ATHENS, Ga. -- Will Friend cautioned reporters Tuesday against reading too much into any of the offensive line combinations they observe him testing in practice. After losing three senior starters, the Bulldogs are rebuilding their line this spring and their offensive line coach is nowhere close to settling on a lineup.
“There are more numbers. There needs to be some guys that kind of separate themselves,” Friend said. “That’s kind of what we want to happen in the spring and I think sometimes when one or two guys are playing a lot better than the rest of the group, sometimes it makes you think you don’t have as much depth because those guys are doing so well. We need some guys really to come through for us.”
Friend and Georgia’s other assistant coaches were collectively available for media interviews Tuesday for the first time since national signing day and Friend updated what he’s seeing from his linemen.
“There are more numbers. There needs to be some guys that kind of separate themselves,” Friend said. “That’s kind of what we want to happen in the spring and I think sometimes when one or two guys are playing a lot better than the rest of the group, sometimes it makes you think you don’t have as much depth because those guys are doing so well. We need some guys really to come through for us.”
Friend and Georgia’s other assistant coaches were collectively available for media interviews Tuesday for the first time since national signing day and Friend updated what he’s seeing from his linemen.
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There is no hiding the fact that athlete Reggie Wilkerson (Citron, Fla/North Marion) has long hoped for an offer from the University of Florida. But as the 5-foot-11, 176-pound Wilkerson waits on the Gators to pull the trigger, some intriguing offers came rolling in, including one from the University of Georgia while visiting Athens earlier this month.
As Wilkerson prepares to lead his team to a coveted state championship, he is not sure of what where or even what position he will play at in college -- a question his high school coaches have yet to answer. As Florida recruiting writer Corey Long writes, it is all part of the quest of an emerging athlete trying to improve on the field.
As Wilkerson prepares to lead his team to a coveted state championship, he is not sure of what where or even what position he will play at in college -- a question his high school coaches have yet to answer. As Florida recruiting writer Corey Long writes, it is all part of the quest of an emerging athlete trying to improve on the field.
Defensive back Nick Glass (Atlanta/St. Pius X) visited Athens for the Georgia junior day and left with an offer to play for the Bulldogs. DawgNation caught up to him moments after he received his offer to get his reaction.Aaron Murray has options at wide receiver
March, 28, 2012
3/28/12
12:33
PM ET
By
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
Aaron Murray would prefer to throw the ball to Malcolm Mitchell rather than by him. But he doesn’t have much of a choice this spring.
Mitchell, who shined during his freshman season at wide receiver with Georgia last year, was moved to cornerback this spring in order to help out with the lack of depth at the position.
“Obviously, it’d be great to have Malcolm play offense and defense, but I don’t think that’s humanly possible to be in that great of shape,” Murray said. “His main goal is to do what’s best for the team, and everyone supports him.”
The move certainly helps the defense, but it takes one of the SEC’s best receiving weapons from one of the SEC’s best passers. Losing Mitchell stings, but Murray thinks the Bulldogs are equipped with the talent to replace Mitchell if he stays on defense this fall.
For starters, Murray will have senior-to-be Tavarres King back on the field. King was expected to be the go-to guy in Georgia’s passing game last season, until Mitchell burst onto the scene. King caught 47 passes for 705 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and had a monster game in Georgia’s bowl loss to Michigan State. King grabbed six catches for 205 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown reception.
Mitchell, who shined during his freshman season at wide receiver with Georgia last year, was moved to cornerback this spring in order to help out with the lack of depth at the position.
“Obviously, it’d be great to have Malcolm play offense and defense, but I don’t think that’s humanly possible to be in that great of shape,” Murray said. “His main goal is to do what’s best for the team, and everyone supports him.”
The move certainly helps the defense, but it takes one of the SEC’s best receiving weapons from one of the SEC’s best passers. Losing Mitchell stings, but Murray thinks the Bulldogs are equipped with the talent to replace Mitchell if he stays on defense this fall.
