The Southeastern Conference Media recently selected Georgia as the favorite in the East Division.
Now in his 15th season with the Bulldogs, Georgia Head Coach Mark Richt is ready for the fall to begin.
“I’m very excited about this team, this program,” Richt said during the SEC Media Days press conference. “Our guys have been working extremely hard. The rules have changed a little bit where you can make some things mandatory throughout the summer.”
“There’s certain things that we can do now and view now that we weren’t able to do in the past,” Richt continued. “I know that these guys have been paying the price for the ability to compete in the best league in America.”
Georgia was 10-3 a year ago and finished second in the East behind Missouri with a 6-2 mark.
Nick Chubb
Nick Chubb is the top returnee on offense after gaining 1,547 yards last season with 14 touchdowns to earn a spot on the All-SEC First Team.
“He’s a pretty quiet, unassuming guy,” Richt said of his sophomore running back. “He’s a very hard worker. He’s a great student. He’s a great teammate. He’s becoming a great leader for us and he doesn’t really like the hype.”
A Heisman Trophy candidate, Chubb finished last season with 266 yards in Georgia’s 37-14 win over Louisville in the Belk Bowl.
“He cares about working hard, playing hard, and helping Georgia win,” Richt said of the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2014. “I really appreciate that about him.”
So do Chubb’s teammates.
“There were times Nick would find a hole, and I would try to pursue it, to catch up with him and get a block,” senior Offensive Tackle John Theus said. “Many times I wouldn’t be able to do it, because he’s just so fast.”
John Theus
A single moment impressed Theus, who was on the All-SEC Honorable Mention list from the Associated Press a year ago.
“In the Auburn game last year, he broke a tackle, lost a shoe, and kept running down the field,” Theus said. “Some of the things he’s done are very special and he’s a great kid.”
The biggest question mark for the Bulldogs is at quarterback.
“I have no idea who the starter is going to be,” Richt said. “We are going to have a tremendous competition, continue that competition for that position.”
Sophomore Brice Ramsey is the most experienced in the battle. He was in eight games last year and completed 24-of-39 passes for 333 yards a three scores.
“I think it’s going to take a while,” Richt said. “We have 29 practice opportunities before the first game, and we’re going to get a rotation where we can see the guys that we want to see compete and then make a decision on who should be the starter.”
Junior Faton Bauta and freshman Sam Vaughn will also be looking for time as the signal caller for the Bulldogs.
Senior Malcolm Mitchell is the leading receiver back with 31 catches for 248 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Bulldogs are led by a pair of outside linebackers. Senior Jordan Jenkins had 70 tackles last season and was named the squad’s Most Improved Defensive Player in 2014. Junior Leonard Floyd was Georgia’s Defensive Most Valuable Player last fall as he led the Bulldogs with six sacks.
Georgia begins the season at home against Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 5. The following week, the Bulldogs travel to Vanderbilt for their SEC opener on Sept. 12.
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