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The challenge of keeping voters safe and precincts open during the coronavirus pandemic led Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to postpone Georgia’s primary for three weeks, pushing it back to June 9. Raffensperger announced Thursday that he’s delaying the election because of the health danger to voters and poll workers when in-person early voting would have begun later this month for the primary, previously scheduled for May 19. “I certainly realize that every difficulty will not be completely solved by the time in-person voting begins for the June 9 election, but elections must happen in less-than-ideal circumstances,” Raffensperger said. “This postponement allows us to provide additional protection and safety resources to county election officials, poll workers and voters.” Raffensperger said he lacked the power to delay the election until Gov. Brian Kemp extended Georgia’s public health state of emergency, which he did Wednesday. Georgia is one of 16 states that have either delayed their presidential primaries or switched to voting by mail with extended deadlines. The Georgia presidential primary had already been pushed back once from its original date of March 24. A second election delay is an unprecedented step to prevent voters from gathering at polling places when they’re supposed to be avoiding human contact. Changing the election date could help avoid the possibility that illness could spread at precincts, a prospect feared in Wisconsin after voters went to the polls there Tuesday. The number of COVID-19 patients and deaths in Georgia is projected to peak around April 21, a few days before in-person early voting would have started April 27, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. Even though many people will vote by mail, in-person voting locations must remain open, according to state law. Raffensperger mailed absentee ballot request forms to Georgia’s 6.9 million active voters, encouraging them to vote but stay home. Both Republicans and Democrats supported the move to reschedule the election, but Raffensperger faced criticism for how he handled the situation. House Speaker David Ralston said Raffensperger should have changed the election date sooner and avoided spending federal election money to send absentee ballot request forms to voters. “Having arrived at this inevitable conclusion after unnecessarily spending millions of additional taxpayer dollars, we can now move forward on a more realistic timeline that inspires confidence on the part of poll workers and voters alike,” said Ralston, a Republican from Blue Ridge. Pressure to move Georgia’s primary had mounted from all the state’s 11 Republican members of Congress, who last week urged Raffensperger, also a Republican, to take action so that voters won’t have to choose between their health and casting a ballot. Democrats attacked Raffensperger for not going further when encouraging voting by mail. “Delaying Georgia’s election does not ensure either public safety or Georgians’ right to vote,” said Saira Draper of the Democratic Party of Georgia. “That means providing paid postage, counting all ballots postmarked by election day, and mailing vote-by-mail ballots to all registered voters, not just some.” Election officials across Georgia were scrambling to find enough people willing to work in voting precincts. Poll workers, whose average age is over 70, have been dropping out because they’re at higher risk during the coronavirus pandemic. In southwest Georgia, an area hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic, county election officials “could not overcome the challenges brought on by COVID-19 in time for in-person voting to begin,” according to the secretary of state’s office. Besides the loss of election staff, voting precincts were closing. Churches and assisted living centers that usually serve as voting locations have told election officials they’re unwilling to serve as polling places. The new June 9 election date will give county election managers more time to recruit and train workers, as well as buy supplies to clean equipment and protect poll workers, Raffensperger said. In-person early voting will start May 18. “This makes it necessary for the secretary of state to hire younger poll workers at a higher wage and to put in place safety protocols that protect all poll workers and voters,” said Senate Minority Leader Steve Henson, a Democrat from Stone Mountain. During the primary, voters will choose candidates for president, Congress, the General Assembly, county commission, county sheriff and other offices. Though former Vice President Joe Biden is the presumptive presidential nominee for the Democratic Party, voters will be able to choose among 12 candidates. Republican Party ballots will list President Donald Trump. Candidates said they’re grateful they now know that the election date is set after weeks of speculation that it could be rescheduled. “It’s a hard date now. We can make decisions about when to do our advertising, which I think is important,” said Dan McEntire, a Republican and carpet manufacturer running against Sen. Chuck Payne, a Republican from Dalton. The primary date was moved to June 9 because that’s the latest it can be scheduled without missing deadlines for other elections this year leading up to the Nov. 3 general election, Raffensperger said. Primary runoffs are scheduled for Aug. 11, and overseas and military ballots for the general election must be mailed by mid-September. Raffensperger had resisted delaying the presidential primary again, previously saying he didn’t have the authority under Georgia law to do so. He had called on the General Assembly or Kemp to take action. Under Georgia law, a secretary of state can delay an election for up to 45 days if the governor declares a state of emergency. Kemp’s latest emergency order lasts until May 13. Voters