Georgia Bulldogs

ATHENS, Ga. -- Mark Richt had no connection to the SEC when he became Georgia’s head coach in 2001, but he knew better than to let the same be said of his coaching staff. Nearly half of Richt’s first staff had SEC experience -- and Richt readily admits that was by design.

In defensive line coach Rodney Garner, he had not only a former All-SEC player and coach at Auburn and Tennessee, he had a well-connected recruiting coordinator who helped keep Richt’s first signing class intact.

In Neil Callaway, he hired a hard-nosed offensive line coach who played under Bear Bryant at Alabama and coached under Pat Dye at multiple stops including Auburn.

In Mike Bobo, he added a young former Georgia quarterback whose father built a decades-long reputation as a football coach within the state.

And in Jon Fabris, he had a live wire who brought intensity to each practice after playing in the league at Ole Miss and coaching at multiple stops, including South Carolina.

Over the last 13 years, Richt has developed plenty of experience in the league, leading the Bulldogs to two SEC titles and five Eastern Division crowns. Throughout that time, however, the SEC presence has remained on his staff.

Bobo is the lone holdover from Richt’s first batch of hirings, but he now has company from another former Georgia player, running backs coach Bryan McClendon, and a number of other assistants who have played and coached in the league.

Offensive line coach Will Friend was an All-SEC performer at Alabama and once served as a UGA graduate assistant under Richt. New defensive line coach Chris Wilson came to Georgia in the offseason after a stint as defensive coordinator at Mississippi State. And while he never coached in the SEC prior to becoming the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator in 2010, Todd Grantham worked under the league’s current kingpin, Nick Saban, as an assistant at Michigan State.

In other words, it isn’t necessary to hire a head coach with SEC ties for the coaching staff to still have the league’s distinct flavor. Richt was an up-and-coming Florida State coordinator who ran a high-scoring finesse offense when he accepted the Georgia job and yet his collection of assistants included tough coaches who cut their teeth in the SEC, helping mold differing philosophies into a winning combination.

Few programs have won more consistently than Georgia since Richt took over as the Bulldogs’ head coach, so previous SEC experience might be slightly overrated as a predictor of future success in the league. Richt’s tenure might never have gotten off the ground, however, if he hadn’t initially hired some coaches who understood the SEC’s physical demands and who already developed key recruiting contacts within the state and region.

Multiple philosophical changes that Richt instituted played some part in Georgia’s sustained success, but his tendency to hire coaches who already have a lay of the land within the nation’s most competitive football conference has been one of the most important stabilizing factors of his tenure.

GEORGIA BULLDOGS

2012 record: 12-2

2012 conference record: 7-1 (first, SEC East)

Returning starters: Offense: 10; defense: 4; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners: QB Aaron Murray, RB Todd Gurley, CB Damian Swann, WR Malcolm Mitchell, OLB Jordan Jenkins, OL Kenarious Gates, OG Chris Burnette, ILB Amarlo Herrera

Key losses: OLB Jarvis Jones, LB Alec Ogletree, S Shawn Williams, S Bacarri Rambo, NG John Jenkins, CB Sanders Commings, WR Tavarres King

2012 statistical leaders (* - returner)
Rushing: Gurley * (1,385 yards)
Passing: Murray * (3,893 yards)
Receiving: King (950 yards)
Tackles: Alec Ogletree (111)
Sacks: Jones (14.5)
Interceptions: Swann * (4)

Spring answers
1. Safety starters: With 2011 All-Americans Rambo and Williams completing their college careers, the Bulldogs entered the spring with two big holes at safety. It appears sophomore Josh Harvey-Clemons and January enrollee Tray Matthews have all but claimed the starting positions, however. Harvey-Clemons was named the Bulldogs’ defensive MVP of spring practice, and Matthews generated the most buzz of anyone this spring with his ability to deliver crushing hits. Georgia’s inexperience along the back end of the defense is not ideal, but the two youngsters could become a pleasant surprise.

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ATHENS, Ga. -- Considering how he accounted for all of 14 tackles as a true freshman, perhaps it is premature for some observers in the media to declare Josh Harvey-Clemons as Georgia’s next big defensive star. But Georgia’s coaching staff didn’t do anything to diminish the hype when it named the versatile sophomore as the Bulldogs’ defensive MVP at the end of spring practice.

At 6-foot-5 and around 220 pounds, Harvey-Clemons looks more like a shooting guard on Georgia’s basketball team than the SEC football star he could become this fall. And yet his multi-positional versatility could make him one of the league’s more difficult defenders to plan for, as -- at least for now -- it’s unclear where defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has in mind for him right now.

