No two weeks seem the same for Georgia redshirt sophomore Brice Ramsey.
The favored candidate in the offseason to succeed Hutson Mason in the assembly line of Bulldogs quarterbacks under 15th-year coach Mark Richt, Ramsey has yet to start a game at QB as Georgia prepares for its 10th game. Yet the 6-foot-3, 213-pounder from Kingsland, Ga., is contributing to the team as Greyson Lambert's backup and as the new starting punter.
"It's been all over the place, but that's what it's all about," Ramsey said after Saturday's 27-3 win over Kentucky. "You put players where they fit, and whatever works you stick to it. I didn't think I would be punting full-time, but I'm enjoying it."
SEC players of the week
OFFENSE: Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen, who threw for 442 yards and a program-record six touchdowns and rushed for the clinching two-point try at Ole Miss. DEFENSE: Florida defensive end Alex McCalister, who recorded 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks on a defense that held Vanderbilt to 30 aerial yards in a 9-7 victory. SPECIAL TEAMS: Alabama kicker Adam Griffith from Calhoun, Ga., who went 3-for-3 on both field-goal attempts and extra-point tries against LSU and made a career-long 55-yard attempt. FRESHMAN: Tennessee inside linebacker Darren Kirkland, who tallied a career-high nine tackles and had a quarterback pressure in the 27-24 victory over South Carolina. OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: Alabama center Ryan Kelly, who graded out at 92 percent, did not allow a sack or a pressure and helped tailback Derrick Henry rush for 210 yards. DEFENSIVE LINEMAN: Mississippi State defensive end Chris Jones, who had two tackles for loss and a hurry on a defense that pitched a second-half shutout at Missouri.
The Bulldogs (6-3, 4-3 SEC) began preparations Monday for this weekend's trip to Auburn (5-4, 2-4) with a 90-minute workout.
Ramsey has completed 20 of 33 passes (60.6 percent) this season for 247 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He replaced Collin Barber as the starting punter before the Florida game on Oct. 31 and averaged 43.4 yards against the Gators and 47.7 yards this past Saturday against the Wildcats.
With only nine punts this season, the left-footed Ramsey doesn't have enough attempts to qualify for league statistics, but his 44.7 average would rank third right now behind Texas A&M's Drew Kaser (47.9) and Tennessee's Trevor Daniel (46.3).
"I punted in high school and was just kind of messing around with it one day here," Ramsey said. "The coaches saw me, and I slowly started taking reps. I felt I had a good skill set in high school, but it had been so long.
"I didn't know that things would come back to me as easily as they have, and I'm happy that it's working out for me."
Playing quarterback, however, hasn't always gone as planned. Ramsey went 2-for-2 for 51 yards and a touchdown in the opener against Louisiana-Monroe and completed two passes again at Vanderbilt, but he entered the South Carolina game late after Lambert had set an NCAA accuracy record with a 24-of-25 (96.0 percent) showing.
Then came the 38-10 shellacking Oct. 3 against Alabama, when Lambert struggled and Ramsey was even worse, getting intercepted twice and posting a minus-22 passer rating. Ramsey did not play any quarterback the next three games against Tennessee, Missouri and Florida, though he did attempt a pass against the Gators off a fake punt.
Third-string quarterback Faton Bauta got the surprise start in Jacksonville, but Lambert and Ramsey were 1-2 again for the Kentucky game, with Ramsey completing 4 of 6 passes against the Wildcats for 26 yards.
"This was important for him," Bulldogs first-year offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said Saturday. "He had a good week of prep, and it was good to see him go out there and have some success. He did a nice job, but I think he's more excited about his punting. That's what he wanted to talk about after the game."
Richt said Sunday afternoon that Lambert and Ramsey will each get snaps this week at Jordan-Hare Stadium, as will freshman receiver Terry Godwin and sophomore tailback Sony Michel. When asked about Ramsey's wild and wacky ride this fall, Richt said he's handled it well.
"He's been a very good teammate and has done everything we've asked him to do," Richt said. "I think he has enjoyed and embraced this punting role, and he sees a future there for himself at Georgia as far as continuing to punt. I don't see any reason why he wouldn't.
"He'll continue to battle at the quarterback position and try to get better every time he gets snaps, but he's been an outstanding teammate. There hasn't been any griping or moaning."
Ramsey was all smiles Saturday, and why not? Compared to a month ago, he's much busier.
"Having a dual role on the field has been fun and exciting," he said. "I'm just trying to bring life to the team in whatever way."
Odds and ends
Georgia's home game against Georgia Southern next week will be televised by ESPNU with a 7 p.m. kickoff. Captains for this Saturday are tailback Sony Michel on offense, linemen Chris Mayes and James DeLoach on defense and snapper Nathan Theus on special teams.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.