For starters, Murray will have senior-to-be Tavarres King back on the field. King was expected to be the go-to guy in Georgia’s passing game last season, until Mitchell burst onto the scene. King caught 47 passes for 705 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and had a monster game in Georgia’s bowl loss to Michigan State. King grabbed six catches for 205 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown reception.
Carter wanted to get on the field in Athens 
March, 28, 2012
3/28/12
11:51
AM ET
By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
Last month, University of Georgia director of sports medicine Ron Courson took a look at linebacker Reginald Carter (Snellville, Ga./South Gwinnett) to see how well he had progressed since tearing his ACL five months ago. He then went to head Coach Mark Richt and gave his opinion. Shortly after, Richt gave Carter his first post-injury scholarship offer, which came as a tremendous relief to the 6-foot-2, 215-pound rising senior
“After getting hurt, I felt that with the work I put in to get strong, something good would come out of it,” Carter said. "So it felt great to get an offer from UGA.'
Last weekend, Carter was back in Athens to check out the Bulldogs in practice as they prepare to compete for a chance to return to the Southeastern Conference Championship.
“After getting hurt, I felt that with the work I put in to get strong, something good would come out of it,” Carter said. "So it felt great to get an offer from UGA.'
Last weekend, Carter was back in Athens to check out the Bulldogs in practice as they prepare to compete for a chance to return to the Southeastern Conference Championship.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Those who stuck with Tuesday’s Georgia-Clemson game to the bitter end got to see only the second college appearance of big Ben Ancheff.
A highly forgettable game for the Bulldogs -- Clemson won 10-5 -- saw the freshman keep the game interesting as the last of eight UGA pitchers.
Ancheff’s outing itself was not particularly memorable. He pitched 2/3 of a scoreless inning, allowing one hit and striking out one.
A highly forgettable game for the Bulldogs -- Clemson won 10-5 -- saw the freshman keep the game interesting as the last of eight UGA pitchers.
Ancheff’s outing itself was not particularly memorable. He pitched 2/3 of a scoreless inning, allowing one hit and striking out one.
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Ben Boulware's final two include UGA
March, 27, 2012
3/27/12
11:37
PM ET
By
Jamie Newberg | ESPN.com
Linebacker Ben Boulware (Anderson, S.C./T.L. Hanna) could be close to a decision. He confirmed via text message Tuesday evening that he’s down to two schools -- Clemson and Georgia.
Boulware has visited the Bulldogs twice this spring, once for a junior day last month and again this past weekend to watch a UGA spring practice. He lives 20 miles from Clemson and has been there on a number of occasions. Boulware told ESPN on Monday that he will attend a Tigers football practice this week.
Boulware, 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, recorded 180 tackles last year as a junior and has 420 for his career. Other scholarship offers for Boulware are from Tennessee, Georgia Tech, USF, Maryland, Stanford, UConn, UCLA, Texas A&M, Minnesota, Duke and Ole Miss.
Boulware has visited the Bulldogs twice this spring, once for a junior day last month and again this past weekend to watch a UGA spring practice. He lives 20 miles from Clemson and has been there on a number of occasions. Boulware told ESPN on Monday that he will attend a Tigers football practice this week.
Boulware, 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, recorded 180 tackles last year as a junior and has 420 for his career. Other scholarship offers for Boulware are from Tennessee, Georgia Tech, USF, Maryland, Stanford, UConn, UCLA, Texas A&M, Minnesota, Duke and Ole Miss.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia blew late leads in both Saturday and Sunday’s losses at Vanderbilt, but the Bulldogs allowed an early advantage to slip away almost immediately in Tuesday’s 10-5 loss to Clemson.
The Bulldogs built a 3-1 lead in the first when Hunter Cole scored on a wild pitch and Colby May drove in two with a double. But Clemson struck right back for three runs in the second -- including a two-run homer by Richie Shaffer -- and steadily pulled away for a lopsided win over the 18th-ranked Bulldogs.
