Georgia Bulldogs: Garrison Smith
Editor's note: This week we continue to empty our notebook from Georgia's spring practices to tell the stories we didn't get to tell before the Bulldogs' G-Day game. Previously we featured fullback Quayvon Hicks, tight end Jay Rome, defensive end Ray Drew, safety Connor Norman, cornerback Damian Swann and receiver Rantavious Wooten. Today we recap a conversation with senior defensive lineman Garrison Smith.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Even Garrison Smith, Georgia’s lone returning defensive lineman with any significant experience, had difficulty adapting to a new coach’s methods early in spring practice. So he knew that a new coach and a complex defensive scheme would become major learning obstacles for his less experienced teammates.
AP Photo/John RaouxGarrison Smith (right) is in the position of having to instruct his younger teammates on the ins and outs of UGA's defense.“I’m starting over, but I’m just trying as hard as I can and just bringing these young guys up because we’ve got a sophisticated defense and young guys like Jonathan Taylor, Chris Mayes, John Atkins, right now our defense is calculus for them,” Smith said midway through spring practice. “It’s like basic addition and subtraction for me. But for them right now, it’s like they’re doing rocket science. If y’all were to watch some of the film, it would be a funny sight. It would be like they’re creating some type of new defense.”
And it wasn’t just the new defensive linemen who had a lot to learn. Multiple players across the board used the spring as a jumping-off point for their playing careers at Georgia, but the group made rapid progress during that valuable instructional time.
“You can ask [freshman inside linebackers] Reggie Carter and Ryne Rankin about the defense. Like I say, it’s rocket science for them, too,” Smith chuckled. “But that’s just a part of the game when you’re just a young freshman. They don’t expect you to know everything like a senior would, but at the same time, the coaches hold you to a higher standard and they get on you, but that’s just to make you better. They don’t want you to get complacent with not knowing enough. They want to push you as fast as you can so you can learn it.”
Having spent his first three seasons working under defensive line coach Rodney Garner -- who in December returned to his alma mater, Auburn -- Smith had to unlearn some old habits to satisfy new position coach Chris Wilson. It wasn’t like learning an entire defensive scheme, but it required some adjustments nonetheless.
“Even though I’m a veteran, I’m kind of like a freshman all over again because I’m learning new techniques of how to play different things because I’ve got another coach that wants me to play a different way, so I’m having to adapt every day,” Smith said.
That process will continue well into preseason practice, as Wilson continues evaluating and instructing the players who were available in the 15 spring workouts and adds to the mix others such as junior college transfer Toby Johnson, who learned just this week that he will be eligible to compete in the fall.
Smith seemed to like the direction things were heading in the spring, however, noting that the young defense was holding its own against the Bulldogs’ veteran offense more often than experience might have indicated.
“We’ve got one of the best offenses in the country, so if our defense with all these new guys can compete and play on the level of this great offense we’ve got, then the sky’s the limit for us because we’re playing against some of the best right now,” Smith said. “Other opponents, we’re going to be able to match up well against them if we can contain our own offense.”
ATHENS, Ga. -- Even Garrison Smith, Georgia’s lone returning defensive lineman with any significant experience, had difficulty adapting to a new coach’s methods early in spring practice. So he knew that a new coach and a complex defensive scheme would become major learning obstacles for his less experienced teammates.
AP Photo/John RaouxGarrison Smith (right) is in the position of having to instruct his younger teammates on the ins and outs of UGA's defense.And it wasn’t just the new defensive linemen who had a lot to learn. Multiple players across the board used the spring as a jumping-off point for their playing careers at Georgia, but the group made rapid progress during that valuable instructional time.
“You can ask [freshman inside linebackers] Reggie Carter and Ryne Rankin about the defense. Like I say, it’s rocket science for them, too,” Smith chuckled. “But that’s just a part of the game when you’re just a young freshman. They don’t expect you to know everything like a senior would, but at the same time, the coaches hold you to a higher standard and they get on you, but that’s just to make you better. They don’t want you to get complacent with not knowing enough. They want to push you as fast as you can so you can learn it.”
Having spent his first three seasons working under defensive line coach Rodney Garner -- who in December returned to his alma mater, Auburn -- Smith had to unlearn some old habits to satisfy new position coach Chris Wilson. It wasn’t like learning an entire defensive scheme, but it required some adjustments nonetheless.
“Even though I’m a veteran, I’m kind of like a freshman all over again because I’m learning new techniques of how to play different things because I’ve got another coach that wants me to play a different way, so I’m having to adapt every day,” Smith said.
That process will continue well into preseason practice, as Wilson continues evaluating and instructing the players who were available in the 15 spring workouts and adds to the mix others such as junior college transfer Toby Johnson, who learned just this week that he will be eligible to compete in the fall.
