ATHENS, Ga. — The first week of college football’s preseason camp is often accompanied by concerns or, at best, guarded optimism.

Unless you’re Georgia linebackers coach John Jancek, who can’t seem to hide his glee.

“We’ve only got nine guys,” he said, “but, boy, it’s quality and not quantity.”

Jancek needs no time reeling off his depth chart, which has Rennie Curran, Akeem Hebron and Marcus Dowtin at the weakside position and Akeem Dent, Darius Dewberry and Christian Robinson at strongside. Dannell Ellerbe is the starter inside, followed by Darryl Gamble and Charles White.

“Darryl really had some great reps towards the end of the season last year and played great in the Sugar Bowl,” Jancek said. “Rennie obviously burst on the scene last year and started midway through the season. Our leader is Dannell, and he’s a special player for us and is doing a lot of good things.

“I think we’ve got some quality depth, and, like every position, we just need to stay injury free. I like the way we’re sitting right now.”

Robinson and Dowtin are freshmen, while White is a redshirt freshman. Robinson likely will be the second-teamer for opening games against Georgia Southern and Central Michigan because Dewberry will be serving a suspension.

Marcus Washington, a six-game starter last year, was ruled out for the season this spring with a shoulder injury.

Already adjusted

Freshman kicker Blair Walsh made two 59-yard field goals last season for Cardinal Gibbons High in Fort Lauderdale. Each of those kicks came off a 1-inch tee, but Walsh said Bulldogs fans need not worry.

“I made the transition right after we stopped in January,” he said. “I actually feel that I’m a better kicker off the ground. For some kickers, and it’s very strange, but I hit a clean ball off the ground.”

Walsh is wearing jersey No. 57, worn previously by snapper Benjamin Boyd and defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan. He was asked earlier this week if he had ever seen such a number on a kicker and responded, “No, but I can make it one.”

Odds and ends

Backup quarterback Joe Cox rested his sore elbow again during Thursday’s practice, which was moved back to 7:15 p.m. due to weather concerns. ... Also missing some practice time now are freshman defensive end Jeremy Longo (hand) and redshirt freshman receiver Israel Troupe (elbow). ... In a summer semester in which every scholarship player was enrolled, 53 Bulldogs posted GPAs of 3.0 or better for a program average of 3.02. ... Quarterback Matthew Stafford on 2007: “You can’t cut ties with what happened last year. We finished the year with a whole bunch of energy and passion, and we’ve got to bring that same kind of energy when we play this year.” ... The Bulldogs will practice this afternoon and will hold their first two-a-day practices Saturday, with the morning session in full pads.

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