Georgia Bulldogs: Collin Barber
ATHENS, Ga. -- Over the last two weeks, we reviewed the competition for playing time at each position on Georgia’s depth chart and identified a player to watch at each position.
A defense that lost 12 significant players will be a focal point well into the fall, and it was in our post-spring recaps. Let’s take a look at the defensive positions first:
A defense that lost 12 significant players will be a focal point well into the fall, and it was in our post-spring recaps. Let’s take a look at the defensive positions first:
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Editor’s note: DawgNation's post-spring positional analysis continues this week after focusing on the offense last week. Today we examine the special teams players:
Returning players/stats: K Marshall Morgan, So. (8-14 FG, 63-67 PAT, 87 points); P Collin Barber, So. (60 punts, 2,488 yards, 41.5 yards per punt), P Adam Erickson, Jr. (8-296, 37.0 ypp); KOR Malcolm Mitchell, Jr. (16 returns, 360 yards, 22.5 yards per return); KOR Todd Gurley, So. (7-243, 34.7 ypr, 1 TD); PR Mitchell (11-57, 5.2); PR Rhett McGowan, Sr. (9-75, 8.3); PR Damian Swann, Jr. (5-37, 7.4) S Nathan Theus, So.
Newcomers: Tramel Terry, Fr. (ESPN's No. 89 overall prospect of 2013. No. 9 athlete. Enrolled in January); Reggie Davis, Fr. (No. 45 wide receiver. Expected to enroll this summer); J.J. Green, Fr. (No. 58 CB. Enrolled in January); Rico Johnson, Fr. (No. 122 WR. Expected to enroll this summer)
Returning players/stats: K Marshall Morgan, So. (8-14 FG, 63-67 PAT, 87 points); P Collin Barber, So. (60 punts, 2,488 yards, 41.5 yards per punt), P Adam Erickson, Jr. (8-296, 37.0 ypp); KOR Malcolm Mitchell, Jr. (16 returns, 360 yards, 22.5 yards per return); KOR Todd Gurley, So. (7-243, 34.7 ypr, 1 TD); PR Mitchell (11-57, 5.2); PR Rhett McGowan, Sr. (9-75, 8.3); PR Damian Swann, Jr. (5-37, 7.4) S Nathan Theus, So.
Newcomers: Tramel Terry, Fr. (ESPN's No. 89 overall prospect of 2013. No. 9 athlete. Enrolled in January); Reggie Davis, Fr. (No. 45 wide receiver. Expected to enroll this summer); J.J. Green, Fr. (No. 58 CB. Enrolled in January); Rico Johnson, Fr. (No. 122 WR. Expected to enroll this summer)
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia’s coaching staff proved in the last two seasons that it is more than willing to play a newcomer in order to address glaring needs. And as they prepare to put the finishing touches on their 2013 signing class, the coaches can only hope that the newest Bulldogs can be as effective as their predecessors from that last two years at addressing Georgia’s depth concerns.
Mark Richt’s critics might once have had a point when they observed that his coaching staff gave veterans too much of a benefit of the doubt when it came to playing them over talented young players. The last two seasons have neutralized those criticisms, as it’s hard to imagine Georgia having won the last two SEC East titles without extensive contributions from brand new Bulldogs.
Think back to 2011, when John Jenkins’ emergence at nose guard was one of the leading factors in Georgia’s defensive resurgence that carried the Bulldogs to their first division title since 2005. Or how tailback Isaiah Crowell led the team with 850 rushing yards en route to SEC Freshman of the Year honors. Or how Malcolm Mitchell and Chris Conley both made their share of big plays at receiver, as did Amarlo Herrera at linebacker.
Mark Richt’s critics might once have had a point when they observed that his coaching staff gave veterans too much of a benefit of the doubt when it came to playing them over talented young players. The last two seasons have neutralized those criticisms, as it’s hard to imagine Georgia having won the last two SEC East titles without extensive contributions from brand new Bulldogs.
Think back to 2011, when John Jenkins’ emergence at nose guard was one of the leading factors in Georgia’s defensive resurgence that carried the Bulldogs to their first division title since 2005. Or how tailback Isaiah Crowell led the team with 850 rushing yards en route to SEC Freshman of the Year honors. Or how Malcolm Mitchell and Chris Conley both made their share of big plays at receiver, as did Amarlo Herrera at linebacker.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Editor’s note: Each day between now and Georgia’s Capital One Bowl date with Nebraska, we will review the season for a key Bulldogs player and attempt to project what’s next. Today we’ll look at punter Collin Barber.
