ATHENS — Georgia’s 2022 team was out on the practice field for the first time. Georgia didn’t don full pads, but it was still an important first step for the Bulldogs.

Georgia is the defending National Champion after a stellar 2021 season. But many of those key contributors are now off prepping for the NFL draft. A number of other players hit the transfer portal and Georgia isn’t working with a full deck this spring as multiple Bulldogs are dealing with injuries. We learned on Tuesday that Darnell Washington and Smael Mondon are among those will also miss spring practice.

Related: Georgia football 2022 spring practice live updates, injury news and key position battles

“We’re certainly not deep enough at several positions, but I’m not here to cry about it,” Smart said. “I’m here to solve it and figure it out and get the best guys. That’s what you do as a coach, right? You coach the players.”

Georgia will have a number of new faces in action this spring. The Bulldogs signed 19 early enrollees, the most in the country. Many will be interested in how the likes of Mykel Williams and Oscar Delp adjust to the college level as they go through practice for the first time.

The Bulldogs also have four new assistant coaches, as Bryan McClendon is now the wide receivers coach, Stacy Searels is back with the offensive line, Chidrea Uzo-Diribe is coaching outside linebackers and Fran Brwon is the defensive backs coach.

Smart also updated the status of Arik Gilbert, who is back with the team. Due to the injuries to Washington and Bowers, Gilbert’s best chance at playing time is likely to come at the tight end position. Gilbert was not with the team for much of last season after he stepped away in August.

With so much going on for Georgia this spring, Smart didn’t answer a question about the quarterback room until the 15-minute mark of his press conference.

“They’re in different spots, all four guys,” Smart said. “The biggest challenge for us for the spring is to get reps and develop, because we don’t have the depth at the skill positions, receiver and defensive back and even tight end, to be able to do some of the things we liked to practice-wise.

‘’We’re trying to be innovative, creative in the way we practice, because quarterback development is critical.”

Stetson Bennett is expected to get most of the starter reps, as Carson Beck, Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton battle to push Bennett.

The Bulldogs will have 14 more practices this spring, with the final one doubling as G-Day on April 16. Between now and then, Smart hopes to learn a lot about his team and see how it grows.

‘’We’ve obviously got a lot of holes to fill and a lot of young players on this roster that are excited about filling those roles,” Smart said. “As is the case in all businesses, really when you look at it, when you have success, sometimes you have change and people get opportunities. So we’ve got two new strengths coaches, four new position coaches, several new quality control people, so a lot of new faces.”

What we learned on first day of 2022 spring practice for Georgia football

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