Odds and ends
The Bulldogs held their third on-campus bowl practice Friday, working out for two hours in full pads. “The last three days have been very good,” interim coach Bryan McClendon said. Several players were excused from Friday’s practice due to graduation ceremonies. Former quarterback Faton Bauta has transferred to Colorado State, where former Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo is the head coach.
ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia’s Dominick Sanders has played in 25 career games for the Bulldogs and started 24, so taking the field against Penn State in the TaxSlayer Bowl will be nothing new for the sophomore strong safety.
Competing without Jeremy Pruitt on the sideline, however, will be very different.
Pruitt is the only defensive coordinator and secondary coach Sanders has known, but Pruitt last week bolted to become defensive coordinator at Alabama. He left a secondary that has allowed the fewest passing yards (146.1 per game) among the 128 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
“He’s the best coach I’ve ever had, and I thank God for the opportunity I got to have with him,” Sanders said. “I know it’s all business, but being in that atmosphere with him was a blessing. There were a lot of things I took from him, and it’s hard right now, but there are things we have to do right now to prepare for Penn State.”
Sanders, who has set a Georgia single-season record this year with 205 yards on interception returns, said there was more disappointment than anger when he learned of Pruitt’s departure. Pruitt is now observing Alabama practices as the Crimson Tide prepare for Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
“He’s one heck of coach, and he’s the reason I’ve gotten the opportunity to play at Georgia,” Sanders said. “I’ve got to show him that the effort and the leadership will continue to go on and that our level of play will remain high.”
The Bulldogs expect to be challenged in Jacksonville by Penn State junior quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who began this season ranked among the top NFL prospects at his coveted position.
Alabama’s defense is still under the guidance of Kirby Smart, who was introduced as Georgia’s head coach earlier this month but will work with the Tide through their run in the four-team playoff.
Smart is taking over a Georgia program that is shaky at quarterback and thin on the offensive line and at receiver. He is also inheriting a starting secondary of Sanders, fellow safety Quincy Mauger and cornerbacks Aaron Davis and Malkom Parrish that will return intact for 2016.
Mauger is a junior; the other three are sophomores.
“Coach Pruitt has taught us a lot as football players and as individuals,” Mauger said. “He’s taught us that a degree is more important than football and that it can’t be taken away, and he’s taught us the essentials to get us to the next level. He’ll be greatly missed.”
Mauger said there were a lot of mixed emotions when he heard of Pruitt’s departure, which he added came through the media and not from coaches or other players.
Of course, the obvious silver lining for Mauger and Sanders is that Smart once played safety for the Bulldogs and has spent most of his coaching career dealing with the secondary. Mentioning that aspect this week brought smiles to both of them.
“That is nice,” Sanders said. “He seems very nice, and I get the feeling that a lot of big things are about to come to this team. I look forward to a lot with him.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.