Manac plays like a maniac in practice

Coaches want him to play linebacker or end to stay on field.

ATHENS — The assumption about the outside linebacker position at Georgia this year was that Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy would play out the season. Chauncey Manac would get his feet wet and then take over one of their starting roles next year.

And that could still be the case. For now, however, Manac has emerged as one of preseason camp’s surprising position switches. He’s been at defensive end, where there doesn’t figure to be much available playing time, this year or next.

Manac could always move back. Coach Kirby Smart indicated the move is partly to give Manac a crash course on the defensive line after playing at outside linebacker last year and it’s undecided where he’ll eventually settle.

“This is a guy who continues to make plays in practice,” Smart said. “We have the same debate: Is he an outside linebacker or is he a defensive end?”

Manac is now working with the defensive line, in practice and the meeting room, as a way to gain some experience. He could still move back to outside linebacker. And in a sense, the distinction is a small one. Outside linebackers like Bellamy and Carter occasionally start plays on the line.

The danger is ending up with a “tweener,” somebody not all-around enough for either the trench play of the line or the space play of linebacker.

Manac, who is 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, also has good athletic ability.

“We like Manac,” defensive coordinator Mel Tucker said. “He can rush outside. He can rush on guards and centers inside and he’s very, very tough.

“We don’t have an issue with him playing and holding up on the run game, but giving us some pass-rush and being able to affect the quarterback.”

Something else that may infuse the discussion: Georgia added only one defensive lineman this year, freshman Malik Herring. By moving Manac down to defensive line, even if just temporarily, he essentially provides the team another freshman there. Manac redshirted last year.

Ultimately, it depends on how Manac develops at each position and how players at both positions develop as well.

Junior D’Andre Walker is the first outside linebacker off the bench now. Freshman linebacker Robert Beal joins the team with a lot of hype. Jaleel Laguins moved over from inside linebacker after playing only sparingly as a freshman.

If a couple of those emerge as potential or definite starters, maybe Manac becomes a permanent member of the line.

The defensive line is also very deep, at least this year. However, some of those key contributors ( Jonathan Ledbetter, Trent Thompson) are draft-eligible after this year.

Natrez Patrick, one of the starting inside linebackers, appears to have been getting some reps outside as well, which would be a way to get senior Reggie Carter or other inside linebackers on the field.

In any event, it looks like Manac has a future at Georgia. It’s just a matter of where.

“He certainly has a role on this team,” Smart said. “Because he has an uncanny ability to get on and off blocks, make plays, cause a disruption.”