MACON – Running back Zamir White remains on track for the start of fall camp, Kirby Smart told reporters prior to Monday’s Bulldog Caravan stop at the Hargray Capitol Theatre.

“He will be past the time to come back. He will be cleared for that. Obviously, he’s got to be cleared through the protocol, testing. He'll have to go see the doctors and get cleared,” Smart said. “But based on ACL repair, he will be past the time for that.”

That’s certainly good news for the Bulldogs, who hope White can help take over for Elijah Holyfield, who left school a year early for the NFL.

"Everything's been good. He's rehabbing with Ron (head trainer Ron Courson). Ron sends me video of him running, him doing things, but it's all the things you guys have seen. So it's not like I'm getting things I haven't seen before,” Smart said. “In spring, he ran, he cut, he caught the ball, he did things--he just didn't have contact, and he's not going to have contact until fall camp. But as far as his attitude, his strength, all his testing, he's right where he should be and doing what he should do."

Smart said he’s looking forward to seeing what White is able to do.

He won’t be the only one. Along with D’Andre Swift, James Cook, and Brian Herrien, Smart is pleased with the talent he has on hand.

“I’m excited about the guys we’ve got, because there are a lot whose talents we haven’t gotten to showcase. When you look at James Cook and Brian Herrien--everybody knows about Swift, but you’ve got those young guys coming in to compete,” Smart said. “You’ve got Zamir, even, Prather Hudson coming off of surgery, we’ve got two preferred walk-ons we think are great backs. So I’m excited about the kids we have at running back. I’m really hopeful they can dominate in the special teams department, kind of like the receivers did last year.”

Outside linebacker Walter Grant, who received some looks at running back in the spring, will continue to do so come fall.

“We’ll see how it goes. I think a lot of it will depend on the freshmen coming in, Kenny (McIntosh), and other guys at the position and how we feel,” Smart said. “And outside ‘backer depth, too. It was an insurance policy at best. It was kind of a research project to see what he can do. He’s got a lot of matchup qualities, where he can flex out and be a tight end, he can be a slot, he can be a blocking back, he can carry the ball. So we’ll continue to look at it. I don’t know that it’s going to be permanent.”

Smart spoke to the crowd here for 7-1/2 minutes, and during that time, dropped some news everyone was happy to hear: All of his players passed their spring semester classes and will be eligible to play in the fall.

“Everyone made their grades,” said Smart, who also revealed that 51 players have remained in Athens during May to work out or rehab any lingering injuries from the end of the spring.

Smart said he’s not expecting any issues regarding the 12 remaining freshmen still scheduled to arrive on campus.

“We’ve got full expectations that everybody will be there in the summer to practice, to compete,” Smart said. “All of those guys are finishing up, right now they’re in their finals, depending on what state they’re in or where they are. I know they’re looking forward to getting into our place and start working.”

Inside linebacker Jaden Hunter still has his name in the transfer portal, but according to Smart, he’s the only one.

“No. None I can think of,” Smart said. “Jaden, I was really close to his father, and I played football with him here and know his mom. His mom played basketball at Georgia. We’re certainly understanding and sympathetic to the fact that he wants to look around.”

Hunter played in just one game for the Bulldogs last year.

“He’s a great kid. He does everything right for us on and off the field, and he’s been a pleasure to work with. We wish him nothing but the best if he chooses to go,” Smart said. “If he chooses to return, we’d love to have him.”

Although he couldn’t comment on specifics, Smart said last weekend's ‘Scavenger hunt’ for recruiting visiting the school was a success.

“I think we enjoy it as coaches because it’s different. We feel if a guy comes to our campus three or four times, what can you do different with him?” Smart said. “Somewhere, two or three years ago, we met as a staff and decided to do something different.”

Smart admits when the idea was first proposed he wasn’t quite sure how it would go.

“Everybody has their theme. We just thought it was good. At the time I thought the kids might not enjoy it, might not like it, think it’s silly,” he said. “But once you look at the 12 categories, the things you have to do, you do have to go on campus to get it done, it puts you in locations that you might not normally be in. I went to school here five years and there were places on the scavenger hunt I never went when I was a student.”

Based on what he saw, don’t be surprised if the Bulldogs plan a similar event for next year.

“I think it’s unique, and I think they see a side of us as coaches that they don’t normally see. The flip side of that is, we see a lot about them competitively,” Smart said. “Do they care? Do they buy into it? Are they too cool for it, or are they out there trying to win? I like that. I like to find out if guys are all in.”

“I think anytime you talk about a hump, you think about the little things you can do better. The details. Whether it’s turnovers, create turnovers. There’s so many things, statistics that we can improve in that it’s hard to pinpoint anything. I’m certainly excited about this team, I’m excited about the guys we’ve got coming back. I love their work ethic, I love the spring we had. I’m just excited to be able to coach them.” – Smart on getting over the hump.

“I’m really excited for Coach Dooley. I’ve known Coach Dooley for a long time. I think it’s an honor for the university to do that and put his name on the field. When better to do it that when we kick off the season (at home), and who better to do it for than for a man who gave his life to the university and did a great job.” – Smart on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium.