Mansell: Several young Georgia players are making moves early in spring

The first week of Georgia spring practice is over and the Bulldogs are picking up the pace. The first full-pads practice happened on Saturday and it’s clear that Kirby Smart and company have some really talented young players on their hands.

In just a week’s time some players are starting to take the next step. Experienced guys are taking the next step and some young guys seem to be picking things up quicker than some anticipated. That’s a good thing.

*** Sophomore linebackers Chris Cole and Justin Williams are two players I have heard a lot about. They have finished their first calendar year at Georgia and this is what you expect from five-star prospects at this point in their development. Barring something unexpected, both are going to play a lot this season.

Cole is different than anyone else in the room. It doesn’t mean he’s the most talented although that might also be true. He can do so many different things within the Georgia defense. There are a lot of different ways to get him on the field.

One college coach told me recently that Georgia has an advantage because of those inside linebackers. “Georgia does not have to go into dime packages because their linebackers can lock up tight ends,” he said. See the Texas game two times and what Cole did against the Longhorn tight ends.

*** I’m hearing a lot about CJ Allen, too. He has emerged as the look-to leader in the locker room as of now. He is experienced, healthy, and this is the time Georgia really needs him to take some steps forward. He’s an All-SEC caliber player.

*** I am very curious about how Juan Gaston finishes this spring. The true freshman is heavy right now. I’m told that he arrived at 380 pounds and that Georgia wants him in the 340-pound range before the start of the season. He’s currently around 370 pounds.

I am telling you right now, if he gets to 350 pounds, he is going to make a strong case to play MEANINGFUL minutes as a true freshman. I want to be careful about expectations putting expectations on a freshman offensive tackle, but there are some very excited people in the Butts-Mehre about what he has shown in winter workouts and in spring practice thus far. “We may not have one like him on our team.” That was the text I got on Saturday….

*** No Georgia freshmah has been more impressive than Bo Walker to this point. He plays running back and we all know that’s an easier position to pick up than most. Stuff like pass protection is just different in practice because the quarterback can’t get hit anyway.

I have seen freshman have good weeks before and then it dies down, so will see what happens this week. He had a great February, and he stacked a few good practices this week. That is very good news for a room that can use immediate depth.

*** True freshmen wideouts CJ Wiley, Talyn Taylor and Landon Roldan all had good weeks of practice Wiley caught a long touchdown on Saturday and Roldan caught multiple deep balls. He also dropped one a wide-open shot behind the defense and I’m told that Kirby Smart got after him on the microphone. I was also told that Roldan drew praise from Smart on the next rep and he let the DB’s know “that freshman that is working yall.” If Georgia played a game in a couple of weeks, Taylor is probably the most ready to play. But all of these players have plenty of time as you know.

*** A few quick hitters– Dillon Bell, Zachariah Branch and Sacovie White are other names that were mentioned to me on Saturday. I’m told that the quarterbacks struggled in practice No. 2 on Thursday but that Saturday was a much better day. I’m told that Gunner Stockton hit several guys in stride while pushing the ball down field.