Bulldogs looking at QB options
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Georgia might be making a quarterback change before its biggest game of the season.
At the least, the Bulldogs seem ready to play more than one against longtime rival No. 11 Florida today.
With first place in the SEC’s Eastern Division at stake, Georgia Coach Mark Richt said Greyson Lambert, Brice Ramsey and Faton Bauta each took repetitions with the first-team offense in practice this week.
“All I can tell you is we’ve been repping just like last week,” Richt said Wednesday, referring to the team’s bye week. “We’ve repped more than one guy with the ones. We’re going to continue to do that.”
Lambert has been inconsistent all season. The Virginia transfer set a NCAA record by completing 24 of 25 passes for 330 yards and 3 touchdowns against South Carolina, but he also failed to throw a touchdown
pass against Vanderbilt, Alabama and Missouri.
Georgia tight end Jeb Blazevich hinted that changes could be afoot.
“I don’t know how much I’m allowed to say,” Blazevich said. “They’re definitely kind of focusing on putting the pressure on guys and everything like that. I’ll just kind of keep that open-ended. I don’t want to get in trouble.”
The loser of the game will be in trouble in the division. Both teams control their chances in the East, and the winner will move considerably closer to locking up a spot in the league championship game.
If Florida (6-1, 4-1 SEC) wins its second consecutive game in the rivalry, the Gators would only need to beat Vanderbilt or South Carolina to get to Atlanta for the first time since 2009. If Georgia (5-2, 3-2) pulls the upset, the Bulldogs could clinch the East by knocking off Kentucky and Auburn the following two weeks.
“I don’t think there’s a need to give all these what-ifs and all that kind of stuff, only because if you don’t do what you’re supposed to do, then you’re not going to be talking about it anyway,” Gators Coach Jim McElwain said. “If you’re not prepared and you’re scared, then this probably isn’t the place for you because this is the expectation of the University of Florida.”
Florida quarterback Treon Harris will make his second consecutive start in place of Will Grier, who is suspended for violating NCAA rules regarding performance-enhancing drugs. Harris completed 17 of 32 passes for 271 yards and 2 touchdowns in a loss at LSU two weeks ago.
Georgia defensive end Jordan Jenkins, who leads the team with three sacks, might miss a second consecutive game because of a groin injury.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a slamdunk right now, but he is going to be practicing and progressing,” Richt said.
Florida, meanwhile, might be without receiver Antonio Callaway, who injured a foot in practice.