can return their absentee ballot request forms to receive a Democratic, Republican or nonpartisan ballot for the June 9 election. Request forms can also be downloaded from the secretary of state’s website. The absentee request forms that were mailed to voters list the old May 19 date, but they’ll be valid for the new June 9 election date. After voters return their request forms, they will be mailed absentee ballots starting later this month, according to the secretary of state’s office. Key days for Georgia's 2020 elections May 11: Voter registration deadline for primary election May 18: In-person early voting begins for primary election June 9: Election day for presidential and general primary Aug. 11: Primary election runoff Oct. 5: Voter registration deadline for general election Oct. 12: In-person early voting begins for general election Nov. 3: Election Day Dec. 1: Runoff for state and local races Jan. 5: Runoff for federal races

Elberton says it has suspended until at least April 30 the city’s curbside recycling collection. The recycling center in Elberton is still open. The Elbert County Transfer Station is scaling back its hours of operation because of coronavirus concerns, closing now at 4 o’clock each afternoon.    From the Elbert Co government…   Due to necessary precautions at the Elbert County Transfer Station, waste will not be accepted after 4:00 p.m. Convenience Center hours will remain the same. Please remember that waste brought to the Transfer Station or the Convenience Centers must be secured or covered during transport. Any loose waste coming from vehicles ins considered littering. Your cooperation in these matters is appreciated. The Elbert Co Solid Waste will be closed Friday April 10 in observance of Good Friday.

The University of Georgia plans to deliver tomorrow another 400 medical face shields, 200 each to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center and St. Mary’s Hospital. The shields were cranked out by workers in UGA’s College of Engineering.    From Mike Wooten, UGA College of Engineering…   The University of Georgia has delivered the first batch of medical face shields produced on campus to local medical professionals, who may be facing tight supplies of protective equipment because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The university plans to deliver 200 face shields each to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center and St. Mary’s Health Care System. The shields, which help protect health care providers from droplets, aerosols and other contaminants while treating patients, are being produced through a collaboration that includes the UGA College of Engineering, UGA Libraries and the Instrument Design and Fabrication Shop, a unit of UGA’s Office of Research. “We’re pleased to be able to help the community in this time of crisis,” said Donald Leo, dean of the College of Engineering. “Our staff and students have really taken the urgency of the situation to heart and they’ve stepped forward to support our community and its medical professionals.” The face shields produced by the College of Engineering and the Instrument Design and Fabrication Shop include four simple parts that hospitals can assemble quickly: a clear plastic shield, a plastic head gear, an adjustable strap made from non-latex rubber, and a neoprene strip as a forehead cushion. UGA can produce more than 100 face shields a day. “We appreciate the dedication of the University of Georgia, its staff and students to our community and our hospital in this unprecedented time,” said Montez Carter, president and CEO of St. Mary’s Health Care System. “It will take all of us working together to meet the challenges posed by COVID-19. Making and donating these face shields reflects the passion for innovation, excellence and service demonstrated daily by our state’s flagship university.” “During the COVID-19 pandemic, Piedmont Athens Regional needs the support of our community more than ever,” said Michael Burnett, CEO of Piedmont Athens Regional. “We are extremely appreciative of the outpouring of support from UGA and its College of Engineering. Their team’s contributions will help to keep our patients and our employees safe during these stressful and uncertain times.” University Health Center has already received 10 face shields and expects to receive 15 more, said UHC Executive Director Dr. Garth Russo. “We greatly appreciate the innovation,” he said. A team of two staff members and two student workers fabricated the shields in the College of Engineering’s machine shop using laser cutters. Meanwhile, a small group of workers in the Instrument Design and Fabrication Shop manufactured the head gear using water jet cutters. All the work has been conducted under social distancing protocols and other safety measures recommended by public health officials. The UGA team examined several designs for medical face shields before moving forward with two prototypes. They presented the prototypes to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center for review before deciding which design to use and how to divide the workflow. The Science Library Makerspace, a part of UGA Libraries, is contributing to UGA’s production of protective equipment for local hospitals using a different process: 3D printing. Andrew Johnson, an emerging technologies librarian, reached out to faculty and staff with 3D printers to let them know about the initiative. He was able to borrow printers from across campus – including the College of Family and Consumer Sciences and the Entrepreneurship Program in the Terry College of Business – to create a fabrication hub. “The determination of our students and staff to use their expertise and resources to help our medical colleagues stay safe while treating coronavirus patients is truly inspiring,” said David Lee, vice president for research. “This models what a land-grant university should be all about.”

