ATLANTA – Much has been made of what, on paper at least, appears to be one of the more impressive classes of offensive linemen that Georgia has signed in recent years.
Head coach Kirby Smart is certainly hopeful.
“We think we’ve recruited more length, but that doesn’t mean those guys are going to come in and play that position because they look good and pass the 'looks' contest,” Smart said Wednesday. “Each of those positions will be evaluated and compete throughout camp. I’m excited to get them out there and see them compete because it’s a lot different than being out there in shorts.”
So far, he likes what he’s seen.
According to Smart, freshmen Isaiah Wilson, Netori Johnson, Justin Shaffer and Andrew Thomas have each worked to at least put themselves in position to compete.
“They’re not where they need to be, but that’s one thing, the fact we’re able to go out and do some conditioning stuff … they’re better than they were when they got here,” Smart said. “Each one of those guys has shed some good pounds, and I think are more prepared.”
That includes Wilson, listed at 350 pounds in Georgia’s media guide, but he admitted to UGASports over the summer of coming in weighing much more than that.
Smart said Wilson’s appropriate weight has been a subject of conversation ever since he arrived on campus in May.
“It’s hard to say. We’ve debated that since he first got here. I don’t know what that number is,” Smart said. “I just know it’s been coming down. It’s almost like, when does it stop? We want it to come down though because he can’t sustain if he doesn’t. He has some heat acclimation stuff that he’s had to get used to, but I’m glad we’ve got him down there now instead of halfway through the fall. But I can’t say what that weight will be right now.”
Smart said Thomas (listed at 338 pounds in the media guide) and Wilson (35) will work out at tackle with Shaffer (350) and Johnson (334) at guard.
He said that Director of Football Performance Sidney Smith and Director of Strength and Conditioning Scott Sinclair have worked in tandem to determine what each player's optimal weight should be.
“When we say bigger, we start with what is your optimal weight. That’s based on Sydney and Scott. They do bone density, fat testing, there’s an optimal weight for everybody, so bigger is not necessarily better,” Smart said. “It’s what is your optimal weight and some guys have that stature, they’ve got height, they’ve got bulk, they’ve got length. The class that just came in, there’s a lot of length at each position that we just do wingspan on. There’s a lot of good measurables, but there’s a whole lot more that goes into being a football player than just that. How tough are they, how will they do when it’s hot? Those kinds of things we will need to find out, too.”
Playing time will certainly have to be earned.
When fall camp begins on July 31, Smart said the same group of linemen who finished the spring with the first unit will begin camp as the starters.
For those who forgot, that group includes Isaiah Wynn at left tackle, Pat Allen at left guard, Lamont Gaillard at center, Solomon Kindley at right guard and Dyshon Sims at right tackle.
“I’m comfortable with it. I’m a lot more comfortable with the competition that I hope comes.
I think as we finished, that’s kind of how we will start. But as we well know, there’s a lot of competition with the youth,” Smart said. “But (Sean) Fogarty is a guy I’m excited about. He had a little knee injury at the end and Ben Cleveland had a couple of hiccups with injuries. All those guys, when you put them in there, they will get a lot of reps at each place, but we will probably start them in the same place.”