Clemson (12-11) scored in every inning but the third and ninth, with Georgia (17-9) committing three errors and all but two of the Bulldogs’ eight pitchers allowing at least one run.
The Bulldogs built a 3-1 lead in the first when Hunter Cole scored on a wild pitch and Colby May drove in two with a double. But Clemson struck right back for three runs in the second -- including a two-run homer by Richie Shaffer -- and steadily pulled away for a lopsided win over the 18th-ranked Bulldogs.
Clemson (12-11) scored in every inning but the third and ninth, with Georgia (17-9) committing three errors and all but two of the Bulldogs’ eight pitchers allowing at least one run.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Former Georgia players visit the Bulldogs’ football practices on a fairly regular basis, but Mark Richt’s coaches hosted an ex-Bulldog for a special purpose on Tuesday.
Hines Ward -- who retired from the NFL exactly a week ago following a 14-year, Hall of Fame-caliber career with the Pittsburgh Steelers -- is shadowing Georgia’s staff to see whether coaching appeals to him as a next career step.
Ward was dressed in the same UGA wind shirt, shorts and hat as Georgia’s coaches would wear at the typical practice on Tuesday, although he didn’t take part in the actual instruction.
Hines Ward -- who retired from the NFL exactly a week ago following a 14-year, Hall of Fame-caliber career with the Pittsburgh Steelers -- is shadowing Georgia’s staff to see whether coaching appeals to him as a next career step.
Ward was dressed in the same UGA wind shirt, shorts and hat as Georgia’s coaches would wear at the typical practice on Tuesday, although he didn’t take part in the actual instruction.
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Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham met with reporters Tuesday for the first time since national signing day, touting the talents of converted receiver Malcolm Mitchell at cornerback, who he sees taking over for Brandon Boykin at nickelback and explaining more about what he hopes to accomplish by working outside linebackers Ray Drew and Cornelius Washington at defensive end.
Here is some of what Grantham told the beat writers after Tuesday's fifth practice of the spring.
Q: What’s your appraisal of how Malcolm is playing?
Here is some of what Grantham told the beat writers after Tuesday's fifth practice of the spring.
Q: What’s your appraisal of how Malcolm is playing?
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DawgNation’s Radi Nabulsi was on ESPN’s Athens affiliate 960 The Ref this morning talking Georgia spring football. Among some of the questions answered:
- How is the Georgia offensive line coming along?
- Who was fighting at practice last week?
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Last year, wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (Fort Valley, Ga./Peach County) was tops among all juniors in Georgia, with 1,024 receiving yards, good for fifth overall in the state. Robinson had 10 receiving touchdowns, as well as five on the ground. Schools including Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame and Oklahoma have offered the 6-foot-2, 200-pound ESPNU 150 prospect, and on Saturday, Robinson was in Athens for the first time since the fall, when he visited for the South Carolina game in September.
“It went good," Robinson said of his latest trip. “I was able to watch some of the practice, talk to some of the players and see some of the campus. There were about 40 other prospects in town, and we got to watch some of the highlights on the big screen on the stadium.”
Robinson said the visit helped Georgia in his eyes, and his family also enjoyed themselves.
“It went good," Robinson said of his latest trip. “I was able to watch some of the practice, talk to some of the players and see some of the campus. There were about 40 other prospects in town, and we got to watch some of the highlights on the big screen on the stadium.”
Robinson said the visit helped Georgia in his eyes, and his family also enjoyed themselves.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Brandon Boykin missed Georgia's March 5 pro day while still recovering from a broken leg suffered at the Senior Bowl, but the former Bulldogs cornerback has set a new date for an individual on-campus pro day.
Boykin will work out for pro scouts on April 9 according to NFLDraftScout.com's Rob Rang.
