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Monday, March 25, 2013
 Will Tray Matthews start for UGA?
By Brent Sobleski

UPDATE: Georgia safety Tray Matthews is been given every opportunity to shine during Georgia's spring practices, and he's caught the attention of his teammates.

"Tray looks really good," Georgia wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell told Seth Emerson of the Macon Telegraph. "I think he could (start). Not taking away from anybody else, because anybody else could start as well. I'm not saying who's gonna be the starter, but he definitely could start because he definitely has athletic ability, and the physicality to play safety. I think he's a good player. I don't know how good he is as far as the coverages or anything, but that just comes with time. When everything's put in, then you'll know."

Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham didn't place high expectations on Matthews as the team entered spring practice, but the Bulldogs prefer he finds a niche within this year's team (see: below).

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Four-star safety Tray Matthews (Newnan, Ga./Newnan) was one of Georgia's top signings among its latest recruiting class. Opportunity exists for Matthews to start after seniors Bacarri Rambo and Shawn Williams exhausted their eligibility. But it make take Matthews some time before he finds himself in Georgia's starting lineup.

"Josh Harvey-Clemons is a prime example of how hard it is for a freshman to see the field under Todd Grantham, who values experience," Seth Emerson of the Macon Telegraph wrote. "That’s why I’d guess that Connor Norman and Corey Moore have as good a chance to start at safety as Matthews. But the expectation is Matthews is good enough to work his way into the lineup eventually -- the way Alec Ogletree did as a freshman safety, and Jordan Jenkins did this past year at outside linebacker."

Georgia has a tremendously difficult schedule to start the season. The Bulldogs face both Clemson and South Carolina in the first two weeks of the season before an open date is scheduled prior to the North Texas game. It's the contest against the Green Wave where Matthews can be expected to see extended playing time and really start working his way into the team's defensive rotation.

David Ching
Georgia's plans for Tray Matthews
"Clearly Georgia coaches want Matthews to make the two-deep at minimum -- and win a starting job if possible. He was their highest-rated safety signee and possesses both impressive ball skills and the knack to deliver a powerful hit. A strong spring will give him a leg up on taking over Rambo's role at free safety."