Full pads practice helps Bulldogs prep for Gators

ATHENS, Ga. – No. 9 Georgia practiced for just over two hours in full pads on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon. The Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1 SEC) are preparing for this weekend’s annual clash with the Florida Gators (3-3, 2-3 SEC) in Jacksonville, Florida.

“It was a good day,” head coach Mark Richt said after the session. “We worked hard. I was pleased with the effort on both sides of the ball and in special teams. I don’t know if I would call it spectacular, but we certainly got in the work we needed to.”

On Monday, Richt announced Georgia’s captains for this weekend, including placekicker Marshall Morgan. A native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Morgan is the Bulldogs’ leading scorer this season, connecting on 8-of-10 field goals and 38-of-39 extra point attempts for 62 points. Assistant coach John Lilly, who also works with Georgia’s kickers, says Morgan’s performance on kickoffs has been equally impressive.

“Marshall is a guy who has a tremendous commitment to being the best, not only for Georgia or for this year. He wants to be the best ever,” Lilly said. “He approaches things that way in the offseason, and you’ve been able to see his hard work pay off over the past two seasons. Last year, he became a very accomplished PAT and field goal guy. This season, he’s been fantastic in the kickoff phase too. One of the big reasons he’s a captain for this game is the phenomenal job he did in the kickoff phase at Arkansas. He had four touchbacks. Obviously, we have 10 great guys running down there and covering his kicks to help us pin guys deep, but when it’s not a touchback he’s helped us get guys tackled inside the 20 a couple of times as well.”

Richt talked about the matchup with the Gators during the Bulldogs’ weekly press conference earlier on Tuesday as well.

“We’re looking forward to this game,” Richt said. “We have been two weeks. I think we’re ready to go again. It just seems like it didn’t take long to get everybody back focused on the task at hand yesterday. We know what’s at stake. I’ve got a lot of respect for Coach (Will) Muschamp and the Florida Gators.”

Saturday’s game will kick off at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast nationally on CBS.