Georgia football spring practice: Kirby Smart on no G-Day TV, Oscar Delp, Bo Walker, more
Georgia football will be a third of the way through spring practices on Thursday when it holds session No. 5. There's plenty of room for growth for this year's Bulldogs, according to coach Kirby Smart.
"A long way from good," Smart said Tuesday night when he met with reporters for the first time since the Bulldogs hit the practice fields this spring. "We are a work in progress. We have the least amount of players who have gone through spring practices since I've been here. ...We have a very young, inexperienced group. We really can't practice to our standard because they're all tired."
Smart said the staff has to do a better job getting players in shape and to simplify things so players aren't spending too much time thinking instead of doing.
Here are five things we learned from Smart and more than a half dozen players that were also made available. That, at Georgia, is a supersized media availability.
Smart on G-Day and it not being televised
A day after ESPN’s spring football schedule didn’t include the April 12 G-Day being televised, Smart said scheduling issues is the reason.
“It was more about being in control of what time,” Smart said. “We like to have recruits there, we like to have prospects. It’s a big event. We like to have official visits. We wanted to control the timing of it more and be able to play at our pace and not have to worry about the constraints of being inside a (TV) window.”
Smart said he wants to have a spring game, but if injuries hit one position hard that could change.
“We’re very deficient at a couple of positions,” he said. “If we lose one or two or three, it would convert into some kind of controlled practice, some kind of other format.”
Oscar Delp had 'one foot out there door' in 2024
Oscar Delp is back for his senior season after the tight end’s production took a slight dip last season from 24 catches to 21 and from 284 receiving yards to 248 and his touchdown catches remained the same at 4.
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Delp was considered by some as an NFL prospect before last season at a position where the Bulldogs produced Brock Bowers and Darnell Washington recently.
“Last year there were times when I had one foot out there door and I was just thinking about things I shouldn’t have been thinking about,” Delp said. “It just kind of hurt me in ways I didn’t think would happen. …I kind of struggled with looking at my phone too much when I shouldn’t have been looking at it, looking at things people are saying about me about potential things. I’m not saying I was planning on leaving or anything, but I’d be lying if I didn’t hear those things.”
Now he can try to go out with a better season.
“I know what kind of player I am, what kind of season I can have,” he said.
Second Georgia Bulldog safety spot by committee
Malaki Starks and Dan Jackson had a lot of snaps between them for Georgia.
The safeties are now preparing for NFL careers and sophomore KJ Bolden is in line to hold down one starting spot.
There’s plenty of guys to choose from to play back there with him.
“Nobody is really standing out,” Smart said. “KJ’s there and he continues to bulk up and get a little bit bigger and be able to take care of himself and tackle like he needs to in terms of size.”
Jacorey Thomas, Southern Cal transfer Zion Branch, UAB transfer Adrian Maddox, Miami transfer Jaden Harris and freshman Todd Robinson from Valdosta are competing at the position.
Star nickel back Joenel Aguero has also taken some snaps at safety and Harris and Kyon Jones are also working at Star, Smart said.
“It’s a lot of people but the solid foundation that Malaki and Dan provided is not there,” he said.
Hello, Bo Walker
Bo Walker, Georgia’s only scholarship freshman running back, is making a good early impression
“Bo’s doing a nice job,” Smart said. “Bo’s very bright. He’s had some really good runs. He’s had some mistakes. What I like about Bo is he’s very teachable and very coachable and he’s got natural rush instincts.”
The 5-foot-9, 210-pound four-star played his senior season at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee.
“He’s a great kid,” sophomore running back Nate Frazier said. “He works hard. He’s just learning as he’s going.”
Micah Morris pops in padded practice
Georgia lost four offensive line starters but returns players who got some spot starts as well.
One has stood out lately to defensive lineman Jordan Hall.
“Just by the last two padded practices Micah, of course, he’s kind of made a name for himself,” Hall said referring to 6-4, 330-pound fifth-year senior guard Micah Morris who made five starts last season. “Today was the first day of counter so you know how that went? Having to meet him pulling. That was fun.”