We know he plans to use Harvey-Clemons as a strong safety in Georgia’s base defense and in a nickelback/outside linebacker hybrid role at times when the Bulldogs employ a nickel defense. It might take a game or two, though, before opponents develop an idea of where Harvey-Clemons might line up at any given time.

Even when they finally figure out Harvey-Clemons’ probable location, it will be another thing altogether to make plays against him. He’s quick, he has strong coverage skills and he likes to hit. That sounds like a solid SEC defender -- and a player Georgia fans will enjoy watching for at least the next two seasons.

2012 review: Although he made some noise with a handful of interceptions during preseason practice, Harvey-Clemons’ role was limited almost exclusively to special teams as a freshman. He played in all 14 games and totaled 14 tackles, one tackle for a loss and one pass breakup.

2013 preview: Count on seeing the sophomore all over the place this fall. He’ll play some safety in the base defense. He’ll play nickelback. He’ll play outside linebacker. And there’s a better-than-average chance that he’ll wreak some havoc from all three.

Spring prospectus: Harvey-Clemons was one of the most scrutinized players entering spring practice, but he won the Bulldogs’ defensive MVP award just before G-Day. Grantham said Harvey-Clemons won the award because he was one of the Bulldogs’ most consistent playmakers throughout the spring.

Career potential: The ceiling for Harvey-Clemons is perhaps as high as it is for any player on Georgia’s roster. Questions remain as to where he will eventually settle positionally, but the hybrid role Grantham envisions will be allow him to take advantage of Harvey-Clemons’ wide range of skills. Perhaps if he adds weight, he can become a full-time outside linebacker -- the position where ESPN listed him as the top prospect of 2012 -- but it might simply be that Harvey-Clemons never fits into a particular box. Regardless, he will almost certainly become one of Georgia’s top defensive players this fall and seems on track for college stardom.

ATHENS, Ga. -- James DeLoach wasn’t the highest-rated player in Georgia’s 2012 signing class.

Heck, he wasn’t even the highest-rated player from tiny Jenkins County High School (enrollment of approximately 400) to sign with the Bulldogs that year. That honor went to defensive lineman Jonathan Taylor, who was ESPN’s No. 53 overall prospect. But DeLoach is on the verge of making an impact alongside the more heralded members of his crop of recruits.

DeLoach played sparingly last fall as a freshman, but has an opportunity to become a starting outside linebacker this season. If DeLoach’s progress from a strong spring continues, he’ll prove that even if he didn’t receive as much attention as some of his fellow 2012 signees -- particularly one from his own Class A high school -- he was far from being just a throw-in to secure Taylor’s signature.

2012 review: DeLoach drew consistent praise from defensive coordinator Todd Grantham starting in preseason camp, but the freshman barely made an impact on scrimmage downs. He played in 13 games and totaled just four tackles and two quarterback pressures in limited work.

2013 preview: With veteran pass rushers Jarvis Jones and Cornelius Washington out of the picture, DeLoach stands to figure more heavily in Grantham’s plans this fall. DeLoach was the starting strongside linebacker in the base 3-4 package during spring drills and will battle for that honor this fall.

Spring prospectus: By all accounts, it was a productive spring for DeLoach. With Chase Vasser still sidelined by his recovery from shoulder surgery, DeLoach got a long look at SAM linebacker and finished second on the starting defense with six tackles and a sack in the G-Day game. He’ll have to compete with Vasser and others once the team returns to the practice field in August, but DeLoach seemed to help his cause this spring.

Career potential: Georgia had no idea what it had on its hands when DeLoach signed with the Bulldogs, only that he had a future as a defensive player. He had played multiple positions on either side of the ball in high school and Georgia’s coaches thought he could become a defensive end, inside linebacker or outside linebacker depending on how his body filled out over time. DeLoach has found a home at SAM, although at his listed weight of 270 pounds, he can always slide down to end in certain situations. That versatility is going to make him a valuable player for Georgia over at least the next two seasons.

ATHENS, Ga. -- He came into Georgia’s spring practice as one of the most talked-about players on the Bulldogs’ roster and leaves having validated that buzz.

But Josh Harvey-Clemons was still stunned when Georgia’s coaching staff last week named him as the team’s most valuable defensive player for the spring.

“I was shocked. I would have never guessed that,” said Harvey-Clemons, wearing a wide grin after his Black team rallied to beat the Red 23-17 in Saturday’s G-Day game.

