Georgia starts spring football practice Monday, and when quarterback Matthew Stafford steps on the field, his college career will shift to year three.
“It’s crazy,” Stafford said Wednesday night. “All the guys who came in with me and didn’t redshirt talk about how we’re going to be juniors this year and how time has flown by. It’s been fun, and we’re looking forward to getting back out there.”
A lot could change for Stafford between the first spring workout and the final fall practice. Hailed by NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper as a future top overall pick, the 6-foot-3, 237-pounder could have to decide later this year whether or not to turn pro early.
Stafford isn’t making any guarantees.
“I haven’t ever put those kind of limitations on myself,” he said. “Right now, I’m just concentrating on winning football games for the University of Georgia and getting ready for the season. I think that’s what everybody’s focus is on.
“We’ve got a whole bunch of guys coming back and a great opportunity, so I’m not worried about anything past that.”
The Bulldogs capped their 2007 season less than two months ago with a 41-10 drubbing of Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl, which resulted in an 11-2 record and a No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press poll. Georgia is the only team nationally to be ranked in every final AP poll since 1997 and also is the only team to lose four or fewer games in all those seasons.
Coach Mark Richt has heard the national championship speculation since the Superdome slaughter but is wanting his players to focus on the moment.
“We really can’t control where we’re voted in the preseason,” Richt said. “We can’t control a whole lot of things. We only can control how hard we work in any given mat drill or weightlifting session or spring practice.”
The best position battles this spring should be on the offensive line, where the Bulldogs are having to replace two-year starters Chester Adams and Fernando Velasco. Holding down starting roles for the time being are left tackle Trinton Sturdivant (6-5, 293), left guard Vince Vance (6-8, 320), center Chris Davis (6-4, 292), right guard Clint Boling (6-5, 290) and right tackle Kiante Tripp (6-6, 270).
Sturdivant and Boling started at those spots last year, while Davis started at left guard.
Kris Durham of Calhoun, who will be a junior this fall, is listed as the starting split end ahead of Kenneth Harris and Demiko Goodman. Durham had 11 receptions for 169 yards last season.
“After watching our guys in the offseason mat-drill program, I’m just really encouraged,” Richt said. “I like everybody’s attitude and effort, and I’m getting a lot of good vibrations about our leadership. I think we’re ready to move to the next phase, which is spring football. It came around pretty quick, but I don’t know if there truly is an offseason.”
Said Stafford: “I think guys are anxious to get out on the field. When we put the pads on later next week, I’m sure things will get cracking and we’ll have a good time.”
Odds and ends
Starting fullback Brannan Southerland (foot surgery) and reserve defensive tackle Brandon Wood (Achilles’ tendon) will miss spring practice. ... Walk-on Tripp Taylor, who played sparingly as a “wham” back in 2006 and at defensive tackle last season, has left the team.
