ATHENS -- The hulking figures of tired offensive linemen trudged toward blocking drills on Monday -- the opening day of Georgia football practice.
"Come on guys, move it! Get over here!" came the yells as they pulled themselves away from water trays, baking in the 97-degree sun.
But the urging wasn't from offensive line coach Stacy Searels -- at least not this instance -- this time the shouts were coming from fellow lineman Chris Davis.
"I was just trying to get them to come over for the drill," said Davis, a red-shirt sophomore from Jefferson, when asked if he was trying to take on a leadership role within the group. "I didn't want them to be late."
While Davis didn't succeed this time -- Searels commanded the linemen to run sprints for being tardy to the drill -- he could often find himself in a leadership position this fall for the Georgia Bulldogs as the team's starting center and one of the more experienced players along a very talented but young line of scrimmage (one junior and no seniors amongst the depth chart).
That is, of course, if he maintains a starting position.
Davis, who started all 13 games at left guard for the Bulldogs in 2007, is now listed as the team's starting center -- a move made during spring practice -- but is competing with true freshman Ben Jones to hold the spot.
"There's a good battle at center right now," Georgia head coach Mark Richt said. "Ben Jones and Chris Davis are really going at it."
That Jones is even being mentioned as a candidate to start as a freshman shows that the Centreville, Ala., native has talent. But Davis says it's Jones' demeanor that has made the biggest difference.
"He has a great attitude and a willingness to work and learn," Davis said. "I love him to death, and I've really gotten to be good friends with him."
That doesn't mean that Davis isn't working as hard as possible to maintain his position however
Friday
April 26th, 2024
11:19AM
