Final grades on Georgia football’s spring game efforts

ATHENS G-Day is over and the Bulldogs have now wrapped up all 15 spring practices. Several players had excellent performances on Saturday, while some position groups showed that they need to use the offseason to continue to improve.

Below is our assessment of each seeding group after the Red Teams 31-26 win over the Black Teams.

Quarterbacks: A-

Carson Beck made a strong case that he should be the starting quarterback. He was sharp and spread the ball around, completing 13 of his 18 pass attempts for 211 yards while working with the first-team offense.

Related: Carson Beck makes strong QB1 statement on G-Day: I felt like everything worked out

Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton also made some plays as each quarterback showcased their athleticism. But both quarterbacks also turned the ball over when Tykee Smith intercepted Vandagriff. Stockton got the ball on a receiver and ended up in the hands of linebacker Raylen Wilson.

The turnovers keep this from getting a Grade A, but each quarterback did great things Saturday to show that Georgia still has plenty of talent despite losing Stetson Bennett.

Runs: C

Running backs rarely have strong spring games. Georgia ran for just 84 yards on 34 carries. The longest run of the day was Vandagriff’s 22-yard scramble. Daijun Edwards had just two receptions for 13 yards, a far cry from what Kenny McIntosh was capable of as a passer a season ago. Cash Jones proved to be G-Day’s most productive runner.

Roderick Robinson picked up 42 yards on 11 carries.

But Georgia also struggled at the position. Three of Georgia’s five scholarship players did not register as Kendall Milton, Andrew Paul and Branson Robinson were all sidelined with various injuries.

Smart still likes the talent in Georgia’s running back room. What’s vital in the offseason is getting this room back to full strength.

Wide receiver: A

No station group had a stronger day than the wide reception room. Arian Smith, Mekhi Mews and Jackson Meeks all had touchdowns, while Smith also added a rushing touchdown.

Dillon Bell, Zeed Haynes, Dominic Lovett and Ladd McConkey all had receptions that were recorded as explosive plays.

The position group is both deep and talented, which hasn’t been the case in recent years. Beck, who will likely be Georgia’s starting quarterback, is the clear front-runner, with plenty of toys to play in a Mike Bobos offense.

Tight end: A

Brock Bowers didn’t have to prove anything, but he still made a handful of impressive plays on the afternoon. Oscar Delp finished off a strong spell, while Lawson Luckie showed why he received so much praise.

Georgia isn’t as deep at the position as it was a season ago, but has three players capable of making plays in this offense. Health is a critical factor to watch in this group, but the tight ends will play a big role in Georgia’s offense in 2023, just as they did under Todd Monken.

Forward line: A

For the simple gesture of the A’s, this group will honor Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy. In Georgia’s first scrimmage, the Bulldogs took the field with just 10 men, leaving the left guard spot open in Willock’s honor.

As far as ground plays go, Georgias started an offensive line that gave Beck plenty of time to operate in the pocket. Based on the shape of the game, it’s hard to distinguish much from teams that use blocking talent, but with Sedrick Van Pran, Tate Ratledge and Xavier Truss, Georgia should be strong on the interior.

Earnest Greene started the first two series at left tackle, with Austin Blaske coming in for the third series of the game. The other team’s offensive line gave up some pressure, but Georgia is very good with what it has on the offensive line from a depth standpoint.

Defensive line: B

The main story on Georgia’s defensive line was the departure of Bear Alexander. Alexander is expected to be one of Georgia’s most productive defensive linemen this upcoming season and plans to play his college football elsewhere next season.

The loss of Alexander hurts on several fronts. It forces many young players to grow up quickly, such as Christen Miller, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and Jonathan Jefferson.

We also got our first looks at Jordan Hall and Jamaal Jarrett yesterday. Long term, Tray Scott’s defensive line should be more than fine. But in the short term, the loss of Alexander raises questions about whether this group has a ceiling in 2023.

Outside defender: B

In an ideal world, we would have gotten to see what Marvin Jones Jr. and Jalon Walker look like. But both expected participants were suspended due to shoulder injuries. Smart has assured reporters that both are suitable for the start of fall camp.

Instead, we saw flashes of promise from Georgia’s less experienced players. Damon Wilson showed why he was rated as a 5-star talent as the freshman had 2.0 sacks. Gabe Harris and Darris Smith also had nice moments on Saturday.

Chaz Chambliss is the only known commodity at this position. It had always been like this after spring training. While the long-term future of this group is very bright, there are still many unknowns as to what this group will look like this season.

Inside defender: A

Even though Smael Mondon is dealing with what Smart called lower-extremity injuries, this group flashed all afternoon. Jamon Dumas-Johnson started and showed why the hell he is an All-America candidate.

Xavian Sorey started opposite Dumas-Johnson and ended up leading the team in tackles with seven. CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson both showed why they have received so much praise this offseason as freshmen.

Glenn Schumann has filled this room with talent, and even with some injuries, it’s clear that this group will be a strength for Georgia’s defense.

Defensive defender: B

Georgia saw Tykee Smith and Javon Bullard both play the star and safety spots, respectively. Replacing Chris Smith won’t be easy, but those two and Malaki Starks should make Georgia fans feel confident about what Georgia has at safety.

Around the corner is a little less clear. No one separated from Smart, Nyland Green started in the corner opposite Kamari Lassiter. Daylen Everette, Julian Humphrey and AJ Harris all continue to compete for the starting spot to replace Kelee Ringo.

The secondary improved as the day went on, but Bullard admitted it wasn’t a strong start to the afternoon for the group. Georgias Secondary gave up some big plays at the end of the year and will look to fix some of those issues in the fall.

Special teams: C+

All three field goal attempts were good, including a 51-yard punt by Liam Badger. But Georgia also saw Jared Zirkel miss an extra point. That can’t happen during the regular season.

Zirkels’ opening kick also requires several bounces to get into the end zone. Mekhi Mews also made long kicks and returns. While this is great for the Mews, Smart will no doubt want to clear these areas in the autumn.

Kirby Smart reviews the Georgia football spring game

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