No change in race to be Georgia's starting quarterback

Freshman Jacob Eason remains in the hunt to be Georgia's starting quarterback in next week's opener against North Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic.
Freshman Jacob Eason remains in the hunt to be Georgia's starting quarterback in next week's opener against North Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic.

When it comes to determining a pecking order for his quarterbacks, Georgia coach Kirby Smart doesn't sound any different at the end of August than he did at the beginning.

The Bulldogs held their 20th preseason workout Wednesday afternoon with fifth-year senior Greyson Lambert, redshirt junior Brice Ramsey and freshman Jacob Eason still competing for the starting role. Georgia opens the Smart era a week from Saturday against North Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic.

"It's not really any clearer," Smart said Wednesday evening in a news conference. "We're going to eventually narrow it down to two, but we haven't done that yet, and I don't have a timeline for doing it. I'll evaluate them day by day.

"All three guys are rotating in there. Hopefully it will rear itself out in the next couple of days, but nobody is jumping out right now."

Lambert made 12 starts last season and won 10 of those, even setting an NCAA single-game accuracy mark by completing 24 of 25 passes (96.0 percent) in a 52-20 drubbing of South Carolina. Ramsey appeared in six games a year ago at quarterback but only two after throwing two interceptions in the 38-10 loss to Alabama.

There are still factors that could determine who emerges, Smart said, most notably who is the best at handling a game plan. At a Touchdown Club of Athens gathering earlier this week, Smart said he didn't see the need to provide North Carolina with any information by announcing a starter.

Smart said Wednesday that it shouldn't be a big deal if the Tar Heels never find out before the 5:30 p.m. kickoff on Sept. 3.

"It's different when you've got truly distinct quarterbacks to get ready for," Smart said. "That's not the case with our guys, because none of our guys are dual-threat guys."

Smart also has yet to announce Georgia's starting specialists. Redshirt freshman Rodrigo Blankenship and redshirt sophomore William Ham are trying to succeed Marshall Morgan at kicker, while Ramsey and true freshman Marshall Long are the candidates at punter.

Ramsey averaged 41.9 yards on 25 punts last season.

"Kicker hasn't played itself out yet," Smart said. "We've got both guys battling there. Right now at punter, Marshall has probably done the best job, but it's not over until it's over."

Smart said his players will begin preparing for North Carolina today and that the Tar Heels will be the full focus of Friday's practice. The next scheduled media availability for Smart will be at his first weekly news conference Monday, so that may be his next opportunity to discuss the quarterbacks.

"The team is behind whoever is back there," Smart said.

Odds and ends

Redshirt freshman guard Sam Madden has missed a couple of weeks with mononucleosis. Smart said that junior nose tackle John Atkins (knee) is back to full speed. When asked if junior running back Nick Chubb was good to go for the opener, Smart said, "Nick has done everything we've asked him to do." Smart said he hasn't decided whether he will wear visors in games.

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

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