Richt says Tripp will start at left tackle

ATHENS -- The No. 1-ranked Georgia Bulldogs continued preparations for their season opener with Georgia Southern by conducting a two-hour workout in full pads Tuesday.

Georgia coach Mark Richt said it was like Groundhog Day because the Bulldogs went through the exact same drills and schedule as Monday's practice but this time it was in pads. And in a continuation of the Groundhog Day theme, Tuesday's post-practice media session featured Monday's hot topic, the offensive line.

Richt provided Georgia's projected starting unit if the Bulldogs had to play a game this week. He said the front five would be Kiante Tripp at left tackle, Vince Vance at left guard, Chris Davis at center, freshman Cordy Glenn at right guard and Josh Davis at right tackle.

"That's a lot of first timers right there, four brand new starters and one at a new position," said Richt.

Chris Davis, a Jefferson High graduate, is the only member of the aforementioned group to have started (all 13 games at left guard in 2007) while the rest with the exception of the freshmen Glenn saw action last year.

After losing sophomore left tackle Trinton Sturdivant to a season-ending knee injury last week and with sophomore Clint Boling out for the first game, the offensive line is one area to watch when the Eagles come to town. Sturdivant started all 13 games at left tackle last year. Glenn, a native of Riverdale, is 6-foot-5, 313 pounds.

"We threw Cordy in there at tackle and then at guard, and he's a big body guy, who bends just right, and he's done well," said Richt. "Whey they run in to him, they don't get very far. He's got a chance to get a good start for us."

Richt added that the Bulldogs have continued to work on schemes and techniques they will employ against GSU as they run a different offense and defense.

"We usually start about 10 days out getting ready for an opponent but we started about two weeks out."

Georgia will practice in shorts Wednesday and then play a simulated game Thursday, putting the offense and defense on the same sideline for the first time this year and have the scout team on the visitor's sideline.

Georgia is slated to open the season at Sanford Stadium against Georgia Southern on Aug. 30 at 12:30 p.m. in a game that will be televised on a pay-per-view basis by CSS.