Georgia senior snapper Trent Frix has missed practice this week with a hamstring injury.
"We think he's going to be fine," second-year Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said in a news conference following Tuesday's two-hour workout. "He's down right now, but we hope we get him back."
The 6-foot, 215-pound Frix played at Calhoun High School and attended the Air Force Academy prep school before transferring to Georgia, where he played in six games as a freshman in 2013. He redshirted in 2014, played in 10 games two years ago and competed in 12 games last year, snapping on punts and placement kicks.
Frix, who was awarded a scholarship before last season, is backed up by junior fullback Nick Moore.
"Nick Moore does a good job," Smart said. "He snapped all spring and has done a good job the last two days.''
Also missing Tuesday's practice was freshman running back D'Andre Swift.
''He was getting some medical things checked on," Smart said. "We expect him back tomorrow. He should be fine. He just had to get some things checked on.''
Remembering Broyles
Smart was in his second year as Alabama's defensive coordinator when he won the Broyles Award in 2009 as the nation's top college football assistant, and he was a finalist again in 2015. The Broyles Award is named for former Arkansas coach Frank Broyles, who died Monday at the age of 92.
"Just a great college football family," Smart said. "It meant a lot to me to win that award named after Frank Broyles, and his grandson, Lex, and I were good friends in college. I just wanted to send my condolences out to the family for their loss and really all of college football's loss."
Special freshmen?
In an effort to improve special teams from a year ago, Smart is hoping some true freshmen can contribute on the various teams and is liking what he's seeing.
"Swift has been showing up," Smart said. "Mark Webb was showing up. Walter Grant is showing up. Nate McBride is showing up. There are a lot of guys who are showing up. They're all in the mix, and I think after Saturday's scrimmage we'll know more of the two-deep on the special teams.
"There is some really good competition, and that's where those guys are going to make their waves early.''
Odds and ends
Junior defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter returned to practice after being out with an illness. ... Smart was asked Tuesday if he had any concerns about practicing Monday with the impending eclipse, but the Bulldogs are taking Sunday and Monday off following Saturday's second scrimmage. ... Smart praised redshirt sophomore Rodrigo Blankenship's kickoffs during Saturday's scrimmage.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.