Insider Notes: Intel on QBs and beyond as Georgia exits spring

Alright, spring practices at Georgia are over and the Bulldogs will focus on academics for a bit before getting into the full swing of summer workouts. Before we get to that point, DawgsHQ has some notes to share about this spring.

I’ve spoken with a number of sources who believe that Saturday was the best version of Carson Beck that anyone saw this spring. Now you can take that one of two ways. The first is that it’s an incredibly good thing that Beck was at his best with the fans in the stands and the pressure on. I think I’d put myself in that camp.

The other way to look at it is that Beck wasn’t the quarterback we saw on Saturday for much of the spring. Our sources have maintained all along that Beck is ahead in the battle for the starting job but those same sources don’t think the lead is any bigger now than it was entering Saturday’s game. Brock Vandagriff has had some really impressive flashes but Beck has been steadier. I keep going back to the fact that preseason camp will be a grind. Beck will have to navigate that to hold on to the job.

Some seem to think that Vandagriff will be in the transfer portal in a matter of days. I’m in no position to say whether he will or won’t enter but based on everything I’ve heard, it’s not a foregone conclusion. He loves it at Georgia. He believes that he’s getting better (his own words). He’s learning a lot. I’m told that all options are being considered and that should come as a surprise to no one. We’ll see how it plays out.

Sticking to the transfer portal talk, I’m surprised that I haven’t really heard a specific name to keep an eye on in the coming weeks. I fully expect Georgia to have more than one guy enter before the window closes at the end of the month, but I haven’t heard anything on specifics just yet.

I’m still hearing the same on Smael Mondon and Branson Robinson now that I was hearing on Saturday morning. Kirby Smart says their prognosis are up in the air and I’m hearing that both should be back in time for preseason camp. Robinson was in a walking boot during the G-Day game on Saturday and seemed to be getting around quite well. I don’t recall seeing Mondon.

I’m told that the staff came away pleased with the play of the offensive line on Saturday and there’s confidence in the situation at left tackle. Both Austin Blaske and Earnest Greene handled themselves really well and the plan, right now, is for both to, one, keep competing and, two, play this fall.

Xavier Truss, right now, is the No. 4 tackle behind those two and Amarius Mims. After that the Bulldogs are going to have to work hard to get some guys ready. Based on what I saw at G-Day, Chad Lindberg isn’t going to be the answer at offensive tackle and Monroe Freeling has a long way to go. With that said, a couple of sources believe that Freeling found some traction late in spring drills and started to catch on.

Considering the Bear Alexander transfer, I did some checking on the young Georgia defensive linemen on Sunday and what I heard should encourage Georgia fans. Both Jamaal Jarrett and Jordan Hall experienced their fair share of struggles this spring but there was plenty of buzz about how both of them got a lot better. The summer will be big for both. They’ve got to get in better shape. But it sounds like the staff believes both can help the team this fall.

One recruiting nugget I’d like to share. I spoke with some sources over the weekend about Georgia QB target Dylan Raiola. Nothing earth-shattering here but based on what I was able to gather, I feel more confident in the RPM pick if put in for the Bulldogs recently. It’s not a lock. It’s not over. But UGA is in a really strong spot right now.

I’ll wrap this up with some commentary on Georgia and the possibility of it targeting someone from the transfer portal. I fully expect the Bulldogs to do their homework on running backs and defensive linemen. They’re not desperate for a body at either position, but I get the impression that they’ll go after the right guy if he enters the portal. Keep in mind that anyone from the SEC ranks is out of play. February 1 marked the deadline for an SEC-to-SEC transfer with immediate eligibility unless its a graduate transfer.

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