Joan Sheffield is counting her blessings after being reunited with her wedding ring that she accidentally threw away over the weekend. The Hall County woman, who has been married for 34 years, was preparing dinner March 29 when she slipped the ring off her finger, wrapped it in a paper towel and placed it in her pocket. Sheffield, whose mother died several days earlier, spent the weekend cleaning out the room at her mom’s apartment and packing up keepsakes. “I just felt like I was in a fog,” she told AJC.com. “On Sunday, we didn’t have church and my husband suggested we fix a meatloaf.  “So I did,” she laughed. “After 34 years, I know what he wants.”  After eating, Sheffield continued sorting through her mother’s belongings, emptying out boxes and cleaning out her car, she said. By the end of it, her pockets had filled up with receipts and miscellaneous scraps of paper bound for the trash. What the 67-year-old didn’t realize was that she had mistakenly thrown away the wedding band she’s worn on her hand for three and a half decades — two diamonds her father gave her alongside a larger stone she received for her engagement.  It didn’t dawn on her until the following morning when she took a shower and got dressed for the day. “I heard the trash men come and didn’t think anything of it,” she said. “As soon as I got out of the shower, I looked down at my hand and realized I didn’t have it.” Sheffield retraced her steps and thought about the day before. She stopped in her tracks when she remembered placing the ring in her pocket.  “Honest to goodness, I fell to the floor and thanked the good Lord we weren’t sick,” she said, praying that she would be reunited with the ring that meant so much to her.  Sheffield, a retired human resources director for the city of Gainesville, immediately picked up her cellphone and called Dan Owen, the city’s superintendent of solid waste and recycling.  Owen answered about 8:30 a.m. It was Monday, which meant the trash on the Sheffields’ street had already been collected.  He was able to quickly locate the truck, which hadn’t gone very far, and immediately redirected the sanitation crew back to the landfill. “We stopped the truck and didn’t let them pick up any more garbage,” he said.  When the crew arrived at the Hall County landfill, Sheffield and her husband Tommy were there waiting. Sheffield said her husband was skeptical they would ever find it, but she was determined to get her ring back.  They emptied the truck onto a large concrete slab and, after about 20 or 30 minutes of sorting through their neighbors’ trash, the couple spotted a plastic bag that looked familiar. The night before, Tommy Sheffield remembered using a green twist tie to shut the bag before hauling it out to the curb. After tearing it open and sorting through several smaller bags, Joan Sheffield found her ring wrapped up in the napkin.  “I just thought about how fortunate and how blessed I am,” she said. “Even though my mother had died and I was in a fog, I knew the good Lord was on my shoulder and he wasn’t going to let me falter. Something that was that precious to me, he wasn’t going to let me do without it.”  Owen said he’s received many calls from panicked residents over the years. But more often than not, by the time they realize they’ve thrown out something valuable, it’s too late.  “Time is of the essence,” he said. “If she would have called me the next day or even later that afternoon, there’s not much we could have done. By then, we would have had a truckload of garbage buried at the bottom of the landfill and we would have never found it.”  Joan Sheffield said despite everything that’s going on across the country and world right now, being able to locate her ring with the help of Gainesville and Hall County’s sanitation crews has lifted her spirits tremendously. “It’s a crazy time with all that’s happening right now in the world, and I’m just glad we were able to help make at least one person’s day a little better,” said Johnnie Vickers, Hall County’s solid waste director. “It’s not a glamorous job, but these are the kind of moments that make it all worth it.”

