Backup QB Ramsey leaving

Georgia backup quarterback Brice Ramsey (above) and defensive back Reggie Wilkerson are transferring. We examine what that means for the roster and scholarships situation.

The news items came one after the other Tuesday morning: quarterback/punter Brice Ramsey was leaving Georgia to pursue a graduate transfer. Then so was defensive back Reggie Wilkerson. So what happens now?

Neither player’s departure was very surprising. Both were set to graduate and could transfer.

What are the ramifications heading into spring practice next week.

1. How does this affect the 85 scholarship limit?

The NCAA limits teams to 85 players on scholarship at one time, and for a while, Georgia was facing a roster crunch when the rest of the signing class arrives this summer.

But Kirby Smart said on signing day that “we’ll be fine with the 85.” And at this point, it looks like the Bulldogs are very close.

By unofficial count — no team publicizes its numbers — Georgia is now at 87 committed scholarships for the upcoming season. That’s two over the limit, but it comes with some caveats: That number includes long snapper Trent Frix, who was awarded a scholarship last year but could return to walk-on status. It also assumes lineman Trent Thompson will return to the team.

That count also includes David Marvin, the place-kicker transferring in from Wofford. Marvin is blueshirting, meaning his signing doesn’t count until the 2018 class, but he would normally count against the 85 scholarship amount. There’s some clarity lacking on whether Marvin, as a graduate transfer, would affect the number.

2. What about depth at quarterback?

It’s worrisome to only have two scholarship quarterbacks, one of them a true freshman and the other a sophomore. It’s also not unprecedented.

In 2010, Aaron Murray was a redshirt freshman who ended up starting every game. His backup was Hutson Mason, a true freshman and the only other scholarship quarterback on the team. There was also Logan Gray, but he switched to receiver before the season.

So while the situation is far from ideal, it’s manageable. Jacob Eason will in all likelihood start again, with Jake Fromm ready to move up if Eason falters or gets hurt. It would take both players getting hurt to create a real problem.

Georgia is hoarding walkons, bringing in Stetson Bennett this year and bringing back Sam Vaughn and Parker McLeod, who was a scholarship quarterback at Alabama before leaving the team, then resurfacing at Georgia last year. 3. What about punting? Ramsey has filled in the past two years and could have competed to do so again. But if Marshall Long is healthy, he’s the favorite to be the main punter.

Long broke his kneecap last season and missed the final five games. He’ll also miss spring practice, but the hope is he’s good to go this season.

4. And the defensive secondary?

Wilkerson had a chance to compete for a role, but if he had a great chance he wouldn’t be transferring.

Georgia does have one vacant starting spot in the secondary at nickel back, and Wilkerson could have been a candidate there. But there are a number of talented youngsters (Richard LeCounte, Deangelo Gibbs, Tray Bishop) as well as veteran Aaron Davis, who all could be tried at that role.