Georgia's Riley Ridley not dwelling on career-best performance

Georgia receiver Riley Ridley had a career-best six catches for 82 yards during January's loss to Alabama in the national championship game.
Georgia receiver Riley Ridley had a career-best six catches for 82 yards during January's loss to Alabama in the national championship game.

When it comes to reliving January's 26-23 overtime loss to Alabama in the national championship game, some Georgia football players are up for it more than others.

Junior receiver Riley Ridley? Not so much.

"We've got to put that behind us and keep going," Ridley said in a recent news conference. "We want to keep Georgia football in everybody's mind and in everybody's heart. We want everybody to know that Georgia football will return."

The Bulldogs held their 10th spring practice Tuesday afternoon, working out for more than two hours in full pads.

Ridley isn't much for reminiscing about the thrilling night inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, even though the 6-foot-2, 200-pounder from Coconut Creek, Fla., had a career-best performance of six catches for 82 yards. He was the busier of the two Ridley brothers that evening, with older brother Calvin catching four passes for 32 yards for the Crimson Tide, including a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The younger Ridley had nearly half of his season's productivity - 14 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns - against Alabama.

"That game was huge for Riley," quarterback Jake Fromm said. "I really hope he can continue to build off that."

Georgia's Ridley said his focus this spring has been on route-running, blocking on the perimeter and identifying coverages. He is not much for elaborating on his title-game performance or discussing Calvin's first-round potential later this month in the NFL draft.

"It's a blessing, but at the same time, I represent the 'G' and Georgia," he said. "I'm just trying to keep up with the pace of everything that's going on and just working, working, working so that we can continue what we've got going.

"I am tremendously happy for my brother, and I hope the best for him."

Georgia coach Kirby Smart said earlier this spring that Ridley, senior Terry Godwin and junior Mecole Hardman have separated themselves from the rest of the receivers due to their experience. Ridley is the biggest of those three, but another topic he prefers to avoid is comparisons to Javon Wims.

The 6-4, 215-pound Wims led the Bulldogs last season as a senior with 45 catches for 720 yards and seven touchdowns.

"I'm Riley Ridley," he said. "I'm going to keep playing my way. With the passes that come to me, I'm going to try to make the best out of my opportunity."

Barnes switching?

Redshirt sophomore Chris Barnes signed with Georgia as an offensive lineman but was spotted on the defensive front during Tuesday's portion of practice that was open to the media. The 6-3, 288-pounder from Leesburg, Ga., was a three-star member of the 2016 class who redshirted that year and played in just one game at guard last season.

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

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