The rising sophomore strong safety figured that Sheldon Dawson, who intercepted three passes before injuring his hamstring and missing G-Day, or early enrollee Tray Matthews, whom teammates lauded for his hard hits in practice, would win the award.

“But I thank God they did give it to me,” he laughed.

It was an easy choice, said defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, because of the varying ways that Harvey-Clemons can impact a game. He is the Bulldogs’ starting strong safety in the base 3-4 defense, but can shift to nickelback and outside linebacker in other packages, forcing opponents to account for his whereabouts.

“There’s certain guys on your team that you look for explosive plays out of and I think he’s going to be one of those guys,” Grantham said.

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Edward Aschoff and DawgNation's David Ching discuss Georgia's younger but hungry defense in 2013.

ATHENS, Ga. -- Hutson Mason is not a rookie, but he felt like one in some ways during Saturday’s G-Day game.

After redshirting last fall -- his third season in college -- to gain a year of separation between himself and fourth-year starting quarterback Aaron Murray, Mason had to shake off some jitters entering his first competitive game in a year.

“Coming into this, I was treating this like a game for me because it’s been so long that I’ve really emotionally and mentally been like, ‘Hey man, this is game day,’ ” said Mason, who led the Black team to a comeback 23-17 victory over the Red. “I wanted to kind of see how my body would react being out there with 40,000 people. It’s not quite like game day, but you kind of get your body back into that feeling and getting ready.”

It was not a perfect day for the redshirt junior. The Black punted on his first three drives and he scrambled and threw an interception to freshman linebacker Reggie Carter at midfield on his fourth.

“I thought that the pick earlier was the worst decision that I’ve made at Georgia, but definitely this spring,” Mason said. “That was just pathetic. I’ve got to throw the ball away.”

But Mason improved as the day progressed. He threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jonathon Rumph in the second quarter and drove the Black to two field goals in the fourth quarter to provide the six-point margin of victory.

Mason completed 16 for 27 passes for 191 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

“We slung it around today pretty well and we had a juco guy in Rumph, so he doesn’t really know what he’s doing,” Mason said. “So I was really just happy for the guys to step up and make the most of their opportunities when they needed to.”

G-Day all-stars: Every spring game has its surprise standouts.

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ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia won’t play its first game for nearly five months, but Jordan Jenkins’ motor mouth is already in midseason form.

Spring scrimmages rarely have much in the way of drama, but Jenkins insisted that the competitiveness between the offense and defense will carry over to Saturday’s game. The rising sophomore outside linebacker lobbed a number of good-natured zingers at his offensive teammates after Thursday’s practice, just two days from when they’ll square off in Saturday’s G-Day game.

“I hope we play the whole time,” Jenkins said of the Bulldogs’ defensive starters. “Right now I know [defensive coordinator Todd] Grantham wants to show the offense up and I know, as soon as they make a big play, if the two or threes go out and they make a big play, I think Coach Grantham is going to send the ones back in.

“He wants to make sure everybody knows the defense is still going to be on point. I feel like he’s going to want to prove we don’t have a dropoff.”

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ATHENS, Ga. -- Considering the state of Georgia’s depth chart -- with 10 starters returning from last year’s record-setting offense and 12 key performers missing from the 2012 defense -- Tuesday’s first spring scrimmage has to be viewed as a win for Todd Grantham’s rebuilding defense.

Practicing under blustery conditions at Sanford Stadium, the defense surrendered just one touchdown off a traditional drive before the Bulldogs began working on situational possessions such as third-and-long and goal-line scenarios.

“There were some good plays made out there offensively. As far as putting together drives and scoring points, it just didn’t happen today. The defense did a really nice job,” said Bulldogs coach Mark Richt, who added that the offense scored two more touchdowns in four goal-line possessions.

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Much has been made about everybody Georgia is losing on defense from a year ago.

But is anybody in the SEC returning a more dynamic second-year defender than the Bulldogs?

Sophomore outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins has star potential written all over him. He flashed it on several different occasions last season as a true freshman.

Georgia will need it from him on every down in 2013, and Jenkins is eager to deliver.

“I know my role is going to have to expand and that this defense is going to need me to do a lot of the great things that Jarvis [Jones] did and some of the previous pass-rushers in this defense did,” Jenkins said. “If you’re going to play this spot in this defense, you have to be a playmaker and you have to make the kind of plays that take the air out of the other team.”

Jenkins was second on Georgia’s team last season with five sacks. Jones led the league for the second straight year with a school-record 14.5 sacks.