Smith seemed to like the direction things were heading in the spring, however, noting that the young defense was holding its own against the Bulldogs’ veteran offense more often than experience might have indicated.
“We’ve got one of the best offenses in the country, so if our defense with all these new guys can compete and play on the level of this great offense we’ve got, then the sky’s the limit for us because we’re playing against some of the best right now,” Smith said. “Other opponents, we’re going to be able to match up well against them if we can contain our own offense.”
Editor's note: Over the next couple of weeks, we'll clean out our notebook from Georgia's spring practice to tell the stories we didn't get to before the Bulldogs' G-Day game. Previously we featured fullback Quayvon Hicks and tight end Jay Rome. Today we recap a conversation with defensive end Ray Drew from a few days before the G-Day game.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Ray Drew decided before spring practice to stop worrying so much about what everybody else thinks, and the junior defensive end believes that new approach made a world of difference.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Ray Drew decided before spring practice to stop worrying so much about what everybody else thinks, and the junior defensive end believes that new approach made a world of difference.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
UGA could have another big draft in 2014 
April, 29, 2013
Apr 29
12:17
PM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Fourteen former Georgia players punched their ticket into professional football over the last few days, as eight Bulldogs were picked in the NFL draft and six more signed as free agents.
The eight selections -- linebacker Jarvis Jones (Pittsburgh), linebacker Alec Ogletree (St. Louis), defensive lineman John Jenkins (New Orleans), safety Shawn Williams (Cincinnati), receiver Tavarres King (Denver), cornerback Sanders Commings (Kansas City), defensive end Cornelius Washington (Chicago) and safety Bacarri Rambo (Washington) -- tied the program record for the most in one year.
Add in the free agent deals for receiver Marlon Brown (Houston), nose guard Kwame Geathers (San Diego), linebacker Michael Gilliard (St. Louis), defensive end Abry Jones (Jacksonville), linebacker Christian Robinson (St. Louis) and cornerback Branden Smith (Tampa Bay), and Georgia will be among the best-represented college programs in the NFL rookie camps that will take place over the next couple of weeks.
The numerous NFL departures naturally lead us to begin looking toward next year and how it might shape up for Bulldogs in the draft. Although this will be a smaller group of rising seniors than the ones who are now beginning their professional careers, the number of UGA draft picks in 2014 still could rank among the top college programs.
Among Georgia seniors who are most likely to be picked:
1. Quarterback Aaron Murray: Murray might have been a valuable prospect in the 2013 draft, because of this year’s underwhelming quarterback draft class. He still figures to rank among the top players at his position in the 2014 class, though, particularly if he posts another season with 3,000-plus passing yards and etches his name atop the SEC passing record book, as expected. He’ll have to contend with quarterbacks like Alabama’s AJ McCarron, Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas, LSU’s Zach Mettenberger and Clemson’s Tajh Boyd for top billing, but a big senior season would keep him in the conversation among the best players at the position.
The eight selections -- linebacker Jarvis Jones (Pittsburgh), linebacker Alec Ogletree (St. Louis), defensive lineman John Jenkins (New Orleans), safety Shawn Williams (Cincinnati), receiver Tavarres King (Denver), cornerback Sanders Commings (Kansas City), defensive end Cornelius Washington (Chicago) and safety Bacarri Rambo (Washington) -- tied the program record for the most in one year.
Add in the free agent deals for receiver Marlon Brown (Houston), nose guard Kwame Geathers (San Diego), linebacker Michael Gilliard (St. Louis), defensive end Abry Jones (Jacksonville), linebacker Christian Robinson (St. Louis) and cornerback Branden Smith (Tampa Bay), and Georgia will be among the best-represented college programs in the NFL rookie camps that will take place over the next couple of weeks.
The numerous NFL departures naturally lead us to begin looking toward next year and how it might shape up for Bulldogs in the draft. Although this will be a smaller group of rising seniors than the ones who are now beginning their professional careers, the number of UGA draft picks in 2014 still could rank among the top college programs.
