ATHENS — Georgia is midway through preseason practice, every one of them under a sweltering sun. There were a few notes to pass on from Wednesday’s media viewing, including something that may be nothing … but is worth passing along nonetheless:
- The pecking order at quarterback during a play polish drill was Jacob Eason, then Greyson Lambert, then Brice Ramsey. The requisite cautionary note is that the pecking order could have changed once the media left. But during that second period it was broken up that way, with Eason handing off to Nick Chubb, Lambert handing off to Sony Michel, Ramsey handing off to Brendan Douglas. (And for tailback purposes, it was then walk-on quarterback Sam Vaughn handing to Elijah Holyfield, and Parker McLeod handing off to Brian Herrien and Tae Crowder.
- Furthering the intrigue, when the quarterbacks broke away from play polish to an individual quarterback footwork drill, Eason and Lambert were grouped together, followed by Ramsey and Vaughn. Again, it could just be looking too much into it, but that’s how it was during the media viewing period.
- Head coach Kirby Smart said earlier in the day that the quarterback reps were “not totally equal” this week, so it’s possible Eason is getting a hard look this week and in the scrimmage, before a depth chart decision is made for the final two weeks of practice.
- Graduate transfer Tyler Catalina was again getting first-team work at left tackle, with Isaiah Wynn sliding to left guard.
- Meanwhile, recently transplanted inside linebacker Rashad Roundtree is getting some second-team work. That’s notabale considering it’s his first week there after moving from safety.
- Graduate transfer Maurice Smith is working second team nickel back, at least during a drill early in the viewing period. It was the first time he’d been seen in a team drill since he arrived.
- Speaking of the secondary, with Quincy Mauger still out, it looked like first-teamers (in nickel) were Dominick Sanders and Aaron Davis at safety, Rico McGraw at nickel, and Malkom Parrish and Juwuan Briscoe at cornerback.
- As nose tackle John Atkins continues to work his way back from a hyperextended knee – he was in uniform but not practicing on Wednesday – the first-team nose tackle is DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle. He was working alongisde Trent Thompson, the only down linemen on first team during an early drill.
- Roquan Smith was getting mixed in for some first-team snaps at inside linebacker, even working with Natrez Patrick. With Reggie Carter seemingly established as a starter, it at least looks like Smith is getting prepared for some snaps, perhaps as part of a rotation.
- Safety Quincy Mauger was still on an exercise bike with an ankle sprain, but was pedaling hard.
- Tight end Charlie Woerner was walking around in uniform, but not practicing.