ATHENS — Despite the media only having 10 actual minutes of access to Georgia’s first fall practice under new coach Kirby Smart, there was plenty to take note of Monday, especially for several northeast Georgia area freshmen standouts.
Tight ends Isaac Nauta, of Buford fame, and Rabun County’s Charlie Woerner, already had made names for themselves before they officially hit the practice field.
The position is considered to one of the areas of strength for the Dogs with junior Jeb Blazevich, who is expected one of the top tight ends in the Southeastern Conference, certainly considered the first-game starter. But Smart, during his press conference to open the fall practice season, heaped praise on both Nauta and Woerner, who both have shown early promise they can be factors on the field.
"First thing, those two kids have had really good summer conditioning programs,” Smart said. “That group as a whole has really done a good job, but both (Isaac) Nauta and (Charlie) Woerner have both come in and pushed the other guys. I think they're going to make Jordan Davis, Blazevich, and Jackson Harris much better because they're going to push them.”
The brief viewing session did not have either taking throws from any of the three quarterbacks that are in the mix to be the starter. But Smart said he envisions both players having an impact during the season.
“How fast they learn will determine how fast they get on the field,” he said. “Can they help on special teams? Both of them have great body types, length, size. (Offensive coordinator Jim) Chaney has a history of being able to use those type guys. I've seen it first-hand. If they're in the best 11 players, they're better than the wide outs, then they're going to be on the field. That's determined by our players. That's who we are and what our identity is."
Nauta, who was an early enrollee, was one of the young players to have a breakout moment at the G-Day game catching five passes for 43 yards and one touchdown.
Another former area prep player, freshman offensive lineman Ben Cleveland of Stephens County, at times was the most dominant player at his position during drills on Monday.
Offensive line coach Sam Pittman voiced his opinion loudly of Cleveland at one point: “Ben Cleveland is the only one out here doing things the right way, the way we want them to be done!”
Cleveland, who can play at multiple spots, is among a handful of guys battling for what are essentially five open positions on the line behind returning starters in seniors Brandon Kublanow (center) and Greg Pyke (right guard) and junior Isaiah Wynn (left tackle).
Smart said the goal is to build a group of linemen that can play multiple positions. Dyshon Sims, Lamont Gaillard, Kendall Baker, and Tyler Catalina all are in the mix.
"We will rotate every practice so that Isaiah is also getting work inside. All those guys are going to get work there on the offensive line,” Smart said. “The way practice works, everyone is going to get reps but Wynn is the swing guy. We've got more guards who we think can play winning football. That will be a day-to-day operation. It's field-to-field so there's going to be times when guys are crossing over so we get cross training for all positions there."
NOTES: With no actual depth chart there was no way of telling who took the first snaps at quarterback between Greyson Lambert, Brice Ramsey, or Jacob Eason. But it was obvious who had the better arm with Eason throwing lasers to the outside to a variety of receivers. ... Nick Chubb was on the field taking snaps and there did not appear to be any lack of explosion from his injured knee when he ran the ball during drills. ... True freshman Elijah Holifield also looked explosive when taking his turns during drills.