ESPN's Scouts.Inc rates Boykin as the No. 9 cornerback available in the upcoming NFL draft and the No. 66 overall prospect.
He won the Paul Hornung Award last season as the most versatile player in college football after contributing on offense, defense and special teams. Boykin made 55 tackles last season, 11 for a loss, and intercepted three passes. He also rushed seven times for 103 yards and a touchdown, caught five passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns and returned kickoffs and punts -- including a 92-yard punt return for a touchdown against Michigan State in the Outback Bowl.
Boykin will work out for pro scouts on April 9 according to NFLDraftScout.com's Rob Rang.
ESPN's Scouts.Inc rates Boykin as the No. 9 cornerback available in the upcoming NFL draft and the No. 66 overall prospect.
He won the Paul Hornung Award last season as the most versatile player in college football after contributing on offense, defense and special teams. Boykin made 55 tackles last season, 11 for a loss, and intercepted three passes. He also rushed seven times for 103 yards and a touchdown, caught five passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns and returned kickoffs and punts -- including a 92-yard punt return for a touchdown against Michigan State in the Outback Bowl.
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Josh Cardiello digs scrappy UGA practice
March, 25, 2012
3/25/12
11:26
PM ET
By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
So far, the University of Georgia coaching staff has little to complain about in regard to how recruiting has gone in the 2013 cycle. With nine commitments to date, the Bulldogs are ahead of last year’s pace by more than four months, and with six of those commits appearing on the ESPNU 150 Watch List, there is quality as well as quantity on board. But one position that has yet to yield an addition might also be the biggest need for this class: offensive lineman.
One of the Bulldogs' top O-line targets was in town Saturday for his second visit this month, and some players and coaches in Athens hoped he would decide to make March 24 even more special for him than it already is.
“They all told me happy birthday and put a little pressure on me, but not too much,” Josh Cardiello (Buford, Ga./Buford) said. “Shaq Wiggins was telling me to commit on my birthday so that would be my birthday present to myself.”
One of the Bulldogs' top O-line targets was in town Saturday for his second visit this month, and some players and coaches in Athens hoped he would decide to make March 24 even more special for him than it already is.
“They all told me happy birthday and put a little pressure on me, but not too much,” Josh Cardiello (Buford, Ga./Buford) said. “Shaq Wiggins was telling me to commit on my birthday so that would be my birthday present to myself.”
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Results: No. 17 Georgia got the week started with a bang by beating No. 14 Georgia Tech 7-1 at Foley Field, but then dropped two of three games at Vanderbilt over the weekend (1-0 win on Friday and 5-4 and 5-3 losses on Saturday and Sunday, respectively). The Commodores rallied to win in the late innings both Saturday and Sunday.
Georgia record: 17-8 (3-3 SEC)
Highlight of the week: The win against Tech was Georgia’s first at home in quite some time. The Bulldogs were 1-5 against the Yellow Jackets in the previous two seasons, but struck first with two meetings against Tech left on this season’s schedule.
Georgia record: 17-8 (3-3 SEC)
Highlight of the week: The win against Tech was Georgia’s first at home in quite some time. The Bulldogs were 1-5 against the Yellow Jackets in the previous two seasons, but struck first with two meetings against Tech left on this season’s schedule.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
David Ching
David Ching came to ESPN.com in 2011 after six years covering UGA for the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer and Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald. He lives in Athens. Email him at davidchingespn@gmail.com.
Radi Nabulsi
Radi Nabulsi joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Georgia for Rivals.com for four years and for the UGA Athletic Association since 1993. Nabulsi is a graduate of the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and lives in Athens. He can be reached at radinabulsiespn@gmail.com.
Kipp Adams
Kipp Adams joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering University of Georgia football and basketball recruiting for five years at Rivals.com. He lives in Sandy Springs, Ga., and enjoys spending time with his two sons. He can be reached at kippadamsespn@gmail.com.