The Bulldogs have had a player finish first or second in the SEC in sacks all three years that Todd Grantham has been the defensive coordinator. In Grantham’s 3-4 scheme, it’s not only critical that the outside linebacker gets to the quarterback for sacks, but he also needs to be able to force the quarterback into mistakes, hurried throws and bad decisions.

“It’s up to me to take the lead now that Jarvis, Alec [Ogletree] and all those other guys are gone, but that’s what I came here to do,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins was a starter for the final part of the season a year ago. But with teams no longer having to pay so much attention to Jones, Jenkins knows he’ll be the one that opposing offenses will zero in on for next season.

One of his chief goals this spring is to become a more complete player. He also feels like he’ll be able to play even faster his second time through the SEC.

“I feel like I’ll be a lot better fitting the run and a lot better coming off the ball,” Jenkins said. “I waited too much this past season for the lineman to come off and would then react to that.

“I can already tell in our first few practices that I’ve gotten quicker with my first step and am not waiting for the lineman to come off the ball to react. I feel like I’m the one that’s dictating things instead of waiting.”

Jenkins said he’s just under 250 pounds now and that he lost weight over the Christmas break last year.

“I had to gain some back and am sitting around 248 right now, but I want to be at least 260 and maybe 265 by mid-summer,” Jenkins said. “I’d like to keep a playing weight of 260, because it’s hard not to lose weight in the summer.”

Jenkins, growing increasingly tired of hearing about all the starters Georgia lost on defense, says anybody who sleeps on the Bulldogs' "D" will be sorry.

“Whether anybody likes it or not, we’re coming with a swagger,” he said.

And he’s coming to wreak some serious havoc in opposing backfields, starting with that Aug. 31 trip to Clemson to open the season.

“You really need to get a minimum of 10 sacks at this position, and my goal is to get to Jarvis’ record and break it,” Jenkins said. “We’ve all got to have it rolling going into the season, and I cannot wait to get to Death Valley and get this season started.

“You’re going to see a whole new identity of Georgia football.”

ATHENS, Ga. -- Aside from tailback Isaiah Crowell, no player in Georgia’s heralded 2011 recruiting class arrived with more hype than defensive end Ray Drew. And yet the rising junior struggled to make much of an impact in his first two seasons as a Bulldog.

But after working his way into the defensive line rotation late last season and acquitting himself well -- including an eight-tackle game against Georgia Tech, a single-game total that tied for second among Georgia’s defensive linemen last season -- Drew entered this spring with a newfound confidence that he can perform at the college level.

“The more you play, the more comfortable you get,” Drew said. “And then after I had my game against Georgia Tech where I think I had about eight or nine tackles there, I guess it kind of just freed me and it was kind of like, ‘OK, let’s go.’ ”

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ATHENS, Ga. -- After his 2012 offense set several school records, Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo received a three-year contract that includes a $240,000 raise, pushing his guaranteed salary to $575,000 annually.

“I think he deserved a three-year deal because that’s really what’s happening out there in this league,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said before Thursday’s practice. “And his salary’s very competitive with his peers and I think he’s earned that.”

Bobo and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham now both are operating on three-year deals. Bobo had been coaching on renewable one-year contracts since joining Richt’s first UGA staff in 2001.

According to salary figures that UGA released to ESPN.com on Thursday, Bobo and each of Richt’s nine assistant coaches received salary increases following a 2012 campaign when the Bulldogs fell just short of an appearance in the BCS championship game.

“I think we’ve got a great staff and I want to keep them,” Richt said. “But it’s a very competitive league in a lot of areas. There’s the competition on the field, there’s the competition in recruiting and then sometimes there’s a competition to hang on to your assistant coaches.”

Offensive line coach Will Friend received a $90,000 raise, pushing his annual salary to $300,000 per year. Friend also added the title of running game coordinator to his resume.

Meanwhile, wide receivers coach Tony Ball received a $50,000 increase to $260,000.

Each of Georgia’s remaining assistants received $25,000 raises: Grantham (to $850,000), inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti (to $285,000), defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos (to $235,000), tight ends coach John Lilly (to $235,000) and running backs coach Bryan McClendon (to $235,000).

New defensive line coach Chris Wilson is scheduled to make $250,000 in 2013.

“It was good for them, but it was good for me as well because I really think these guys are tremendous,” Richt said of the staff raises. “I think every one of them are and over time, I want to continue to try to bless them the best we can financially and stay as competitive as we can in that area.”