The Bulldogs have had four tailbacks leave the roster for various reasons in the last 16 months and McClendon dealt with numerous disciplinary issues among his players last season, but he said things have changed for the better.
“Right now I think just as far as the mind state that our room is having right now is just very positive,” McClendon said after Sunday morning’s practice. “Everybody’s working, everybody’s excited to be there. You’re not having to spend time on a lot of negative things, so to speak, that’s going to take away from anything that’s going to try to get to the main goal that not only you have as a segment, but you have as a team.
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Yes, Georgia’s coaches were interested in all 19 players on some level, Garner said, but they only contacted three or four players on the list. He did not reveal their names.
“I don’t remember. We can’t say anyway,” Garner said. “I’m like, ‘Well, where’s everybody else’s list at? Did they have to do that?’ ”
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Video: Georgia’s 2012 breakout player
Aaron Murray, Christian Robinson, Chris Burnette and Richard Samuel reveal to Radi Nabulsi of DawgNation the name of at least one player they expect to have a breakout season in 2012.
Around the Hedges in 80 Days: A. Murray 
Twenty-seven days remain until Georgia kicks off its season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 1. In the days counting down to the opener, DawgNation will profile, with our “Around the Hedges in 80 Days” series, a Bulldogs player we expect to make an impact. We will review each player’s career thus far and project his long-term potential as we progress through our alphabetical list, from center David Andrews to receiver Rantavious Wooten.
27. Aaron Murray
Junior, Quarterback
6-foot-1, 210 pounds
Fall forecast: Entering his third season as Georgia’s starting quarterback, Murray is a staple on multiple All-SEC and award watch lists after setting a new school record with 35 touchdown passes last season and helping lead the Bulldogs to their first SEC East title since 2005. Murray has a chance to rank among the Bulldogs’ top quarterbacks in history by the time his career is over. He can help his cause by cutting back on the turnovers he lost last year -- including 14 interceptions -- which he says can happen through improved footwork and better decision-making. Nonetheless, he is by all accounts one of the team’s leaders and one of its most productive offensive players.
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Notebook: Mitchell on offense vs. Buffalo? 
Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said after Saturday’s third preseason practice that he wants Malcolm Mitchell to be available on offense as well as defense for the Buffalo game.
“We may start integrating him into a few things offensively,” Richt said of Mitchell, who was a Freshman All-SEC receiver last season. “We’re not going to expect him to play every play, but I do want him to available to play some offense as early as the first game.”
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And it’s a good thing because they have no shortage of candidates to evaluate.
“There’s still some competition there. I’m not 100 percent certain,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said Saturday before mentioning sophomore Ramik Wilson as a leading candidate for the job and raving about true freshmen Jordan Jenkins, James DeLoach and Josh Dawson for the second consecutive day.
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Smith was arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession in March during spring break, but Richt said that after examining the details of the case, Smith will not be suspended.
"After just gathering all the information, determining what happened, we’ve got peace that we’re doing the right thing," Richt said.
Smith is among at least three projected defensive starters who have been arrested since the end of last season. Cornerback Sanders Commings and outside linebacker Chase Vasser will both serve two-game suspensions to open the season, but Smith was able to avoid game punishment for his off-field incident.
Smith entered a pre-trial diversion program in May and said he passed drug tests immediately after his arrest that proved he was not using marijuana.
"I’m happy that everything got cleared," said Smith, speaking to reporters for the first time since his arrest.
The senior's availability brings unexpected depth to Georgia's secondary in the early season, following a tumultuous offseason. Smith started seven games last season and played in all 14, contributing on offense, defense and special teams. He made 24 tackles and two interceptions, rushed for 100 yards on 13 carries, caught three passes for 39 yards and also returned a handful of kickoffs and punts.
Smith said he was relieved that his case was resolved in such a way as to provide some good news.
"Nobody wants to hear bad things with the players," Smith said. "We’re just sticking together. No matter what happens, we’re just sticking together and good things are going to turn out."
