DawgNation Nickel: The two Georgia football players to watch closely at G-Day

Which players will DawgNation be watching closely next Saturday on another G-Day in Athens?

Jeff Sentell/DawgNation

Posted 1 year ago

DawgNation now has five staffers who cover the Georgia football team from every angle: Beat, live streams, photos, podcasts, recruiting, etc. The “Nickel coverage” aim is simple: 1) Present a topic; 2) Offer a reasoned response; 3) Share a brisk statement to support the informed opinion.

G-Day. Next week. Dawgnation will be in heavy recap mode by this time next weekend.

Who will we have our eyes on for G-Day, though?

DawgNation has amplified the “Cover 4” concept which was in regular rotation in 2018. We now have five staffers who cover the UGA athletics program on a full-time basis and that means the focus shifts from a “Cover 4” to a nickel look with five guys now manning the secondary.

The name has changed but the quick in-and-out game here still remains with this feature.

The fourth “DawgNation nickel coverage” question of 2019:

These takes are designed to come out quicker than former Bulldog Mecole Hardman Jr. ran the 40 this year at the NFL combine.

Brandon Adams: J.J. Holloman and Tyson Campbell

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The why from Adams: “Holloman would seem to be the given in the wide receiver corp. I’m curious if he can be even better than expected. Campbell learned a lot last season. I’m eager to see how much more developed he is.”

Chip Towers: Channing Tindall and Brian Herrien

Brian Herrien-UGA football-Georgia football — Brian Herrien should see his chance to shine in 2019. He’s earned it. Most folks don’t know what the program has in Herrien. He’s been good enough to be a feature back somewhere in the SEC for a while now. But the depth chart at UGA at that position is an elite one to climb. (Curtis Compton/AJC)

The take from Towers: “I believe the linebacker Tindall is the closest thing Georgia has to a breakout star on defense who could immediately lift overall play, while Herrien being able to at least replicate the production and toughness of Elijah Holyfield is going to be paramount to the Bulldogs being able to run the football with the same level of effectiveness it has the past couple of seasons.“

Mike Griffith: James Cook and Demetris Robertson

James Cook-Georgia football-UGA football — *James Cook has an explosive gear. DawgNation’s Griffith can see him stepping up as an offensive playmaker this season. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)*

The take from On The Beat: “Gamebreakers UGA needs to emerge.”

Connor Riley: Tyler Simmons and Trey Hill

Trey Hill-UGA football-Georgia football — *Trey Hill at center? The imposing sophomore from Houston County can start to lock that role down for this fall with a great G-Day. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)*

The take from On The Beat: “Georgia needs a wide receiver to step up in some way this spring, and I think Simmons has the best shot to do so. As for Hill, it sounds like he’s got the inside track to be the starting center. If he plays well on G-Day, he could lock down that job going into fall camp.”

Jeff Sentell: Azeez Ojulari and Eric Stokes

Azzez Ojulari-Georgia football-UGA football — There’s a big hunch here that the steady day-to-day consistency and the ability of Azeez Ojulari will land him a big role on the Bulldogs in 2019. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

The why: “It will be tempting to spy breakouts like Nakobe Dean, Nolan Smith and Tyrique Stevenson. My eyes will drift to Jake Fromm and JR Reed pursuing a Ph.D. of sorts at their positions. But there’s something about Ojulari. He is a mixture of athleticism, intelligence, grit and a vast reservoir of internal strength. Stokes needs to battle with a No. 1 WR type like Holloman and fill that vacated role as the man at corner.“