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Georgia football uses ultrasound to track player fitness; 4-star guard commits

New ultrasound technology helped Georgia coach Kirby Smart keep up with the fitness of his Bulldogs this season.
Curtis Compton/AJC
Cy Brown
Cy Brown

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How Georgia uses ultrasound to stay fit

College football programs will do almost anything to get a leg up on the competition. For Georgia, that reportedly includes using ultrasound technology to track player fitness.

According to a post from Joe LeMire of SportTechie.com, this season Georgia has used MuscleSound, a company based out of Colorado that uses ultrasounds that measure levels of glycogen, the primary fuel for muscles. Low glycogen can mean an increased chance of muscle injury, so knowing a players’ level and being able to adjust their diet and workout regimens in accordance can be extremely beneficial to a program. Fewer injuries makes for a better team.

But aside from the fact that this seems like good information for coaches and trainers to have as they try to keep players as healthy as possible, it can tell us, as fans, a little more about how Georgia performed physically this season.

The actual raw data that would give us a deep look at how Georgia’s physical performance is surely held under lock and key by UGA football, but MuscleSound did provide SportTechie.com with some sample information about the Dawgs’ performance this season. It’s nothing groundbreaking. In fact, it only enforces things we knew anecdotally:  — Georgia was at its physical peak in two of the biggest wins of the season. From LeMire:

Data provided by MuscleSound showed a sampling of up to eight Georgia players each week to provide a snapshot of the team’s physical preparedness. The Bulldogs received their highest score prior to its second game of the season, a come-from-behind road victory at Notre Dame that not only showed team stamina but also proved decisive in propelling the school toward its eventual No. 3 national ranking and matchup with Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl.

One of Georgia’s two other highest marks came before its 42-7 thrashing of Florida in the rivalry game formerly dubbed “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.” That game was preceded by the Bulldogs’ bye week, likely explaining the energy boost.

UGA adds pledge from 4-star guard

Georgia added the 19th commitment to its recruiting class of 2018 with a pledge from 4-star Houston County guard Trey Hill. Hill announced his plans Monday to play for the Dawgs in a video released by SEC Country.

One current Georgia player who is excited about Hill’s decision to attend Georgia is quarterback Jake Fromm. Fromm and Hill played together at Houston County High School and will get the opportunity to team up again in Athens.

The Bulldogs are looking to build one of the best offensive line classes in college football for the second consecutive year. Hill, one of the top-ranked guard prospects in America, joined 4-star center Warren Ericson and 3-star tackle Owen Condon to give UGA three linemen in this class. Georgia could add two more on the Dec. 20 early signing day. 5-star guard Jamaree Salyer and 4-star tackle Cade Mays both have Georgia among their finalists.

More national honors pour in for Dawgs

Two Georgia Bulldogs earned spot on AP All-America teams. Butkus Award-winning inside linebacker Roquan Smith was named first-team AP All-American, while senior Tackle Isaiah Wynn was named second-team AP All-American.

Two first-year Dawgs also earned All-America honors Monday. Fromm and right tackle Andrew Thomas were both named to the ESPN Freshman All-America team.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart also added a new piece of silverware to his ever-expanding trophy collection. Smart was named the Sporting News national coach of the year on Monday. He was named SEC Coach of the Year last week.

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