Insider Notes: Bulldogs making moves in week two

Georgia is inching toward the midpoint of spring drills and hosted its annual coaches clinic at the end of week two. So lets get right to it. DawgsHQ shares what we’re hearing from last week’s practices below.

Most of the contacts I’ve spoken with over the past couple of days say Carson Beck is the guy at quarterback right now. Others, and even some of those who said that about Beck, think Gunner Stockton is going have something to say about it. That time may not come this spring but I’ve had several folks tell me how impressed they were with Stockton last week.

With that said, I also had a couple of folks who were able to see practice this time last year who say that Brock Vandagriff has come a long way. In piecing things together and coming to an educated guess, I don’t think Vandagriff gets mentioned as much because he doesn’t produce the “wow, how’d he do that” type of plays as often as the other two. Again, that’s the read I get on it from talking to multiple folks.

I’m told that Kendall Milton is a little banged up but nothing serious. I’ve heard groin and hamstring, but I’m not sure which one. Before I started hearing about that I started to pick up some buzz on Branson Robinson, who is running really well this spring. I had one source tell me that Robinson is getting the best of a lot of full-speed collisions out there right now.

A couple of sources told me that Rara Thomas had a couple of really strong practices to end last week. I also continue to hear good things about Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Arian Smith.

In case you missed my post on The Dawg Walk this weekend, Lawson Luckie got some first team looks at tight end this week in different sets. I don’t think he has passed Oscar Delp and I don’t think he’s close to passing him up. I just think he is where Delp was this time last year. I’ve spoken with several folks who really like what they’ve seen from the freshman.

Earnest Greene is having a solid spring and he’s coming along nicely per everything I have been told. He was on the shelf with that back injury for awhile and he’s playing catchup. I fully anticipate him playing and being a part of Georgia’s plans in 2023.

With that said, Austin Blaske is having a really good spring. More than one contact has mentioned they were surprised by his length and quickness. He has some technique things to clean up but the No. 1 thing he brings to that offensive line is an edge. Blaske is a nasty, max-effort guy who has come a long way when it comes to playing under control. If Greene ends up battling back to win that job, two things will be true. 1. He will have EARNED it. 2. Blaske is still going to play quite a bit.

I’ve spoken with several coaches who were able to watch practice last week and Mykel Williams‘ name keeps coming up. When I asked those guys about the guy who stood out on defense, almost all of them mentioned Williams in the first sentence. I also mentioned last week about how I spoke with some sources who were underwhelmed a little with Bear Alexander. That wasn’t the case when I checked in with folks on Sunday. Apparently he had a good finish to the week.

I don’t have much on insider linebacker and EDGE today but I do want to share my read on the defensive backfield now that I’ve spoken with quite a few people about it.

The competition is THICK at the cornerback opposite of Kamari Lassiter. As we reported Saturday morning, Julian Humphrey has made a move. Daylen Everette and Nyland Green are also in the thick of things. Smoke Bouie did some good things this week according to the coaches (from the clinic) I spoke with this week. A.J. Harris has also turned some heads. This has quickly turned into one of the most intriguing battles I’ve covered at Georgia because more than one person believes that four or five guys will be in the mix.

Now on to safety where I really do believe that Javon Bullard getting reps means a little more than just creating some position flexibility. I spoke with a source about it on Sunday who pointed out how, under Kirby Smart, that strong safety position has always been a guy who makes plays on the ball. Georgia wants a turnover creator in that role. J.R. Reed, Richard, LeCounte, and Chris Smith all fit that bill. I’m not saying that Bullard is going to be the guy there but I do think he would bring that play-making element needed at the position. Combine him working at safety with the buzz about Tykee Smith coming on, that’s one to watch for sure. I do think that David Daniel-Sisavahn, Joenel Aguero, and Dan Jackson will eventually have a say in it.

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