NEW ORLEANS – Both Ryan Puglisi and Jaden Rashada admit they’ll both be on their toes when Georgia tangles with Notre Dame Wednesday night in the Sugar Bowl.

As the Bulldogs learned in the SEC Championship, when you play quarterback, you’re one injury away from having to go in the game.

With Gunner Stockton now running the show, Puglisi knows they’ll need to be more prepared than ever.

“The reason you come to Georgia is you’re going to be developed every single day and pushed to a different standard every day,” Puglisi said Monday. “Coach (Kirby) Smart and Coach (Mike) Bobo do a great job with that, so whenever your name is called, you’re prepared.”

Rashada agrees.

“I’m ready for whatever gets put on my plate,” said Rashada, who like Puglisi, has not played in a game this year.

Although sources say Puglisi has seen most of the reps as the second-team quarterback, Smart did not reveal a preference when asked during Monday’s Sugar Bowl Media Day session.

Bobo did not offer any further clues.

“He's a guy that's got a strong arm,” Bobo said of Puglisi. “He's a guy that's one year in this offense, is learning the offense, and studies extremely hard. He’s more athletic than people give him credit for and has a good understanding and takes command when he's in the huddle and shows all the attributes you'd like in a quarterback.”

Rashada is also apparently making strides.

“Jaden is a guy that got here a little bit late, didn't get here until summer, and has kind of been trying to play catch up and figure things out,” Bobo said. “But since the SEC Championship, he's gotten more reps, and with more reps, you've seen him improve and have a better understanding of the game plan.”

Puglisi said he’ll be ready if his name is called.

“That’s every game. You never know what can happen. Every game, no matter who you’re playing, you’ve got to be ready,” he said. “You’ve got to be prepared when your number is called. Obviously, I do whatever I could to help this team win.”

Smart confirmed that Carson Beck will join the team in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl and be on the sideline supporting Gunner Stockton.

“Yeah, he's going to join us in the next couple of days down here. The big thing for him has been a part of his rehab process and what all he's had to do. He's had a really tough injury. He needed to get some rehab from people in Jacksonville. He's got a specialist that has worked with this injury,” Smart said. “Brock Purdy had a very similar injury. Nick Mullens, I think [Matthew] Stafford. He had several people. So, when you talk about his team of people, including the surgeons, he's had to do a lot of work with that.”

Smart said Beck has given Stockton complete support.

“He’s been there for Gunner throughout,” Smart said. “He's supported Gunner, had multiple conversations with him. Looking forward to having him with us for this game.”

Smart acknowledged he’s had conversations with Colbie Young about potentially taking advantage of a recent ruling that now allows players with junior college experience to come back for another year.

“He and I have had those conversations. I think only time will tell with that,” Smart said. “I’d rather keep those conversations between he and I because he has a lot of things coming on.”

As a result of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia being granted an injunction allowing players with junior college years to pursue another year of eligibility, Young could have a decision to make.

Young – who pled not guilty to misdemeanor charges of simple battery and assault of an unborn child in July – has a jury trial set for Feb. 17.

Should Young be cleared, he could potentially return to Georgia for one more year after playing the 2021 season at Lakawanna College.

Running backs Chauncey Bowens and Trevor Etienne have something in common. Both were part of the Florida Gators before becoming Bulldogs.

At least, technically.

Bowens was committed to the Gators before choosing the Bulldogs, while Etienne transferred to Georgia before the start of spring practice.

Ironically, it was Etienne who hosted Bowens on his visit to Gainesville, a fact the Bulldog freshman laughed about on Monday.

“When I committed to Florida, he hosted me. So, we’ve always had a good relationship,” Bowens said. “He’s just a natural leader. He’s one of those guys that whenever he walks in the room, guys just gravitate to him.”

Bowens said the first time he saw Etienne in Athens was a day he won’t forget.

“I had just been there and I saw a guy in the equipment room with a hoodie on, he took it off, and I was all right, there you go,” said Bowens.

Wide receiver Nitro Tuggle credits Smart and position coach James Coley for convincing him to stay with the Bulldogs after initially placing his name in the transfer portal.

“Yeah, I had just created a bond with Coach Smart and Coach Coley,” Tuggle said. “That determined I would stay.”

Tuggle said he’s anxious to prove what kind of receiver he can be and is willing to wait his turn.

“Going against our defense, I’m just going to take advantage of that so I can be ready when my time comes,” he said.

…Smart on the death of former President Jimmy Carter: “I certainly salute his life plan, his lifestyle, the way he lived his life. He embodies the Georgia culture in terms of being from a state, agricultural state. He's from a part of the state where I'm from, the southwest corner of the state. And there are so many things that he did for our state beyond people's even recognition. Just the fact that he was President of the United States and was a fellow Georgian is a pretty special feat. And I didn't ever get to meet him personally. I have a lot of acquaintances that know him. And a tremendous amount of respect for what he did and what he meant to our state.”

…On the progress of cornerback Ellis Robinson: “Throughout the year, he has grown so much maturity-wise, because he went from probably being really good that can cover, that was always worried about giving up a completion,” Smart said. “He's so competitive. He gets so mad if he gives up a play, and he wants to make every play. So sometimes he gives up plays trying to not let guys get completions when you're a lot better off just understanding what the defense gives you.”

…Smart on Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard: “Yeah. He's big, he's physical, he's fast. He runs away from people. I mean, if you're an offensive coordinator, this guy is a huge weapon because there were kids like him before who couldn't throw the ball. He can throw the ball,” Smart said. “When you can throw the ball and you're big and you're fast and you run, but you have experience -- You can almost count on a quarterback to make a mistake in a game, and like he's going to make a mistake, it's going to be costly. Not when you have one with the experience he has.”