Oconee County says several government workstations will close tomorrow and again next Friday, when crews will work to deep clean the Oconee County Courthouse, the Government Annex, and other Oconee County government facilities. It’s another precaution against the spread of coronavirus.  From the Oconee Co government website... Oconee County Government workstations in the Government Annex, Oconee County Courthouse, and other government facilities will be closed on Friday, April 10, and Friday, April 17, with the exception of critical staff. Closure on these days will allow additional cleaning of the facilities, as well as allow for reduction of traffic and public exposure in support of the current stay-at-home mandate.  Oconee County Government will continue to provide essential public safety, emergency response, and water and sewer services on these days. Non-emergency services will be limited. Please continue to visit us online at www.oconeecounty.com during this time. 

ATHENS Georgia football has reported two Level lll violations since the start of the year, according to the school's updated summary through March 31, 2020. Both violations occurred last football season. The newly reported violations brings the list to five since January of 2019. The NCAA website describes 'Level lll' violations as a 'breach of conduct.' Level IV are classified as 'Incidental issues.' All of the violations listed below were classified as Level lll, which according to the NCAA are: 'Violations that are isolated or limited in nature; provide no more than a minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantage; and do not include more than a minimal impermissible benefit.' Hoodie violation This football violation is dated Oct. 25 and involved a recruit getting a hooded sweatshirt out of a current player's room during a recruiting visit. It falls under the 'Impermissible Recruiting Inducement' NCAA Bylaw. UGA provided rules clarification to the player whose hooded sweatshirt was worn, and the recruit repaid the value of the hooded sweatshirt to a charity. Bump violation This football violation is dated Oct. 30, and it occurred when a coaching staff member inadvertently made impermissible contact with two junior prospects at their high school, per the report. The prospects approached the coaching staff member from the school's lobby and engaged in 'limited dialogue,' per the report. The coaching staff member was subsequently pulled from off-campus recruit duties for 15 calendar days after the violation was determined. The institution also prohibited in-person contact with the prospects involved for 30 days, and permissible visits to the prospects were reduced by two. The gymnastics team also self-reported two secondary violations. Suite access A gymnastics team member was reported for an 'Impermissible Benefit' when she accessed a field suite with a former student-athlete during the first half of a home football game, per the report. As a result, the gymnast paid back the value of the suite access and was provided 'rules education' Impermissible meals The report states 'a representative of athletics interest' bought three women's gymnastics athletes meals at a restaurant. The meals cost less than $25 each. The representative is now prohibited from 1) accessing the UGA gymnastics locker room without a staff member, 2) being in the gymnastics competition area without a staff escort, and, 3) making contact with members of the gymnastics team outside of athletic department functions without an institutional staff member present. There were three other self-reported violations involving other sports. Softball meal money An 'institutional staff member' impermissibly provided players with $15 of what the report classifies as post-travel 'meal money' after the team arrived back from a team-building function. Rules stipulate meal money is only permissible, following travel to a competitive event. Horsing around This women's equestrian violation is a result of an institutional staff member posting a social media message that involved a coach attending a non-institutional athletics event that involved prospects. The social media post was removed and rules education was proved to the offending sports staff member. Women's golf violation A coach impermissibly sent an e-mail directing a prospect's coach to pass a message along to a recruit prior to the first allowed date on the recruiting calendar for electronic correspondence. As a result of the violation dated Jan. 30, Georgia can't provide any additional resting materials to the prospect involved until 60 days after the first legislated permissible date for distributing recruiting materials. The post Georgia football self-reports two minor violations involving hoodie and bump appeared first on DawgNation.

