ATHENS — Several of Georgia’s top commitments on the defensive side of the ball made it official that they were coming to Athens on Wednesday, but just where they might line up once they arrive remains a bit of a mystery.
Star defensive back Alec Ogletree will begin camp at safety, Richt said, but there’s a chance he could end up at linebacker at some point. At 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, defensive end T.J. Stripling has the prototypical frame for an outside linebacker, and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said that’s a move any of the Bulldogs’ ends could make, including new recruits Brandon Burrows, Jalen Fields and Dexter Morant. Even prized prospect Garrison Smith, who played defensive tackle in high school, could find he fits better at end in Grantham’s 3-4 scheme.
“Any of these guys you bring in, you get them working, then you evaluate and see where they can help you, wherever that may be,” defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos said.
And for now, Grantham said finding a home for players who have yet to arrive on campus is a secondary priority.
“It’s kind of early because we’re still evaluating our guys,” Grantham said. “Once we get our guys in place, we’ll figure out what the best matchups and best scenarios are.”
The process of evaluating the current Georgia players is one Grantham began several weeks ago, breaking down film on each player and working to decide where they might fit in.
The results aren’t exactly in yet, he said. But they’re not too far off, either.
“We’re getting closer,” Grantham said. “It’ll be sooner than later, but nothing’s ever etched in stone. We’re going to start some guys out at positions and see how they handle it. But I can tell you that nothing is etched in stone right now, and we’ll be constantly tweaking it throughout spring ball and into the fall to get our best players on the field at all times.”
That’s a plan Lakatos is on board with, and he might take it even a step further.
Film study provided an initial gauge, spring practice will add more, and the fall will see the arrival of the new freshmen — but it might be years before everyone has found a home, and even then things will be re-evaluated with each new matchup.
“Sometimes people’s ability correlates to what you’re trying to stop and how they can help you that week may be different than the previous week,” Lakatos said. “And then players change. Players develop at different rates than other players. So it’s a constant evaluation of who the best guys are and what’s the best situation.”
It works both ways
While the loss of a few longtime Georgia commitments before signing day was the primary buzz among fans and recruiting services this week, head coach Mark Richt took a more pragmatic view of the situation.
Georgia was lucky enough to hold on to its entire class a year ago, but Richt knows that’s the exception to the rule. More often, he said, keeping an 18-year-old’s mind made up is a difficult task.
“These kids are 17, 18, 19 years old, and coaches that are anywhere between 25 and 65 are trying to convince them why one school is better than another,” Richt said. “So it can be confusing at times. It can be very difficult at times. That’s why our policy has been to be very straightforward from the beginning, Don’t say something that won’t come true in the end. Trust is really the only thing we have to hold us together, I think.”
Richt said coaches get a good feel for recruits during the process, and they usually have a pretty good idea of which ones are sincere about their commitments and which are likely to bolt before signing day.
But the process works both ways, and even Georgia got in on the action this year, swiping offensive lineman Kenarious Gates at the final moment from Kentucky.
It’s just part of how things work on the recruiting trail, and while it may have put a dent in the Bulldogs’ rankings from recruiting services this year, it’s nothing Richt is getting too upset about.
“If we feel like that kid is not 100 percent certain, then we’ll continue to recruit him,” Richt said. “I think everybody does that. If you take a kid is solid, then you’re wasting your time and you don’t want to do that. Sometimes these kids make decisions based on emotion and they’re not certain what they want to do, so we’re going to continue. I think you have to.”
As good as advertised
Georgia’s newest safety, Jakar Hamilton, arrived from Georgia Military College with a pretty impressive reputation. Grantham, Lakatos and the rest of the Bulldogs’ staff had seen him on tape enough to know he had plenty of ability. But there’s always a concern about how a player will react to a new environment.
In Georgia’s first few days of offseason conditioning, however, Lakatos said Hamilton has gone a long way toward eliminating any of those worries.
“We watched him on video, and he’s a very good player on tape — very exciting, very physical, rangy, competitive guy,” Lakatos said. “The encouraging thing is, the couple of morning workouts we’ve had, he’s been that guy. I know that’s different from being on the field, but he’s a hard worker. And with his ability times the hard work, he has a chance to be pretty good.”
A learning experience
It’s not just Georgia’s defensive players that are going to get a quick study in Grantham’s new 3-4 scheme. It’s also the rest of his staff.
While Lakatos will be new to the scheme, he’s not likely to be greatly affected by the changes to the front seven. Rodney Garner, on the other hand, is going to be getting a fresh look at preparing a defense, and he’s excited for the opportunity.
“This is my first time coaching in a 3-4 scheme,” said Garner, Georgia’s lone holdover among defensive coaches from last season. “I’m excited about expanding my knowledge as a coach just like the players are.”
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