Ninth-grader gets UGA offer

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Broadarius Hamm is a 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive lineman who could have a home in the Southeastern Conference if he wants one, but he'll have to wait.

Hamm has been offered a football scholarship by Georgia, according to ESPN.com, despite being just a ninth-grader at Spalding County High south of Atlanta in Griffin. Bulldogs coach Mark Richt addressed his recruiting approach in dealing with such youth earlier this week during his visit to the Catoosa County Colonnade.

"I can't make any comment on a specific player, but our coaches are out on the road recruiting right now," Richt said. "This is the time of year when most of the Georgia schools are having spring practice, so we're watching everybody and not just the guy who is going to be a senior. We'll watch guys at all different ages, and if a guy is physically gifted enough to where we believe he could play in the Southeastern Conference, then we'll offer the guy regardless of how old he is.

"We're going to base it on what he looks like at the moment, and every once in a while, some of those things will happen that way."

Georgia already has five commitments for the 2014 class. A commitment by Hamm would give the Bulldogs one for 2016.

Odds and ends

Richt said the best thing about spring practice was that the Bulldogs did not endure any injuries that would keep anybody from missing any playing time later this year. ... Redshirt junior Michael Bennett and freshman receiver Tramel Terry, who each suffered an ACL tear last fall, should be able to go full speed this summer and could begin preseason camp without any limitations. ... Richt's oldest son, former Mars Hill quarterback Jon Richt, attended a rookie minicamp last weekend with the Miami Dolphins and will go to one this weekend with the New Orleans Saints.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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