of freshman Tramel Terry from wide receiver to free safety is more than a bowl practice experiment. If it goes like the Bulldogs hope, Terry will stay there.
“He’s got a good body type for (safety) and we thought it’d be good for him,” Richt said after Georgia’s two-hour practice Wednesday. “He was all for it, so that’s what we’re doing.”
As for whether the move would stick, Richt said, “I wouldn’t say anything is ever permanent, but the plan is for him to be there. He played a lot of defense growing up. Right now we think it’s best for him and he feels good about it.”
Terry, who was named “Mr. Football” in South Carolina after his senior year at Goose Creek High School, signed with Georgia’s 2012 recruiting class as an “athlete.” But his reputation was built on being an offensive play-maker. Terry rushed and passed for more than 3,300 yards and 40 touchdowns his last two years in high school.
But the Bulldogs were 10th in SEC in passing yards allowed this season (232.8 ypg) and are seeking massive improvement before next season. Freshmen Tray Matthews and Quincy Mauger manned free safety this past season but both were inconsistent.
Richt said Georgia’s defensive coaches have been recruiting Terry to make the switch all season.
“They liked what they saw and thought it might be a good move for the defense,” Richt said. “Coach Grantham sees him as a great-looking prospect at safety. It was a playful thing to begin with, but it got more serious as the season went along.”
Erickson No. 1 at punter: The competition is ongoing but Richt indicated junior walkon Adam Erickson remains the No. 1 punter ahead of sophomore Collin Barber.
“He’s won the punting job,” Richt said. “They’re still competing for it on a weekly basis, but he’s outright won the job. Collin’s got his work cut out for him to beat him out.”
Erickson has punted sporadically throughout the season and started against Georgia Tech. He’s averaging 41.8 yards on nine punts while Barber averaged 44.1 on 29 attempts. Erickson also served as the holder for placement kicks and the backup field-goal kicker on some conference road games.
Amazing Mayes: Noseguard Chris Mayes a 6-foot-4, 321-pound sophomore from Griffin, started seven games and finished with 28 tackles and a sack. But he said he was more surprised than anybody when he was designated as the Bulldogs' Defensive Newcomer of the Year (along with freshman outside linebacker Leonard Floyd) at the team's Senior Gala Saturday.
“I was shocked actually,” Mayes said with a laugh. “I was sitting there talking and I had no clue what was going on and they called my name. I said, ‘what do they want.’ They told me ‘get up on the stage, bud.’ I appreciated getting noticed for the little things I do.”
He said it: "It was a real honor. I just played real hard and that's what happened. That wasn't even my radar. I was just trying to help the team and win games." — Junior LB Ramik Wilson on being named first-team All-SEC by both the coaches and writers this season.
Etc.: Mike Bobo was named one of five finalists for the 247Sports.com's Offensive Coordinator of the Year award. … FB Corey Campbell, OG Hunter Long and CB Shaq Wiggins were sidelined with concussions. … Richt would not say why quarterback Christian LeMay was not at practice on Wednesday but said the redshirt sophomore would be back on Friday. Freshman receiver Uriah LeMay, Christian's younger brother, was at practice Wednesday.
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