No. 32 Collin Barber
Freshman/Punter
57 punts for 2,371 yards, 41.6 avg., 60 long
Role in 2012: Barber arrived on campus during the summer and won the punting job by the time the regular-season opened and did a fine job in his first season as a college player.
The good: Barber and pooch punter Adam Erickson rarely had a huge swath of green space to punt into thanks to Georgia’s offensive efficiency this season. That probably affected their yards-per-punt averages, as most of the time they punted it high to prevent a return or tried to drop it inside the opponent’s 20-yard line to give them poor field position. Both players were effective in that endeavor, with 27 of Barber’s 57 punts resulting in a fair catch and 18 leaving the opponent inside its 20.
The bad: Georgia finished in the middle of the pack in net punting -- 59th nationally at 36.78 yards per punt -- but Barber and Erickson limited opponents’ chances to even attempt a return. Opponents returned only 14 kicks all season for a total of 156 yards -- 70 of which came on South Carolina star Ace Sanders’ return for the only touchdown against Georgia’s punt team this season. Still, the Bulldogs could use a little more distance on the punts in the future in addition to the height.
Crystal ball: Barber is just the second freshman punter to start under Richt (the first was Gordon Ely-Kelso, who averaged 39 yards per punt as a freshman in 2003). Barber’s numbers were OK and figure only to improve over time. He and Erickson definitely helped their coverage team prevent big plays. After the South Carolina game, when Sanders broke the long return, the Bulldogs punted 32 times in seven games, but opponents totaled only 35 punt return yards.
No. 32 Collin Barber
Freshman/Punter
57 punts for 2,371 yards, 41.6 avg., 60 long
Role in 2012: Barber arrived on campus during the summer and won the punting job by the time the regular-season opened and did a fine job in his first season as a college player.
The good: Barber and pooch punter Adam Erickson rarely had a huge swath of green space to punt into thanks to Georgia’s offensive efficiency this season. That probably affected their yards-per-punt averages, as most of the time they punted it high to prevent a return or tried to drop it inside the opponent’s 20-yard line to give them poor field position. Both players were effective in that endeavor, with 27 of Barber’s 57 punts resulting in a fair catch and 18 leaving the opponent inside its 20.
The bad: Georgia finished in the middle of the pack in net punting -- 59th nationally at 36.78 yards per punt -- but Barber and Erickson limited opponents’ chances to even attempt a return. Opponents returned only 14 kicks all season for a total of 156 yards -- 70 of which came on South Carolina star Ace Sanders’ return for the only touchdown against Georgia’s punt team this season. Still, the Bulldogs could use a little more distance on the punts in the future in addition to the height.
Crystal ball: Barber is just the second freshman punter to start under Richt (the first was Gordon Ely-Kelso, who averaged 39 yards per punt as a freshman in 2003). Barber’s numbers were OK and figure only to improve over time. He and Erickson definitely helped their coverage team prevent big plays. After the South Carolina game, when Sanders broke the long return, the Bulldogs punted 32 times in seven games, but opponents totaled only 35 punt return yards.
'Dream Team' impacts UGA's 2013 class 
November, 21, 2012
11/21/12
11:00
AM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia’s recruiting class for 2013 is ranked No. 10 in the new class rankings released Wednesday and with a few key commitments, the Bulldogs could climb the list even higher.
Georgia has had four classes ranked sixth or better in the last five years, the only exception being the 2010 class. That group of signees was small and only three members from that class are starters today. Granted, Alec Ogletree, Jarvis Jones and Kenarious Gates are three of the Bulldogs’ top players, but the 2010 class and the 2010 season left much to be desired. Georgia finished that year 6-7, Mark Richt’s only losing season at Georgia.
The following year Richt and his staff rededicated themselves to the recruiting trail and landed what he called the “Dream Team.” The Class of 2011 was ranked No. 6 in the nation and had an instant impact as Georgia won the SEC East and played in the SEC title game. The two year turnaround from the losing season to being the division champions removed the hot seat talk that had hounded Richt and in 2011 he signed the No. 5 recruiting class in the country.
Georgia has had four classes ranked sixth or better in the last five years, the only exception being the 2010 class. That group of signees was small and only three members from that class are starters today. Granted, Alec Ogletree, Jarvis Jones and Kenarious Gates are three of the Bulldogs’ top players, but the 2010 class and the 2010 season left much to be desired. Georgia finished that year 6-7, Mark Richt’s only losing season at Georgia.
