ATHENS, Ga. - The Georgia Bulldogs have returned a punt for a touchdown, returned an interception for a touchdown and blocked a punt for a safety this season, but the highlight resonating most among the team was made by Chris Mayes.
In the opening rout of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, the senior nose tackle ran down Warhawks quarterback Garrett Smith early in the second quarter after a 24-yard gain.
"I've never seen Chris Mayes move that fast in my life," senior outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins said this week with a smile. "He looked like a rhinoceros chasing down prey. You just don't see a nose tackle running at that speed to chase somebody down."
The 6-foot-4 Mayes, who's listed at 323 pounds but says he's 330, could top that highlight Saturday night by running down South Carolina receiver Pharoh Cooper inside Sanford Stadium.
"There is no way possible he can run down Pharoh Cooper," Jenkins said, bursting into laughter. "If he does, Pharoh has some things to work on."
Said Mayes: "I think he's a little faster, but I'm definitely ready to chase him if I have to."
It will take all 11 defenders to focus on Cooper, who entered this season widely viewed as the most versatile player in the Southeastern Conference.
The 5-foot-11, 207-pound junior from Havelock, N.C., was the league's second-leading receiver last season with 1,136 yards. Cooper also rushed 27 times for 200 yards, averaging 7.4 yards per carry, and he was his team's top returning passer after completing 5 of 8 passes for 78 yards.
Cooper has 12 receptions for 145 yards through two games this season, but it's his four rushes for 20 yards and his two pass attempts that will have Georgia on high alert. His four rushes and two passes happened while he was lined up at quarterback.
"Having Pharoh Cooper back there definitely changes the way everybody has to rush," Jenkins said. "It changes the whole game plan, pretty much. The guy is a great athlete and played quarterback in high school, and he just does it all.
"We will have to really focus on our keys and see what you're supposed to see and not worry about somebody else's job."
Jenkins isn't planning on matching last week's performance at Vanderbilt, when he tallied a staggering 5.5 tackles for loss. Cooper is too elusive, and the Gamecocks also run a lot of zone-read plays.
"We just have to find another way to be a factor in the game," Jenkins said, "whether it's pass-rushing or finding other ways to be dominant by taking blockers out so somebody else can make a play."
South Carolina (1-1) is expected to start former walk-on Perry Orth at quarterback against the No. 7 Bulldogs (2-0). Orth completed 13 of 20 passes for 179 yards with a touchdown and an interception last weekend, rallying the Gamecocks from a 24-7 deficit against Kentucky before coming up short in a 26-22 loss.
Cooper is lining up at quarterback about the same amount per game as last season and could be in that role for multiple snaps if needed, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said.
"We have enough plays to where he could hand it off or run around a little bit," Spurrier said. "He could play there a series or two."
The Bulldogs actually did a good job of limiting Cooper in last season's 38-35 loss in Columbia, S.C., holding him to three receptions for 27 yards and three rushes for 9 yards. The ability to repeat that would be a good place to start if Georgia is to top South Carolina for just a second time in six tries.
"Our senses will be heightened, because he can run and throw," senior inside linebacker Jake Ganus said. "He can hand it off. He can do whatever. He's just a guy that you've always got to be aware of when he's out on the field."
Odds and ends
Georgia outside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer missed Wednesday's practice due to the death of his sister, who was fatally shot in her residence not far from Gadsden, Ala. The Bulldogs practiced for two hours in full pads, with junior inside linebacker Reggie Carter (shoulder) sitting out. First-year offensive coordinator and former Florida quarterback Brian Schottenheimer on Spurrier: "He's the most competitive person I think I've ever met."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.