Among Georgia seniors who are most likely to be picked:
1. Quarterback Aaron Murray: Murray might have been a valuable prospect in the 2013 draft, because of this year’s underwhelming quarterback draft class. He still figures to rank among the top players at his position in the 2014 class, though, particularly if he posts another season with 3,000-plus passing yards and etches his name atop the SEC passing record book, as expected. He’ll have to contend with quarterbacks like Alabama’s AJ McCarron, Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas, LSU’s Zach Mettenberger and Clemson’s Tajh Boyd for top billing, but a big senior season would keep him in the conversation among the best players at the position.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
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: Last week we started reviewing each of Georgia’s position groups at the end of spring practice. We took a look at the offense last week. Today we begin examining the defense, starting with the defensive line:
Returning players/stats: Garrison Smith, Sr. (Eight starts in 2012. 57 tackles, two tackles for a loss, one sack); Ray Drew, Jr. (23 tackles, 1 TFL); Michael Thornton, Jr. (No tackles); Sterling Bailey, So. (One tackle); Jonathan Taylor, RFr. (Redshirted in 2012)
Newcomers: Toby Johnson, Jr. (ESPN’s No. 4 overall prospect in the 2013 junior college 100, No. 3 DT. Expected to enroll this summer); John Atkins, Fr. (Hargrave Military transfer. Enrolled in January); Chris Mayes, Jr. (No. 87 in 2013 junior college 100, No. 14 DT. Enrolled in January); DeAndre Johnson, Fr. (No. 84 DT. Expected to enroll this summer)
Returning players/stats: Garrison Smith, Sr. (Eight starts in 2012. 57 tackles, two tackles for a loss, one sack); Ray Drew, Jr. (23 tackles, 1 TFL); Michael Thornton, Jr. (No tackles); Sterling Bailey, So. (One tackle); Jonathan Taylor, RFr. (Redshirted in 2012)
Newcomers: Toby Johnson, Jr. (ESPN’s No. 4 overall prospect in the 2013 junior college 100, No. 3 DT. Expected to enroll this summer); John Atkins, Fr. (Hargrave Military transfer. Enrolled in January); Chris Mayes, Jr. (No. 87 in 2013 junior college 100, No. 14 DT. Enrolled in January); DeAndre Johnson, Fr. (No. 84 DT. Expected to enroll this summer)
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Editor’s note: Each day this week, we’ll ask a question that Georgia’s football team faces this spring as it moves toward the 2013 season. Today’s question: Who will supply the pass rush now that two-time All-American Jarvis Jones has entered the NFL draft?
ATHENS, Ga. -- Replacing the nation’s leading sack artist and most effective pass rusher in the Georgia program’s history is not going to be easy. It might be impossible.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Replacing the nation’s leading sack artist and most effective pass rusher in the Georgia program’s history is not going to be easy. It might be impossible.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
By the numbers: UGA classes since 2006
January, 18, 2013
Jan 18
7:00
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Here’s a breakdown of Georgia’s last seven recruiting classes and what they managed to accomplish in college and beyond:
2006
ESPN top five classes: Florida, USC, Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame
Georgia’s ranking: 4
2006
ESPN top five classes: Florida, USC, Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame
Georgia’s ranking: 4
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
ATHENS, Ga. -- Mark Richt said Thursday that he wants his up-and-coming defensive players to ask themselves, “Am I going to be good enough to help this team win a championship?” as they work toward playing bigger roles in 2013.
There’s no question that if the Bulldogs return to the SEC championship game for a third consecutive year, those defensive players will have made enormous strides to get them there. They return every key offensive player except receivers Tavarres King and Marlon Brown, but lose 12 important defenders.
So let’s take a quick look at five key players who will lead the rebuilding effort for Georgia’s defense this fall -- and then three more to watch for good measure.
There’s no question that if the Bulldogs return to the SEC championship game for a third consecutive year, those defensive players will have made enormous strides to get them there. They return every key offensive player except receivers Tavarres King and Marlon Brown, but lose 12 important defenders.
So let’s take a quick look at five key players who will lead the rebuilding effort for Georgia’s defense this fall -- and then three more to watch for good measure.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
The 2013 football season is over and now all eyes turn to signing day, the NFL Draft and possible transfers. DawgNation joined ESPN’s Athens affiliate 960 The Ref to talk about that and more. Some of the topics discussed were:
Listen to the show here.
- What will Georgia’s focus be over the next month leading up to signing day?
- Will Hutson Mason transfer in light of Aaron Murray coming back?
- Should Georgia have been ranked ahead of Notre Dame in the final polls?
- Can Georgia get back to the SEC Championship game next season?
- What happened with Naim Mustafaa?
Listen to the show here.
Competition theme of defense's offseason
January, 8, 2013
Jan 8
7:00
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- This won’t be the most crucial offseason of Todd Grantham’s relatively brief time at Georgia -- that honor goes to 2010, when he started installing his 3-4 scheme shortly after joining Mark Richt’s staff in January -- but it might be the one with the most roster uncertainty.
The Bulldogs will lose 11 key players off its 2012 defense, and that number could grow to 12 if junior nose guard Kwame Geathers declares for the NFL draft, so spring practice will feature major competition within every defensive position group.
“I kind of put them up on the board the other day and we’ve got some talented guys. It’s just a matter of developing them and working them and filtering it,” Grantham said. “Our depth is going to be better than it’s been the last couple of years, but it’s going to be young. So there’s a little bit at every spot.”
The Bulldogs will lose 11 key players off its 2012 defense, and that number could grow to 12 if junior nose guard Kwame Geathers declares for the NFL draft, so spring practice will feature major competition within every defensive position group.
