ATHENS — I got several questions in the old email in-basket this week, but one in particular showed up a few times. DeWayne Gillis of Atlanta was among several readers who wondered exactly what Georgia’s depth chart looked like coming out of the opening game.

It seems depth charts have been on a lot of folks’ minds here lately. Both Georgia coach Kirby Smart and South Carolina coach Will Muschamp made joking references to their respective counterparts not producing one this week.

“Maybe Claude Felton’s slipping, I don’t know,” Muschamp said at his weekly news conference Tuesday afternoon. “I’m sure it didn’t have anything to do with Kirby.”

Smart responded Tuesday evening after the Bulldogs’ practice.

“I have no idea what they’re talking about on the depth chart,” Smart said. “If that’s something we need to get fixed, obviously we can do it. But they have (a chart) in the flip card. I think we’ve provided one the last two years, so I didn’t know we were doing something different.

Traditionally, a “two-deep” or “three-deep” representation of the lineup is included by the respective schools’ sports communications staffs in the pregame notes packages that are distributed to media and the opposing team. Neither the Bulldogs nor the Gamecocks did this week, yet more evidence of the disinformation age of college football that we’re all living in.

Regardless, there was an actual game played by both teams this past weekend, so there is that on-field exercise to go by as far as who played well for the Bulldogs this past week.

I didn’t do a lot of intense observation and note-taking as far as the backups at every position, but I did make sure to make note of all the starters and kind of who went in where and when. So I’ll try to provide Mr. Gillis and others with some sort of crude representation herein, with a comment or two where needed.

Please note, the first player listed started at that position versus Austin Peay, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that person is the undisputed starter.

OFFENSE

QB

  1. Jake Fromm — 15th consecutive start for the sophomore from Warner Robins.
  2. Justin Fields — came in on fourth series, also played the fifth and the first two of second half.

RB

  1. D’Andre Swift — Started in a heavy backfield rotation
  2. Brian Herrien — First in this past Saturday
  3. Elijah Holyfield — Next in

FLK

  1. Ahkil Crumpton — Second-year JUCO transfer had great camp to earn start
  2. Mecole Hardman — Turned on jets to score TD

X

  1. Riley Ridley — Scored first TD of season on 10-yard catch
  2. Demetris Robertson — 72 yard TD run on jet sweep

Y

  1. Tyler Simmons — Super blocker. Fast, too. Kirby loves him.
  2. Jeremiah Holloman

RECEIVERS NOTE: Georgia started out with three wides. The rotation could change with the return of injured seniors Terry Godwin (calf) and Jayson Stanley (thigh).

LT

  1. Andrew Thomas — Freshman All-America at RT last year
  2. Demarcus Hayes

LG

  1. Solomon Kindley — Surprise starter over senior Kendall Baker
  2. Trey Hill — True freshman was first in.

C

  1. Lamont Gaillard — Captain of O-line
  2. Trey Hill — I think

RG

  1. Ben Cleveland — Sophomore took spot from Kindley in Game 10 vs. Auburn last season
  2. Jamaree Salyer — No. 1 ranked guard in U.S. in Class of 2018

RT

  1. Isaiah Wilson — Redshirt freshman from Brooklyn makes first career start
  2. Ben Cleveland — Played the whole second quarter
  3. Kendall Baker — This is where he finally played.

TE

  1. Isaac Nauta — Scored 12-yard TD on pass from Fields
  2. Charlie Woerner

DEFENSE

DT

  1. Tyler Clark — Junior made his 11th consecutive starter, second-most on defense
  2. Devonte Wyatt

NG

  1. Julian Rochester — 8th career start but first at this position
  2. Michael Barnett

DE

  1. Jonathan Ledbetter — 16th start for senior captain, but consecutive streak was broken in title game
  2. David Marshall — Started three games last year
  3. Jay Hayes — Plays here and tackle.

OLB (strongside)

  1. Walter Grant — also played Star when Georgia went to five DBs
  2. Keyon Richardson
  3. Adam Anderson — 5-star true freshman had a tackle for loss among 2 stops

OLB (weakside)

  1. D’Andre Walker — Senior had a fumble recovery
  2. Brenton Cox — Looks like budding all-star

ILB

  1. Juwan Taylor — Second career start at “Will” for senior from Hollywood, Fla.
  2. Tae Crowder

ILB

  1. Monty Rice — Sophomore earns the start at “Mike”
  2. Natrez Patrick — Most experienced linebacker with 18 starts in 31 career games

LC

  1. Tyson Campbell — Bit of a surprise start even though No. 2-rated DB in Class of 2018
  2. Mark Webb — Converted wideout was thought to have inside track on starting

RC

  1. Deandre Baker — Preseason All-SEC selection passed on NFL draft
  2. Eric Stokes — Probably the fastest player on the team

SS

  1. J.R. Reed — Most indispensable player on defense led with 6 tackles
  2. Deangelo Gibbs or Christopher Smith — Gibbs got a lot of work

FS

  1. Richard LeCounte III — Sophomore who played in 10 games as freshman with 1 start
  2. Jarvis Wilson or Otis Reese — Reese also plays some OLB

Star

  1. William Poole — Sophomore plays when a corner look is needed
  2. Deangelo Gibbs — Had 4 tackles between this and safety

SPECIAL TEAMS

Place-kicker

  1. Rodrigo Blankenship — Another perfect day for “Hot Rod,” 1×1 FGs, 6×6 PATs, 8×8 on touchbacks
  2. Brook Buce — More likely Camarda for roster space in SEC play

Punter

  1. Jake Camarda — Averaged 55 yards on three punts. Kirby wants him to “sky more.”
  2. Landon Stratton — Graduate transfer from Murray State didn’t play

Snapper

  1. Nick Moore — 26-year-old senior played pro baseball four years
  2. Payne Walker

Holder

  1. Jake Camarda
  2. Justin Fields — The fake possibilities are intriguing.

KOR

  1. Mecole Hardman
  2. Brian Herrien

PR

  1. Ahkil Crumpton
  2. Mecole Hardman — SEC’s leading returner went second on Saturday

FINAL THOUGHTS

Going off some hastily scribbled notes, so it’s possible that I left something out or got something wrong. I know our astute and observant readership will let me know.

Meanwhile, I’ll be more interested in producing a comprehensive depth chart after the Bulldogs play South Carolina this weekend. I imagine that representation will be a little more meaningful than this first one. I’m sure Coach Smart will be glad to help us out with the details.