Roster updates - returning juniors and early departures - Consolidated

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The clock is ticking

It is time for underclassmen to declare whether or not they intend to leave school early for the NFL Draft. January 15 is the deadline for players to decide. Junior All-American linebacker Roquan Smith is the first one to watch.

Smith is proving to be an interesting study. According to most draft experts, Smith will be a first-round selection, expected to go with the 15th, 16th or 17th pick. But will he go? At first glance this seems like a no-brainer, but after last year’s decisions by Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Davin Bellamy and Lorenzo Carter to return, Smith may be considering doing the same (although it should be noted none of the other four were projected to go in the first round).

Word is that Smith has renewed his apartment lease for Spring Semester, although a final decision has not been made. He could be just using that as a place to live while he preps for the Draft. We should hear something over the next few days. Should Smith decide to stay, the University is in position to help the Montezuma native acquire an insurance policy to protect against injury and loss of Draft status. There have been murmurs that Smith is considering staying for another season, although I’ll still be surprised if he does. Stay tuned.

Jonathan Ledbetter and Deandre Baker both told reporters in Los Angeles that they intend to return for their senior years. …Center Lamont Gaillard continue to offer "no comment" as to whether he intends to stay or leave.


Nadab Joseph was supposed to enroll early but we are told is is holding off for now and will arrive with the rest of the class most likely in June.
Coaching changes

New outside linebackers coach Dan Lanning started his job with the Bulldogs on Tuesday, immediately upon the team’s return from the national championship game.

Lanning replaces Kevin Sherrer, who was hired by Jeremy Pruitt to become the defensive coordinator at Tennessee.

There’s more coaching news to come.

Schools can now add a 10th assistant to their respective staffs, and word is that Kirby Smart will make an announcement soon. It’s been speculated that Smart will turn to Jay Johnson, who spent last year as a quality control coach for offense. Tyson Summers could be added as an analyst.

Smart also has openings for a special teams analyst after Scott Fountain took an assistant job at Mississippi State, while strength coach Scott Sinclair has an opening after assistant Aaron Feld accepted a job to become the head strength coach at Oregon.

This is typically the time of year…

This is the time of year when players undergo any kind of needed surgery to correct any injuries that took place during the course of the season.

Although Georgia does not release such info due to HIPAA laws, don’t be surprised to hear if a player or two having surgery of some sort in the weeks to come. Speaking of injuries, we understand tight end Charlie Woerner suffered a fractured fibula in Georgia’s Rose Bowl win over Oklahoma.

Spring blooms

There are some redshirt freshmen who certainly warrant your attention once spring drills get underway.

We’ll focus on two – right tackle Isaiah Wilson and outside linebacker Robert Beal.

According to offensive line coach Sam Pittman, Wilson will get a long look at right tackle, along with Cade Mays. In Los Angeles, Wilson told UGASports that put his redshirt year to good use, improved his stamina, became much stronger, and feels he’s ready to win the starting job.

Beal is coming off a redshirt year as well. The former Peachtree Ridge standout is expected to receive ample opportunity to earn significant playing time this spring with the graduation of Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy.

Other redshirts to watch include offensive lineman Netori Johnson, along with defensive backs Tray Bishop, Latavious Brini and Eric Stokes.

In case you are wondering…

Natrez Patrick is still part of the Bulldog football program, but there’s been no update from Smart what will happen once the linebacker’s treatment program is complete. We are speculating here, but Patrick will have one more opportunity to get his life squared away and hopefully he can become a contributing member of the team next fall.

As for defensive back Deangelo Gibbs, we’ve not seen hide nor hair of the freshman since shortly before the game at Georgia Tech. Smart has declined to offer any specifics, but like Patrick, Gibbs is still a part of the team. For now.

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