It’s called a game, but in truth, Saturday’s G-Day at Sanford Stadium is basically a controlled scrimmage for Kirby Smart and his Georgia football team.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
G-Day – much like every practice and scrimmage during the month-long spring practice – is all about teaching and getting players acclimated to the program and what they can expect to see come fall.
“We are a work in progress,” Smart told the media recently. “We have the least number of players who have gone through three spring practices since I’ve been here, so that should tell you something. I’d ask the guys to stand up who have practiced at least three spring practices, so this obviously would make their fourth, and there was basically nobody standing.”
Quarterback Gunner Stockton is one of the few players for the Bulldogs wrapping up his fourth spring with the program.
The fourth-year player may not have a lot of game experience himself but has been around the program longer than most.
“Yeah, it helps. I mean, he understands what we’re trying to do. He’s been through it. I mean, I think about if we had all Gunners at every position. You know, they understand the volume of reps, what we’re trying to do,” Smart said. “He knows the offense inside and out. I get frustrated and impatient when other guys don’t know it like him, and you have to kind of slow yourself down and say, wait a second … these other guys, they’re in their second. Their first. I mean, it’s just a youthful team, and it shows itself in a lot of ways.”
However, there is talent.
Fans attending Saturday’s G-Day will get to see a plethora of newcomers. Some of the ones to watch include freshman running back Bo Walker, transfer wide receivers Noah Thomas and Zachariah Branch, freshmen Talyn Taylor and CJ Wiley, along with talented offensive lineman Juan Gaston.
On defense, there’s a host of new names to learn.
Freshman defensive tackle Eliah Griffin will certainly have a lot of eyes on him, along with a trio of transfer defensive backs in Adrian Maddox, Jaden Harris, and Zion Branch.
Keep an eye on the offensive line, a group the Bulldogs have been working hard to improve.
“We’re very fortunate that we had to play a lot of guys due to injury. So, it’s like you got some guys that started to play. And then behind that, it’s a new cast of characters, and they’ve got to grow up and play. So, Bo (Hughley), Jah Jackson, Nyier (Daniels), fighting Malachi (Toliver) … Mason Short, Cortez (Smith),” Smart said. “All those guys are really competing. We’re fortunate that we have probably three deep on the offensive line at spring practice. I think most of my peers don’t have three deep, but it’s not the quality depth that we’ve had the best.”
On defense, looking for new names on the defensive line, plus a secondary that will be depending on some young players
“Yeah, it’s good and bad, right? It’s flashes. I just want to see fire and compete out of everybody. So, it’s like I can’t label that position as the one, but there are days that you have flashes. I just, you know, competitive toughness is so hard to find nowadays because kids like to take the easy way out, and it’s not easy here,” Smart said. “So, between Daniel (Harris), Demello (Jones), Ondre (Evans), Dom (Kelly), Jontae (Gilbert), Ellis (Robinson IV), they all are out there competing. I’m proud of them all, and Daylen’s (Everette) doing a nice job teaching those guys and setting an example. He’s doing more than you probably realize.”