“I kind of put them up on the board the other day and we’ve got some talented guys. It’s just a matter of developing them and working them and filtering it,” Grantham said. “Our depth is going to be better than it’s been the last couple of years, but it’s going to be young. So there’s a little bit at every spot.”
ORLANDO, Fla. -- In many ways, the 2012 season was historic for Georgia’s football program.
Although the Bulldogs fell just short of their goal of playing for the BCS title, they still won the SEC East for the second consecutive season, finished a season with at least 12 wins for just the third time in school history and certainly locked up their first top-10 final ranking since 2007. In addition, standouts such as Jarvis Jones and Aaron Murray etched their names atop Georgia’s record book in several season and career statistical categories.
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 defensive end Garrison Smith.
No. 56 Garrison Smith
Junior/Defensive end
55 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack
Role in 2012: Smith joined the starting lineup when an injury knocked Abry Jones from the lineup for the rest of the regular season and the junior wound up leading the defensive linemen in tackles.
The good: Smith built off a strong effort last season against Georgia Tech, when he came off the bench after DeAngelo Tyson was injured and played well in his first extensive playing time, by developing into one of Georgia’s top defensive linemen in 2012. Jones played a similar role last season, rarely racking up huge tackle or sack totals, but holding the point so teammates could make plays, which is essential to the defense’s success.
The bad: It would be interesting to see what kind of numbers Smith could have accumulated in a full season as a starter. The situation is understandable -- Georgia had experienced seniors across the board on the defensive line, and Jones was a preseason All-SEC pick -- but Smith fared well as both a reserve and in his seven starts.
Crystal ball: Smith recently said that he plans to return for his senior season, so he should be one of the known quantities within a group that must replace a ton of experience. If he and fellow junior Kwame Geathers return next season, the Bulldogs will be in great shape up front. But either way, Smith will probably be on some preseason all-conference lists and projects as a strong performer in 2013.
No. 56 Garrison Smith
Junior/Defensive end
55 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack
Role in 2012: Smith joined the starting lineup when an injury knocked Abry Jones from the lineup for the rest of the regular season and the junior wound up leading the defensive linemen in tackles.
The good: Smith built off a strong effort last season against Georgia Tech, when he came off the bench after DeAngelo Tyson was injured and played well in his first extensive playing time, by developing into one of Georgia’s top defensive linemen in 2012. Jones played a similar role last season, rarely racking up huge tackle or sack totals, but holding the point so teammates could make plays, which is essential to the defense’s success.
The bad: It would be interesting to see what kind of numbers Smith could have accumulated in a full season as a starter. The situation is understandable -- Georgia had experienced seniors across the board on the defensive line, and Jones was a preseason All-SEC pick -- but Smith fared well as both a reserve and in his seven starts.
Crystal ball: Smith recently said that he plans to return for his senior season, so he should be one of the known quantities within a group that must replace a ton of experience. If he and fellow junior Kwame Geathers return next season, the Bulldogs will be in great shape up front. But either way, Smith will probably be on some preseason all-conference lists and projects as a strong performer in 2013.
To gear up for 2013 national signing day, DawgNation's Radi Nabulsi is breaking down every commitment in the Bulldogs' 2013 recruiting class.
Vitals: Defensive end John Atkins, Thomson, Ga./Hargrave Military | 6-foot-3, 321 pounds
Committed: September 2, 2011
- John Atkins
- Defensive tackle (POST)
- 2013
- Committed: Georgia
Committed: September 2, 2011
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Position scouting report: Defensive end
December, 18, 2012
12/18/12
7:00
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
Editor’s note: Over the next several weeks, we’ll take a look at each position on Georgia’s depth chart today and projecting how it might look in the future. Today we examine Georgia’s defensive ends:
• Current two-deep depth chart:
Garrison Smith (Jr.), John Jenkins (Sr.)
Cornelius Washington (Sr.), Ray Drew (So.)
• Current two-deep depth chart:
Garrison Smith (Jr.), John Jenkins (Sr.)
Cornelius Washington (Sr.), Ray Drew (So.)
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Returning defenders ready for bigger roles
December, 5, 2012
12/05/12
7:30
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- When Georgia’s seniors lingered on the field to accept the Governor’s Cup from Gov. Nathan Deal after beating Georgia Tech, reality began to sink in for Amarlo Herrera.
Looking around the half-empty dressing room, the sophomore linebacker realized how many of his veteran defensive teammates won’t be around the next time the Bulldogs take the field at Sanford Stadium.
“We saw that when they weren’t in the locker room, when they were out on the field,” Herrera said about the moments after the 42-10 win last month.
Looking around the half-empty dressing room, the sophomore linebacker realized how many of his veteran defensive teammates won’t be around the next time the Bulldogs take the field at Sanford Stadium.
“We saw that when they weren’t in the locker room, when they were out on the field,” Herrera said about the moments after the 42-10 win last month.
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.