Your 2021 G-Day primer

Lots of good stuff here about how tomorrow lines up, but the injury list is a little sobering:

RB Kenny McIntosh – Out (Elbow)

WR Dominick Blaylock – Out (Knee)

WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint – Out (Ankle)

WR George Pickens – Out (Knee)

TE Ryland Goede – Out (Shoulder)

OL Micah Morris – Out (Shoulder)

DT Julian Rochester – Out (Knee)

LB Trezmen Marshall – Out (Shoulder)

LB Nakobe Dean – Out (Shoulder)

LB MJ Sherman – Out (Shoulder)

WR Jermaine Burton – Doubtful (Knee)

WR Justin Robinson – Questionable (Achilles/ankle)

TE Darnell Washington – Questionable (Undisclosed)

LB Xavian Sorey – Questionable (Foot/Ankle)

WR Arian Smith – Probable (Wrist)

CB Kelee Ringo – Probable (Shoulder)

OL Jamaree Salyer – Probable (Undisclosed)

Yeesh.

Barrett Sallee suggests the thing to watch tomorrow is the receiving corps.

Georgia: Who steps up in Pickens’ absence?

Georgia is going to be a chic pick to win the national title this summer, but the ACL injury suffered by wide receiver George Pickens earlier this spring has put the spotlight on a wide receiving corps that doesn’t have a deep threat capable of taking the top off of a defense. To compound the issue, Georgia only has three receivers who have seen meaningful snaps available on Saturday — Demetris Robertson, Kearis Jackson and Arian Smith. I wrote in our staff picks last week that Robertson is one of the most intriguing players in the country, but Jackson actually led the Bulldogs in receiving last year by one yard over Pickens. Somebody has to be “that dude,” and we will get an idea of who Smart has in mind on Saturday. Bottom line, Georgia’s running backs and offensive line should be fine. A wide receiving corps that can pose enough of a threat deep to keep defenses honest could be what makes the Bulldogs a contender instead of a pretender.

I think the suggestion that we’ll get an idea of who Smart has in mind at G-Day is stretching things a bit.  I don’t know that I can recall a receiver who’s won a starting job at G-Day.  That being said, I do think the passing game will get a workout tomorrow, for more than one reason.  The receiver I’m most curious about is true freshman Adonai Mitchell, who’s been getting a fair amount of preseason buzz.  Is that hype, or is there something to it?

On the flip side, is there at least one cornerback who looks like he might be ready to step up and fill some big shoes left by the departure of the three starters from 2020?  Marc Weiszer lists some of the contestants:

Perhaps nowhere is the competition the fiercest as it is at cornerback.

Senior Ameer Speed and redshirt freshman Jalen Kimber are vying for starting jobs along with redshirt freshman Kelee Ringo and true freshmen Nyland Green and Lovasea Carroll.

If not, those rumors that Smart is ready to dip back into the portal for another DB are bound to intensify.

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