The Bulldogs lost only two starters -- cornerback Brandon Boykin and defensive end DeAngelo Tyson -- from last season's talented defense and most of their top reserves remain, as well, so Smith said he remains excited about the group's capabilities, particularly when everyone is available.
"We have our whole defense coming back," he said. "Out there today, we were practicing hard, strong and just fast. Everybody’s having fun out there. We’re just ready for the season to start. We’re connecting as one group and we’re just going with it."
Video: Georgia freshmen impressing
Mark Richt and members of the Bulldogs football team answer DawgNation's question about how the new Georgia freshman performed during summer workouts.
OL Crowder is close to naming finalists 
The center from Rockingham (N.C.) Richmond told ESPN on Friday that he is close to narrowing his list of schools. He said that announcement could come in the next couple of days or within a week.
“I can't say but they have a good chance,” the nation's 97th best overall prospect and second-best center said when asked if he expected North Carolina to make the cut.
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Around the Hedges in 80 Days: M. Morgan 
28. Marshall Morgan
Freshman, Place-kicker
6-foot-3, 201 pounds
Fall forecast: While Georgia’s coaches didn’t hand Morgan the starting kicker job before he had started his first preseason camp with the Bulldogs, it certainly seems as though the job is his to lose. One of the nation’s top kicking prospects in the 2012 signing class, Morgan hopes to take over as Blair Walsh’s replacement immediately, and he has the ability to do it. He went 10-for-12 on field goals as a high school senior -- including a Broward County (Fla.) record 59-yard field goal -- and kicked all but one of his kickoffs into the end zone for a touchback. Freshman kickers sometimes endure growing pains, however, and it bears watching whether Morgan is prepared to make a high-pressure kick in front of 100,000 screaming fans.
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Video: UGA veterans ready to hit the field
The first day of on-field practice for the Georgia Bulldogs was preceded by a session with the media. Excitement and spirits were high.
Dantzler, Theus work to replace Houston 
After Friday’s second preseason practice, Richt predicted that both players would get an opportunity to work alongside veteran right guard Chris Burnette with the first-team offensive line in upcoming practices.
“We’ll probably try to give those guys equal reps with the ones and twos because if you’re playing next to Burnette, there’s an advantage there rather than playing next to a true freshman,” Richt said.
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“We actually, after our staff meeting this morning, talked about every true freshman with their position coaches and everybody’s really pretty pleased with the talent base that we brought in and the attitude, the willingness to learn and be coached -- a lot of things that you know are going to be important if a guy’s going to really become a good player one day,” Richt said. “The skill sets are outstanding, the athleticism’s outstanding.”
In fact, while he isn’t guaranteeing playing time this fall to all 17 newcomers, Richt said each of them is capable of playing in 2012 if necessary.
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UGA's Harvey-Clemons at safety -- for now 
At 6-foot-5 and 207 pounds, Harvey-Clemons -- whom ESPN rated as the nation’s top outside linebacker prospect of 2012 -- is probably a bit too thin for linebacker, making the secondary a better location for a player with his athleticism.
“His body right now is more ready to do that,” Richt said after Friday’s second preseason practice. “I don’t think he’s really thick enough at this moment and strong enough to play that outside linebacker position. He could do it athletically without question. He could play safety without question. I think he could play the nickel, I think he could probably play corner.
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Sign language: Georgia Bulldogs
What started as a simple slogan has completely taken hold of Georgia's football team.
The Finish the Drill sign means something to the Bulldogs on the football field, in the weight room and in everyday life. It pushes them to be better, stronger and faster when coaches and teammates yell it during workouts. It challenges them to be smarter in tough situations during practice. And it forces them to keep going, even when every inch of their bodies lights on fire from a grueling session with a strength coach or a tiring practice.
All of this is so the Bulldogs can play for four quarters on Saturday, giving everything in order to go until the clock hits zeros. You can find this sign just about everywhere inside Georgia's football facility.

