Many people have the stories of when they moved off to college. Everyone had to leave pets, parents, siblings, and even significant others behind in doing so and start a new life in a completely new place.

Aulden Bynum "moved off to college" last month, but it wasn't to a new place.

Bynum joined the Georgia football team in January as an early enrollee, but while a number of his fellow 2013 early enrollees were making Athens their home after a number of visits, the Classic City was almost like a second home already for the Valdosta native.

Bynum's farther, Brad, is a Georgia graduate and the three-star prospect has been making the four hour trip to Athens on Fall weekends for as long as he can remember.

Having a chance to spend a great deal of his free time in parts of the Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall that were closed to him and the public as a visitor is something of which Bynum could have never dreamed.

"Being in here every day is surreal," Bynum said. "I never knew I would have this opportunity growing up a Georgia fan. Now I am a Bulldog and just being in school here and being in these rooms and a member of the team is just amazing."

At 6-foot-5 and 270-pound, Bynum still has to add weight and strength before he is ready to contribute big minutes for the Bulldogs.

That, however, didn't stop the Georgia offensive staff from letting the Valwood product know that he needed to prepare as if he were going to start this fall.

"We have a great, great offensive line coming back," he said. "But they wanted me to come in here and work like I am competing for a starting spot. I think that makes me better from the start. I'm working out hard and trying to prepare to be ready to play."

Working hard isn't something that Bynum is afraid of, but he admits that adjusting to the way a major program like UGA does things can be a tough transition.

"We are working out really hard here," Bynum said. "Everything is intense but that is how you have to do it. It has been different but we are catching on."

The move from high school to college preparation can often cause freshmen to struggle.

Luckily, he's had some help.

"Boss, David Andrews, has really taken us under his wing," Bynum said with a smile. "He is helping us through workouts and with the offense. He has been trying to teach us the offense. I mean, he really knows the offense and what to do."

With his spring practice coming up, being in peak physical condition and knowing the offense are going to be just two of the things facing Bynum.

But that likely won't be his toughest test.

Keeping his emotions in check when he takes the field for the first time as a Georgia Bulldog this fall might be the toughest challenge he will face in his career.

"It's just great to be here," he said with another smile.

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