New Dogs could be busy Saturday
ATHENS, Ga. — Saturday has the potential to be a five-star afternoon for the Georgia Bulldogs. Several heralded members of their top-ranked 2018 signing class are expected to play in the season opener against Austin Peay, most notably quarterback Justin Fields, running back James Cook and cornerback Tyson Campbell. Starting right tackle Isaiah Wilson was a five-star member of Georgia’s 2017 signing class before redshirting last season, and former five-star receiver Demetris Robertson, who began his college career at California before transferring in July, also will make his Bulldogs debut.
“I’m excited for all those guys,” senior center Lamont Gaillard said this week. “I want to see what they’ve got and what they can bring to the team. It’s going to make us better, so I’m excited to see what they can do. I’m going to be excited no matter who makes the play.” Georgia played 17 true freshmen during last year’s 31-10 opening win over Appalachian State.
Nine of this year’s signees enrolled
early, including Fields, running back Zamir White, and offensive linemen Trey Hill and Cade Mays. White tore an ACL during the second preseason scrimmage and is out for the season, but third-year coach Kirby Smart has been pleased overall with the group.
“This freshman class is talented,” Smart said. “I don’t know if they’re going to be forced into action. It could come down to injuries in some situations, but you’ll see a lot of them on special teams.”
Freshman Jake Camarda is expected to handle the punting chores.
How Smart handles Fields and expected starter Jake Fromm will certainly be a focus of the Sanford Stadium audience, while Cook may have to wait his turn in the backfield with D’Andre Swift, Elijah Holyfield and Brian Herrien returning with experience. Smart described the 5-foot-11, 183-pound Cook as a “slasher” compared to Swift but said Swift has the bigger build to better withstand physical play.
Fromm no longer has the tailback tandem of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel nor physical receiver Javon Wims, but he likes what he has seen from both Cook and Robertson, who had 50 receptions as a Cal freshman in 2016.
“They are really exciting,” Fromm said. “They are really explosive football players. When they get the rock in their hands, they can make it six points real quick. James and D-Rob are great people and will make awesome contributions to the team.”
Smart said Robertson may not be as conditioned as other players after having to sit out several weeks this summer but that he plays a position that will have a heavy rotation. Robertson is in the mix to return kickoffs Saturday as well.
Campbell may have the best opportunity to start among the 2018 position player signees, as he has competed in recent days with sophomore Mark Webb and redshirt freshman Eric Stokes for the starting cornerback spot opposite senior Deandre Baker.
“Tyson is fast, so he has the ability to make a mistake and catch up,” Smart said. “He’s been very level-headed and doesn’t get rattled a lot. He’s already had 20-something practices, so he’s come along pretty fast.”
Not to be overlooked is defensive end Jay Hayes, a graduate transfer from Notre Dame who had to settle on high fourstar status coming out of high school. The 6-3, 289-pounder started all 13 games last season and had seven tackles in the Fighting Irish’s 20-19 home loss to Georgia last September.
“Jay is a phenomenal pass rusher,” junior defensive tackle Julian Rochester said. “He plays with great effort, and he loves to run to the ball, so that’s going to bring a different vibe to the D-line. Everyone will be moving fast.”
Said Smart: “Being an older player, Jay just learns easier, and he’s going to provide us a lot of depth. He’s going to be able to play a lot of snaps.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.