Georgia tailback Keith Marshall scores a touchdown against Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl on New Year’s Day.With a record-setting offense returning almost entirely intact and a defense that had most of last season’s starters participating in the recent NFL combine, Georgia would seem to be in for several mismatches in spring football scrimmages.
That isn’t a certainty, though, as the Bulldogs are having to be careful with their firepower.
Georgia will hold its first of 15 spring workouts Saturday without the services of backup tailback Keith Marshall, who pulled a hamstring at a track meet earlier this month. Marshall will miss at least the first four practices before the university goes on spring break, and starter Todd Gurley is the only other scholarship tailback until freshmen A.J. Turman and Brendan Douglas arrive this summer.
“We can’t let our competitive juices get us so much to where we want to win every drill and wear Todd Gurley out at the same time,” Bulldogs offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said Wednesday. “We’re going to have to be smart about it as coaches.”
The Bulldogs and Texas A&M will be the first of the 14 Southeastern Conference schools to begin spring practice.