Georgia football preseason practices opened under sweltering conditions Thursday afternoon with a heat advisory in the area.
Temperatures pushed near the mid-90s and the heat index was at 105 as Carson Beck began his first preseason as the clear established starting quarterback. It wasn’t until Aug. 19 last year that the now fifth-year senior was named the starter.
The Bulldogs opened camp with 120 players in camp, according to coach Kirby Smart.
“I’m fired up about that,” Smart said. “That’s a good number for us. As you know in the future, it won’t be that. We’ve got good depth in camp and we’re looking forward to creating some mental and physical adversity through the heat and through practices to kind of start to form our team.”
Roster limits starting next season are set to be 105 in college football as part of a settlement agreement of three antitrust cases concerning the compensation of college athletes.
Cornerback Daylen Everette seemed to embrace what’s ahead this month.
“This is a time to lock in and really just prepare for the season,” he said.
Here are observations from the practice field from three open practice periods:
–Watched mostly the offense on this way. Let’s start with the wide receivers since it was announced earlier in the day that Rara Thomas was dismissed.
Here’s how they went through drills. Dillon Bell went first at the “X” outside receiver position followed by Colbie Young, Nitro Tiggle and walk-on Will Taylor.
On the other side of the field was Arian Smith first followed by London Humprheys, Michael Jackson III and walk-on Walter Blanchard.
Dom Lovett was the top slot receiver followed by Anthony Evans III, Sacovie White and walk-on Brandon Moody.
–Stanford transfer tight end Ben Yurosek is starting as the No. 3 tight end behind Oscar Delp and Lawson Luckie.
They were doing a drill that ended with tight ends diving on the ground to secure a loose ball.
Maybe I was a little too close to the action when viewing the tight ends. Got spritzed by a water bottle on the shirt. Can’t say it wasn’t welcome given the heat.
–Watched quarterback Jaden Rashada throw at his first Georgia practice. He had some rough patches as might be expected since transferring to Arizona State.
He was off target on a throw to Yurosek, connected with Smith, had a wobbly pass on a completion to Luckie and was praised by offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo on a sideline throw when the receiver made a good catch.
“Good throw, Rashada!” Bobo said.
–Georgia’s first-team offensive line didn’t have any surprises: Andrew Thomas, Dylan Fairchild, Jared Wilson, Tate Ratledge and Xavier Truss.
–Smart’s voice could be heard on the mic before reporters took the field.
“You guys are tired as *%&* already,” he said to a group of players.
And it could be heard when heading for the exit.
“Nate Frazier, why are you walking?” he said between drills to the freshman running back. “I thought you told me you wanted to start on punt team?”
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football: Practice report from Bulldogs first preseason practice
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