Five Key Takeaways from UGA Football Spring Practice
By John Buhler
Apr 12, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Brice Ramsey (12) passes the ball during the second half of the Georgia Spring Game at Sanford Stadium. The Red team won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
UGA football concluded spring practice on Thursday. After a relatively healthy spring, here are five key takeaways from the Dawgs’ 2015 spring season.
1. Starting Quarterback is Still Undecided.
With last year’s starter Hutson Mason graduating, Georgia will have to find their new leader under center to have a successful 2015 campaign. Head Coach Mark Richt and new Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will continue to take a serious look at all three scholarship quarterbacks on UGA’s roster: Redshirt Sophomore Brice Ramsey, Junior Faton Bauta, and Redshirt Freshman Jacob Park. It’s in all parties’ best interest to keep this competition going for as long as possible since Georgia does not want to tip their hand by naming a starter before they absolutely have to (i.e., Week 3 vs. South Carolina). Richt and Schotty cannot afford to lose any of these scholarship QB’s to transfers until 2016 Top Recruit QB Jacob Eason enrolls at UGA, presumably in January.
After the end of UGA football spring practice, it seems that Ramsey and Bauta sit together atop the QB depth chart with Park trailing as expected. If former OC and current Colorado State Head Coach Mike Bobo was still running the offense, Ramsey would clearly be the frontrunner as Bobo recruited him out of Camden County. But since former St. Louis Rams OC Brian Schottenheimer is now in charge of the Dawgs offense, competition reigns supreme as Schotty did not recruit any of these players. Known for his mobility and relentless work ethic, Bauta has improved his passing accuracy to the point of seriously challenging Ramsey for the starting spot. Though Ramsey and Park clearly have stronger arms than Bauta, perhaps a gunslinger, vertical threat passing game conflicts with Schotty’s offensive strategy. One thing is for certain: Georgia will take its time in deciding who starts at QB for the 2015 Dawgs.