Hall laughed and smiled as he said that. He also said redshirt freshman Michael Uini took first-team reps.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football spring football: Smart on G-Day, Oscar Delp, Bo Walker
-
Kirby Smart, Bulldogs opened spring practices Tuesday
Georgia football's G-Day game is scheduled for March 12. Kirby Smart likes spring games. Some schools have scrapped them. Smart is keeping options openYahoo Sports - 4d -
Georgia Bulldogs football spring practice injury report
The Georgia Bulldogs have nine players out for spring practice and two players limited. Dawgs have several injuries at running back and defensive lineYahoo Sports - 4d -
Dillon Gabriel performs at Oregon football Pro Day in front of Bo Nix, Justin Herbert
Oregon's Dillon Gabriel performed throwing drills with teammates at Oregon football's Pro Day Tuesday with Bo Nix and Justin Herbert in attendance.Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Georgia football freshman WR suffers ankle injury, needs surgery
Georgia true freshman WR Tyler Williams suffered torn ligaments in his ankle, likely taking him out for the rest of Georgia's spring practices.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Watch live: Ohio State coach Ryan Day speaks on first day of spring football practice
Ohio State started spring football practice on Monday March 17. Hear from coach Ryan Day live.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Kirby Smart weighs in on Georgia's quarterback competition
UGA head coach Kirby Smart provides an update on the starting quarterback competition between Gunner Stockton and Ryan Puglisi.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Here are 5 questions for UTEP football to answer as spring practice 2025 begins
As UTEP Miners football spring practices begins, progress of former five-star recruit Malachi Nelson will be a focal point.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
On this day: Connie Simmons, Brady Walker, John Janisch, Jabari Parker born; Coty Clarke debut
On this day, Celtics Connie Simmons, Brady Walker, and Jim Janisch came into this world, and Coty Clark made his Boston debut.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Georgia Bulldogs football freshmen jersey numbers
The Georgia Bulldogs signed the nation's No. 2 recruiting class during the 2025 recruiting cycle. What jersey numbers are UGA's new freshmen wearingYahoo Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Bill Cowher believes 1 QB is the Steelers' best choice in 2025—and it's not Aaron Rodgers
Bill Cowher gave his opinion on who the 2025 starting QB of the Steelers should be—and it's not Aaron Rodgers.Yahoo Sports - 18m -
Twins’ Royce Lewis will miss start of season after hurting his hamstring
Lewis is coming off a 2024 season that saw him appear in just 82 games due to quadriceps and adductor issues.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Texans to pick up Derek Stingley's Jr.'s fifth-year option ahead of extension
The Houston Texans will have Derek Stingley Jr. under contract through 2029 after agreeing to pick up one final year on his rookie deal.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
MLB hyped up a video game-like replay view from the Tokyo Dome and fans justifiably hated it
The on-field replay did not go over how MLB expected.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
The Players Championship 2025 prize money: Full payout from the $25 million purse
Here's how the $25 million purse will be paid out this week at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.Yahoo Sports - 2d
More in Sports
-
NIT bracket 2025: Tournament schedule, dates, times as Georgia Tech, St. Bonaventure upset in first round
The Yellow Jackets and Bonnies were upset in the first NIT games TuesdayCBS Sports - 54m -
Cavallo reveals daily death threats for being gay
Josh Cavallo, men's football's first openly gay active player, said he struggles encourage other players to come out due to the sport's "toxic" environment.ESPN - 1h -
Madrid frustrate Arsenal to get UWCL 1st-leg win
Real Madrid frustrated Arsenal to secure a 2-0 win in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals in Madrid.ESPN - 1h -
Robinson among USMNT trio ruled out for CNL
The U.S. men's national team will be without Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso, Fulham defender Antonee Robinson and Celtic center back Auston Trusty for the Concacaf Nations League finals.ESPN - 1h -
U.S. Open Cup prize money doubles to record $1M
U.S. Soccer announced Tuesday it will be doubling the prize money for the 2025 U.S. Open Cup, reaching a record-breaking $1 million in an effort to continue building interest in the tournament.ESPN - 1h