I think it’s going to be easy to root for James DeLoach this year.
“I can’t really explain it. I can’t even imagine what it’s going to be like on G-Day,” DeLoach said. “Now I’ve just got to keep working hard and maintain the position.”
Anybody who feels starry-eyed over G-Day gets my support. And there’s good reason to think that DeLoach will be given every chance to capitalize on his opportunity: he’s big.
“DeLoach really looks good. He’s really in tremendous condition, he’s a great athlete,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “It’s going to be interesting to see how he can do. We are not as big up front, but we’re pretty quick and athletic. It’s going to be interesting to see how we’ll hold up against a smashmouth team and all that kind of thing as the season goes on. But we’ve still got some guys that can really run.”
Georgia had one of the nation’s biggest defensive fronts last season, particularly when 359-pound John Jenkins and 355-pound Kwame Geathers were on the field at the same time. Richt is correct that his 2013 defensive front won’t have anyone quite that massive, but it’s not like 340-pound nose guard Chris Mayes or fellow defensive linemen Jonathan Taylor (335), John Atkins (305) and Garrison Smith (297) are small people.
And then, if Jordan Jenkins (257) and DeLoach (265) are on either edge at the outside linebacker spots, you’re still looking at a sizable front that also boasts impressive athleticism.
There may be more ways for Grantham to try to skin that defend the power running game cat than we thought. And there’s your first thing to keep an eye on at G-Day.