Midway through his career as a Georgia inside linebacker, Nate McBride might be lacking in statistics but not in memories.
His most cherished memory to date?
"The Rose Bowl game against Oklahoma," McBride said in a recent news conference. "I made a tackle, and just making a tackle in a Rose Bowl game - that was pretty cool."
Georgia held its 13th of 15 spring practices Tuesday, working out for two hours in full pads. The Bulldogs will practice again Thursday before staging Saturday afternoon's G-Day game inside Sanford Stadium.
McBride, a 6-foot-2, 223-pounder from Vidalia, Georgia, was a four-star member of the 2017 recruiting class, as were quarterback Jake Fromm, offensive tackle Andrew Thomas and receiver Jeremiah Holloman. Unlike those three, however, McBride has not been able to experience many impact moments despite playing in all 29 games.
Vying at a position that has contained the likes of Roquan Smith, Reggie Carter, Natrez Patrick, Juwan Taylor, Monty Rice and Tae Crowder, McBride has been relegated mostly to special teams and has 10 career tackles, including three last season.
"It's very competitive," he said. "You can't slack off. You have to take that extra step instead of just thinking, 'This play is over with.' The little things are what sticks out."
McBride arrived as a top-200 national prospect and the No. 6 inside linebacker in the 247Sports.com composite rankings. He instantly marveled at Smith, who was in his third and final season with the Bulldogs and became the first Butkus Award winner in program history.
Smith parlayed his junior year into becoming the eighth overall pick in the 2018 draft, getting tabbed by the Chicago Bears.
"It was crazy watching Roquan, especially in his breakout year," McBride said. "It made all of us want to work harder. Roquan went to practice every day, and it was like he was in a game.
"When he got in games, he made plays all over the field, and we all wanted to be like him."
McBride's hopes of more playing time following Smith's departure have been hindered by the fact Georgia has signed top-three national classes the past three years. So those inside linebackers younger than him have to be taken just as seriously as those who are older.
Channing Tindall compiled 17 tackles and two sacks last season as a freshman, while Quay Walker tallied six tackles in his first year. Joining the mix now is five-star freshman Nakobe Dean.
"I want to play here, and I expect to play some," McBride said. "Don't feel sorry for me. I'm fine. My pastor back in Vidalia would always say, 'Football is what you play. It's not who you are.'
"I take pride in football and in making it to this level, but I'm not finished yet. I have work to do."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.