HOOVER, Ala. — Forget "Running Back U," Jeb Blazevich wants Georgia to be known as "Tight End U."
“We always try to be Tight End University, that is what we try to promote, that is what we try to claim. So it is up to us as a group to go out there and work hard and improve," Blazevich said on Tuesday at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala.
"In terms of our tight end group right now compared to how it has been in the past, we have a tight knit group of guys, especially this year. I love the guys we have in there, we are all like-minded and all hang out, we all stay together and go to the movies together, we just hang around."
That includes a couple of fresh faces plenty familiar to northeast Georgia high school fans -- former Buford standout Isaac Nauta and Rabun County athlete Charlie Woerner. Nauta, an early enrollee already, flashed impressive athleticism in his only public outing for the Bulldogs, cradling six catches for 56 yards and one touchdown in Georgia's spring G-Day scrimmage. Woerner, meanwhile, has just joined the team after torturing northeast Georgia defenses and is listed as a tight end on the official roster.
"Isaac is fitting in great already and is really learning what it takes to be successful," Blazevich said of Nauta.
The duo joins a position already full of talent, including junior leader Blazevich, Jordan Davis and Jackson Harris.
"That is such a special thing when you compete with guys that you enjoy their company because when you enjoy the guy next to you, you want what is best for him and you can turn it up that extra notch because they know it is coming from love," Blazevich said. "So it is just a special group.”
How Blazevich, Nauta, Woerner and their position mates fit into the scheme that new Bulldogs offensive coordinator Jim Chaney brings to Athens remains to be seen -- though there is a good chance that the position will be relied on even more heavily if Georgia moves away from utilizing the fullback position. And while Blazevich noted that he is still learning the answers to that question himself, he added that each tight end is excited to see how it plays out.
“What I am focusing on is that we have an opportunity. We are still developing our identity as an offense, so that is what fall camp is for and this summer in particular. I think we are all trying to be detail-oriented, hard workers, and be a tough and physical team," Blazevich said. "But in terms of the tight ends’ role in specific, I think it is still up to us in terms of what we show in camp of what we can do. If we go out there and we have a terrible camp, I would not want him (coach Chaney) to put the three of us out on the field. But if we go out and do amazing, I think we earned the right to be out there, so that is still up to us to be able to show coach Chaney that he can put his trust in us. That is why I am really thankful for the guys in the tight end group because I don’t think there is a better group of guys I would rather be going through this with."
As someone who is now on his third offensive coordinator in three seasons, Blazevich has been impressed by what he's seen from Chaney so far -- and not just on the field.
“He is something else, he is awesome and he is really funny. He will get you on the field and coach you up and then when you get off the field he will make jokes on how you screwed up but it is not in a mean way but you can laugh," Blazevich said. "So he is really awesome and a personable guy. I think all of the players relate to him well.”
PLAYERS FEEL SMART'S INTENSITY: Georgia player attendees Blazevich, safety Dominick Sanders and offensive lineman Brandon Kublanow were asked, ad nauseum, about how Smart and his staff compare to former coach Mark Richt and the previous administration.
According to Kublanow Smart's energy is palpable.
“Practice has been intense," the senior center said. "Most people say the easiest part of game week should be Saturday, and the hardest part should be during the week so that’s something Coach Smart has really instilled in us.”
That said, the changes have not been extraordinarily pronounced.
“I don’t know if coach Smart is really that different (from Richt), but we’re having a great time," Kublanow continued. "He runs around all over the field, I think he’s an amazing coach and he’s really doing well. I’m really excited to play for him."
Sanders too was looking forward to getting the Smart era underway.
“It’s pretty awesome. I actually knew Kirby [Smart] in high school," Sanders said. "He is an awesome guy. We work everyday in the weight room, applying everything for him and do what we can off the field.”
PLAYERS AVOID OVER-HYPING EASON: Georgia's players acknowledged that the Bulldogs' heir-apparent quarterback Jacob Eason is talented. But they weren't about to make too much of a deal about his progress.
“Jacob has done a great job. He’s come in and worked hard – obviously he’s under a lot of scrutiny (as a freshman) – but we feel like all three guys have done an amazing job and we’ll see how (the quarterback competition) goes during fall camp,” Kublanow said.
“The kid can throw," Sanders added. "The kid is very talented and a very hard worker. It’s a pleasure going against him every day.”
Eason -- who wowed fans with a couple of impressive throws in the spring game -- will look to win the starting spot over 2015 starter and senior Greyson Lambert and junior back-up Bryce Ramsey. And while Smart was noncommittal on the competition, he also noted that seniority would not be the defining factor in the race.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/7/422205/blazevich-nauta-woerner-hoping-to-build-on-bulldogs-tight-end-legacy