Although it may have taken Tyler Catalina a few sessions to get acclimated to practicing in the 90-plus degree conditions at Georgia's Milledge Avenue facility, the graduate transfer from Rhode Island is turning up his own heat to push for a starting job on the Bulldogs' offensive line.

For the third straight day on Wednesday, Catalina was seen taking reps with the first team at left tackle, the position head coach Kirby Smart recruited the Massachusetts native to play when he signed with the Bulldogs earlier this year.

“It’s a little hotter down here,” joked right tackle Greg Pyke, who hails from Baltimore. “I think he’s doing great. I’m trying to fly around out there, but it’s hot. I’ve been out here for five years, and it still affects me.”

Catalina appears to be adjusting well.

As each day of preseason camp has passed, his confidence has grown, and he's now to the point where Smart considers him one of the top six players on his offensive line.

“I think he’s got confidence. I think he really believes he can play and block these guys in this league. He blocks our players in practice; he plays with a little bit of confidence and swagger, he’s strong, he’s a physical presence that we need there that can move people and block people,” Smart said of Catalina, who stands 6-foot-6 and is listed at 314 pounds. “He’s a sharp kid. He’s picked up the offense really quick and playing with a lot of confidence. We’re excited about where he is, although we’re not ready to anoint or make anybody a starter yet.” But Smart says it’s nice to have options.

Should Catalina show he can handle left tackle, it would push Isaiah Wynn to his more natural position at left guard, leaving Dyshon Sims and Lamont Gaillard to compete for the starting spot at right guard.

“He’s a grad transfer and he was a captain for two years at Rhode Island. He’s an older guy who comes in and he’s been playing very well,” Pyke said. “I hosted him when he came looking at the school, so I’ve wanted nothing but the best for him.”

Catalina’s transition has apparently been a seamless one.

“He’s come in, and it’s definitely hard to come in as an offensive line transfer, mingle with the guys and build the camaraderie with the other guys, but he’s done a really good job,” Pyke said. “We’ve brought him into the brotherhood. He’s a great guy.”

Catalina has yet to be made available for post-practice interviews but told UGASports.com back in the spring the decision was an easy one to make, despite significant overtures from SEC rivals Florida and Auburn.

“I realized it was a magical place,” Catalina said in April. “I felt comfortable there, I loved the coaches and just having a chance to sit down with them and talk, talk football, their plans for me, how they see me helping the team ... it was great.”

Pyke’s glad he felt the way he did.

“It speaks volumes that our coaches went out and other SEC schools went out and tried to get him,” Pyke said. “We were lucky enough that he liked us enough to come here.”