Georgia fifth-year senior receiver Kris Durham hasn't received much notoriety in preseason camp due to A.J. Green's presence and the more intriguing storyline of Logan Gray's switch from quarterback.
Yet the 6-foot-5, 211-pounder from Calhoun High School seems to be peaking at the right time. He caught three passes for 78 yards during Wednesday's simulated half at Sanford Stadium.
Durham missed last season due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder and hasn't played a real game in Sanford since the 2008 loss to Alabama.
"He showed a total unselfish effort and made some extremely tough catches," offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said Thursday of Durham's scrimmage performance. "He made some blocks and just played awesome. It will be a big bonus to have someone like him coming back who has SEC experience and was productive at that level."
Receivers coach Tony Ball said Green, Durham and Marlon Brown will be the starters when the Bulldogs go to three-receiver sets in next week's opener against Louisiana-Lafayette. Brown also is 6-5, while Green is 6-4.
Tavarres King, a 6-1 redshirt sophomore, started nine games last season but is suspended for the opener.
Bulls are coming
The University of Buffalo will continue familiarizing itself with the SEC by opening the 2012 season at Georgia. It was announced several days ago that Buffalo will play at Tennessee in 2011.
"We are excited to have the opportunity to play against two traditional SEC powers in a pair of great venues," Buffalo athletic director Warde Manuel said. "I know that our coaches and student-athletes get very motivated to test themselves against programs like these."
Buffalo is 0-1 all-time against the SEC, having lost 38-7 at Auburn in 2006.
Georgia's four nonconference foes this season are ULL, Colorado, Idaho State and Georgia Tech, and the four in 2011 are Louisville, Coastal Carolina, New Mexico State and Georgia Tech. Louisville and Georgia Tech appear again in 2012 in addition to Buffalo, and the Bulldogs likely will round out their lineup that year with Georgia Southern.
Airwaves changes
Georgia announced its radio roster for the upcoming season Thursday, with the most notable change being the removal of Loran Smith as sideline reporter after 36 seasons. Smith, who still will co-host a pregame show, will be replaced on the field by former WSB-TV sports anchor Chuck Dowdle, who hosts the weekly coaching shows with Mark Richt and Mark Fox.
The Bulldog Hotline has been extended from 8 to 10 Monday nights during football season, with Richt still taking calls in the first hour. The second hour will include a UGA coach from another sport as well as football analysis from Eric Zeier and Kevin Butler.
Odds and ends
Darryl Gamble will start ahead of Cornelius Washington at strongside linebacker, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham told reporters after Thursday's practice. ... Running backs coach Bryan McClendon said Caleb King likely will start ahead of Washaun Ealey. ... The Bulldogs held a 90-minute kicking scrimmage and will practice again today and Saturday morning.