The following year Richt and his staff rededicated themselves to the recruiting trail and landed what he called the “Dream Team.” The Class of 2011 was ranked No. 6 in the nation and had an instant impact as Georgia won the SEC East and played in the SEC title game. The two year turnaround from the losing season to being the division champions removed the hot seat talk that had hounded Richt and in 2011 he signed the No. 5 recruiting class in the country.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
UGA's special teams struggles continue
October, 21, 2012
10/21/12
10:00
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Imagine if you dare what might have happened if Connor Norman hadn’t saved Georgia by recovering an onside kick with just less than four minutes to play in the Bulldogs’ 29-24 win at Kentucky on Saturday.
Georgia had just allowed Kentucky to tiptoe back into the game with a 75-yard touchdown drive and was clinging to a 5-point lead when Wildcats kicker Joseph Mansour tapped an onside kick that had nearly trickled the necessary 10 yards when he crouched to dive on the loose ball. Only Norman raced to dive on the ball a split second before him, preventing Kentucky from attempting a potential game-winning drive that could have devastated the Georgia program and its fans.
“Connor was heads up to go in there and snatch it and be strong enough to convince the officials that it was his. So it was a huge play,” a relieved Georgia coach Mark Richt said after the game. “It was a lot of huge plays in the game, but Connor did a great job.”
Georgia had just allowed Kentucky to tiptoe back into the game with a 75-yard touchdown drive and was clinging to a 5-point lead when Wildcats kicker Joseph Mansour tapped an onside kick that had nearly trickled the necessary 10 yards when he crouched to dive on the loose ball. Only Norman raced to dive on the ball a split second before him, preventing Kentucky from attempting a potential game-winning drive that could have devastated the Georgia program and its fans.
“Connor was heads up to go in there and snatch it and be strong enough to convince the officials that it was his. So it was a huge play,” a relieved Georgia coach Mark Richt said after the game. “It was a lot of huge plays in the game, but Connor did a great job.”
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
UGA midseason report card: Special teams
October, 14, 2012
10/14/12
7:00
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
Editor’s note: Georgia’s football season is halfway over and the Bulldogs will take this weekend off before resuming SEC play next Saturday at Kentucky. We’ll take a look at a different position group each day this week and evaluate how it performed in the first half of the season in our DawgNation midseason report cards.
ATHENS, Ga. -- A year after special teams play was a glaring weakness for Georgia, it was more of a mixed bag for the Bulldogs in the first half of this season.
Todd Gurley returned Georgia's first kickoff of the season for a 100-yard touchdown against Buffalo, but South Carolina’s Ace Sanders returned a punt for a touchdown last week that all but eliminated Georgia’s chances for victory.
ATHENS, Ga. -- A year after special teams play was a glaring weakness for Georgia, it was more of a mixed bag for the Bulldogs in the first half of this season.
Todd Gurley returned Georgia's first kickoff of the season for a 100-yard touchdown against Buffalo, but South Carolina’s Ace Sanders returned a punt for a touchdown last week that all but eliminated Georgia’s chances for victory.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Upon Further Review: Georgia-Vanderbilt
September, 24, 2012
9/24/12
10:03
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Another week, another blowout win for Georgia in Saturday’s 48-3 victory against Vanderbilt.
Let’s review some of what I learned from watching a recording of ESPN2’s broadcast in this week’s “Upon Further Review.”
• I don’t want to go too far overboard in praising Georgia’s offensive line. Interviewing Will Friend will condition you in that way, I guess. But they truly have played great in the last two games. I don’t know how many times I’ve written down Chris Burnette and Dallas Lee’s names for pulling and knocking a potential tackler out of the screen while rewatching the last two games, but it has been a frequent occurrence. Great job on their parts.
Let’s review some of what I learned from watching a recording of ESPN2’s broadcast in this week’s “Upon Further Review.”
• I don’t want to go too far overboard in praising Georgia’s offensive line. Interviewing Will Friend will condition you in that way, I guess. But they truly have played great in the last two games. I don’t know how many times I’ve written down Chris Burnette and Dallas Lee’s names for pulling and knocking a potential tackler out of the screen while rewatching the last two games, but it has been a frequent occurrence. Great job on their parts.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Bulldogs reflect on what they learned
September, 6, 2012
9/06/12
1:06
PM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
DawgNation asked Mark Richt and a number of Georgia players what exactly they learned about their football team after finally getting back on the field last Saturday. After going through the game tape, the responses were quite varied.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Keith Marshall didn't take long to get any freshman jitters out of his system.
