ATHENS, Ga. - Georgia sophomore tight end Orson Charles was rated by Rivals.com as the No. 7 receiver and the No. 62 prospect nationally in the 2009 signing class, but he realizes how little that means on this year's offense.
The '09 class for the Bulldogs also contained Aaron Murray, the No. 3 quarterback nationally; Washaun Ealey, the No. 11 running back; and Arthur Lynch, the No. 2 tight end. Before them were A.J. Green, the No. 2 receiver in the 2008 class; Aron White, the No. 1 tight end in the 2007 class; and Caleb King, the No. 8 running back in '07.
"That's one thing you've got to recognize right away," Charles said. "Everybody was a superstar back home, but everybody has to play their role once they come here in order to help the team win. Our coaches stress to us that we each have a role in which we can help our team."
No position on Georgia's team has more depth than tight end, where Charles, White and Bruce Figgins all have multiple career starts. Lynch has yet to start but showed he's ready to emerge at the G-Day spring game by catching two passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Figgins (6-foot-4, 260 pounds) and Lynch (6-5, 254) are the biggest in the quartet, while Charles (6-3, 235) and White (6-4, 236) have proven to be pass-catching threats who could help if Georgia's thin receiving corps gets thinner. Even if the receivers stay healthy, coach Mark Richt and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo believe the depth at tight end will enhance an offense already with lofty expectations.
"I don't want to give away too much of the game plan, but we'll be pretty versatile," Richt said. "We will major in at least three or four different personnel groupings, and there will be some that we will sprinkle in. We will probably be more versatile than we've been in a while."
Charles was Georgia's third-leading receiver as a freshman last season, catching 23 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns. He is very familiar with Murray, the two having led Tampa's Plant High to Florida's 4A state title in 2008.
In the late-season loss to Kentucky, Charles had four receptions for 73 yards and a 20-yard touchdown.
White finished fifth on the team with 13 catches for 198 yards and four scores - two of those coming against Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl. Charles and White had touchdowns in the 52-41 win at Arkansas last September.
"That was a great game for us, and hopefully we can come back and have some of that same success here in Athens," White said. "That was a game where we settled in as a tight end unit and kind of opened up the field a little bit more and showed what we can do. The potential is definitely there.
"Tight end has always been a big part of our offense, and when you have four guys who can see the field, three of which have been starters, it opens up a lot in the passing game. Coach Bobo knows how useful a tight end can be in an offense, especially for a young quarterback."
Odds and ends
The Bulldogs began fall-semester classes Monday and then had practice canceled, as Richt led the annual trek to the Ramsey Center for some indoor swimming. Richt again performed a back flip off a 10-meter platform. ... Josh Sailors, a junior fullback from Athens, became the fourth walk-on in 2010 to be awarded a scholarship.