An early look at Georgia football linebackers on a very rare Sunday practice viewing
It’s good to be Georgia football coach Kirby Smart’s son on days like this.
Andrew Smart got an up-close view of the Bulldog outside linebackers as they went through a position drill Sunday afternoon. Maybe too close.
Georgia senior Nolan Smith, one of the Bulldogs’ biggest stars for 2022, told Smart’s youngest child—now 10 years old—he probably should move to the side because he could have been in harm’s way. Smith and his outside linebacker mates were crashing into the sleds near him.
So who offered Andrew some insight into what the players were doing when he stood near him on the sideline? That would former Georgia All-American Jarvis Jones who has helped assist at the position.
This was Georgia’s fourth preseason practice and second in which there were some open media periods.
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That it came on a Sunday was highly unusual. Reporters were notified the day before that it would be open for what turned out to be about 11 minutes of practice.
The Bulldogs’ defense lost five first round draft picks and eight players overall to the NFL draft, but outside linebacker still has some seasoned players in Smith and sack leader Robert Beal.
First-year outside linebackers coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe told Beal after he went up against a blocking dummy: “Don’t just tap it around there! Punch it!”
Marvin Jones Jr., the five-star freshman from South Florida, looks the part of the next wave of talent at the position. He fills out his No. 7 jersey well with his 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame.
MJ Sherman went through the drill with Beal. C.J. Madden from Cedar Grove also is at outside linebacker. Chaz Chambliss, sophomore from Carrollton, was paired with Smith in the first rotation of drills.
Georgia football: Preseason practice report: Observations of the Bulldogs' first session
No photos or videos have been allowed for some time for media at practice, but I did also check out the inside linebackers and caught a quick glimpse of other players while moving into and out of practice.
It may have been 91 degrees and sunny, but co-defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann as usual was in sweatshirt and sweatpants while working with the inside backers.
Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Smael Mondon were the first two guys among four inside linebackers that seemed to be at the front with Rian Davis and Xavian Sorey. Mondon and Sorey are both five-star 2021 signees.
Kendall Milton went first in the rotation I saw briefly at running back followed by Kenny McIntosh, Daijun Edwards, Andrew Paul and Branson Robinson. Paul is wearing jersey No. 3 and is bigger than his 5-foot-11 listed height may indicate when you consider he’s carrying 220 pounds. Robinson has good burst also at 220.
Tight end Brett Seither was in a black non-contact jersey.
True freshman Oscar Delp—sort of forgotten at a position that boasts Brock Bowers, Darnell Washington and Arik Gilbert—flashed in an individual drill with a couple of stiff arms and then a leap at the end.
Heard Kirby Smart on the mic saying: “Got to move faster 14, if you want those playing time reps.” There are three No. 14s on the roster, but it appeared he was addressing that at Gilbert.
As the media members time ended, they hit the exits. Andrew Smart stayed behind and maybe picked up some more pointers.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football practice observations on a rare Sunday viewing time