The former five-star tailback prospect was on the field for the very first play of Georgia's season-opening win against Buffalo as a member of the Bulldogs' kickoff coverage team.
"It felt good. It was nerve racking because I was excited," Marshall said. "It was good to get the first hit out of the way."
The former five-star tailback prospect was on the field for the very first play of Georgia's season-opening win against Buffalo as a member of the Bulldogs' kickoff coverage team.
"It felt good. It was nerve racking because I was excited," Marshall said. "It was good to get the first hit out of the way."
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
ATHENS, Ga. -- One of Georgia’s greatest areas of emphasis during the offseason was improving its atrocious results on special teams -- particularly in covering kicks.
So how did the Bulldogs fare in their first time out after inserting more starters and key players on the special teams units? Pretty well, actually.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
BUFFALO AT GEORGIA
Saturday, 12:21 p.m. ET
Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga.
SEC Network/Watch ESPN
Saturday, 12:21 p.m. ET
Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga.
SEC Network/Watch ESPN
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Notebook: Richt intrigued by kickers, TBs
August, 29, 2012
8/29/12
8:28
PM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Count Mark Richt among those who are curious about how Georgia’s kicking situation will shake out in Saturday’s opener against Buffalo.
The Bulldogs’ head coach said after Wednesday’s practice that freshman kicker Marshall Morgan and punter Collin Barber’s readiness to perform is what he will be most interested to evaluate this weekend.
“Kickers and punters,” Richt said, “I’m very interested to see how that goes.”
Richt added that he is intrigued to watch how the Bulldogs’ tailbacks -- including freshman newcomers Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall -- acquit themselves in their first college game.
“It’s going to be fun to watch our backs,” he said. “Those would probably be the top two right now for me.”
The Bulldogs’ head coach said after Wednesday’s practice that freshman kicker Marshall Morgan and punter Collin Barber’s readiness to perform is what he will be most interested to evaluate this weekend.
“Kickers and punters,” Richt said, “I’m very interested to see how that goes.”
Richt added that he is intrigued to watch how the Bulldogs’ tailbacks -- including freshman newcomers Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall -- acquit themselves in their first college game.
“It’s going to be fun to watch our backs,” he said. “Those would probably be the top two right now for me.”
Notebook: Richt plays coy on suspensions
August, 28, 2012
8/28/12
9:56
PM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia coach Mark Richt played it coy when asked about safety Bacarri Rambo and linebacker Alec Ogletree being listed atop the depth chart for the Bulldogs’ game against Buffalo on Saturday.
“We’ll just have to wait and see. Time will tell,” Richt said about what to expect from the two players Saturday, provoking uncomfortable laughter from the media members gathered in the room. “I’m glad we can laugh about that.”
Although Richt has never acknowledged a punishment for either player, suspension rumors have surrounded Rambo and Ogletree since the spring, when both players reportedly failed drug tests.
“We’ll just have to wait and see. Time will tell,” Richt said about what to expect from the two players Saturday, provoking uncomfortable laughter from the media members gathered in the room. “I’m glad we can laugh about that.”
Although Richt has never acknowledged a punishment for either player, suspension rumors have surrounded Rambo and Ogletree since the spring, when both players reportedly failed drug tests.
ATHENS, Ga. -- With roughly a week left before Georgia opens the season against Buffalo, the Bulldogs’ coaching staff is still sorting through its final starting personnel decisions.
Coach Mark Richt said Friday evening that the staff has essentially nailed down the lineup for the Sept. 1 Buffalo game, but that some positions on the special-teams units might still be up for grabs.
“I think we know who’s starting at every position. Some of that on defense just depends on what personnel group jumps out first. But I’m pretty sure," Richt said. "Now in the kicking [game], I wouldn’t say that’s etched in stone. I wouldn’t say even the return men. The names we’ve been talking about are the guys that are going to be doing it, but just to say who’s going to be the first one, I wouldn’t say we know that 100 percent.”
Coach Mark Richt said Friday evening that the staff has essentially nailed down the lineup for the Sept. 1 Buffalo game, but that some positions on the special-teams units might still be up for grabs.
“I think we know who’s starting at every position. Some of that on defense just depends on what personnel group jumps out first. But I’m pretty sure," Richt said. "Now in the kicking [game], I wouldn’t say that’s etched in stone. I wouldn’t say even the return men. The names we’ve been talking about are the guys that are going to be doing it, but just to say who’s going to be the first one, I wouldn’t say we know that 100 percent.”
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
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.