Want to attack every day with the latest UGA football recruiting info? That's what the Intel brings. This entry is about all things Micah Morris after the Camden County offensive lineman committed to Georgia onWednesday night. Micah Morris was at G-Day last April. He was at the Notre Dame game in September. The All-American Bowl selection has been to Georgia many many times. The same goes for Alabama, Florida and South Carolina, too. If one listened real close, there was always a good chance for Morris to choose Georgia.It felt that way right up until the point Sam Pittman and other college head coaches and line coaches relocated during December. That month is always big for moves in college and pro football. Then it felt that way again in late January. Morris established his top 5 schools last week. The thinking there was he was going to need his official visits to figure out how close his top two or three schools were. Yet in a time in our lives when everything has slowed down, this global pandemic sped things up for Morris. He committed to Georgia. He didn't know when he was going to get to take his visits and saw no need to slow-play his commitment decision any further. The Camden County senior-to-be still felt at home at Georgia. Morris ironically got to know first-year line coach Matt Luke very well last summer at an Ole Miss camp . They connected. It meant when Kirby Smart moved fast to replace Pittman, that transition was smooooooth. We might have to go back to 'The Dukes of Hazzard' to find a man named Luke fitting in so well in the state of Georgia. The current roster of five public UGA commitments in the 2021 cycle now shows five Georgians. Morris ranks as the nation's No. 11 OT prospect on the 247Sports Composite ratings for the 2021 class. That's good for No. 73 overall. He becomes the second-highest rated Bulldog commitment for the 2021 cycle. That decision moved the Bulldogs up to No. 14 nationally in the 247Sports Composite ratings. That's about all the stuff that one can fit on the back of a bubble gum card with Morris, but there's a lot more to know here about the future Bulldog. It makes sense to share the letter of appreciation he posted on his Twitter feed right after his exclusive commitment announcement with Rusty Mansell of 247Sports. We just don't see notes like that after a commitment. It is an impressive reflection of his character. It would be novel to see that retweeted as much as his commitment announcement. Micah Morris: Getting to know the person here a bit more Family has always mattered a lot to Morris. He had hoped to commit back on December 17. That is his father's birthday. He had hoped to honor him with that commitment release. That would be Mario Morris. His father has been like 'Super Mario' raising up this newest Bulldog. 'He's just been everything,' Morris said. 'He's the person who taught me how to play football at a young age. He's the one who took me early in the mornings to go work out on the weekends. Ever since I was 10 or 11 years old, we've been going out to the track. Running. Conditioning. We go lift weights and come back and do drill work.' 'He's just always been the most important person in my life as far as football and just teaching me how to be a man.' He plans to be a criminal justice major at UGA. He'll play for the G and then might wind up a G-Man. Or in law enforcement. Maybe even a bounty hunter. Morris is also a video gamer. He picked up 'Madden 20' and 'NBA2K20' on early release when they came out. He was ready for the latest 'Call of Duty' game when it dropped, too. When Black Friday came and went last November, I remember him telling me he was going to wait in line for one of those 65-inch TV specials. He's an offensive lineman, though. It was going to be pretty hard for any video game to keep him from his mother's macaroni and cheese and red velvet cake once they hit the dinner table. Don't get that twisted, though. He has a serious head on his shoulders when it comes to prioritizing what really mattered at the core of this college decision. When watching his film, he's always been an All-American in progress. Bob Sphire started him as a freshman at Camden County and we've always seen glimpses. He's just 16. He won't be 17 until this fall. But at times he was just too nice to the man in front of him as a freshman and sophomore. The 2019 season was when he decided it was no longer time to be nice. 'After getting my first two years under me and going from the Wing-T to the Spread, now it was time to play. Enough of thinking I could be this or this. Or I was going to be this or that. It was time to go out there and show it.' Check out that junior highlight reel below. He was definitely getting his hands on his guy first in the run game. 'With my pass protection, it was knowing what they were going to do and beating them to the point,' he said. 'If their legs are turned outside, I know what they are going to do. So I beat them inside and then just stone them at the line. If they are trying to beat me with speed, I will just keep on making them run the hoop until eventually I hit them on their side and they fall on the ground.' He gave up one sack in 2019. It was a counter play that turned into an RPO. He was supposed to block on the end, but he went down to block on the 'three' technique. Scan that film again. It shows exactly why he averaged 6.1 pancakes per game in 2019. DawgNation might need to call him Micah 'IHOP' Morris. Micah Morris: How Matt Luke and UGA plan to use him Morris is another member of this class who now plans to enroll early. That makes four of the five commitments for 2021 at this point. When Morris met with Luke in January, he laid out a specific plan on a day while he destroyed him on the corn hole board. 'He saw me as a tackle,' Morris said. 'A very athletic tackle.' Morris liked seeing the 'pure energy' he saw out of Luke on the sidelines at The Sugar Bowl. That was a smart play by Luke there. He probably knew that a lot of his potential signees in the 2020 and 2021 would be watching. It gave him a glimpse to show what he was all about before he met them face-to-face. 'Always live,' Morris said of what he saw. 'It would always be amped up to play for him.' Morris knows about Greg Little (NFL third-round pick) and Laremy Tunsil (NFL first-rounder) and how they fared at Ole Miss. He's also heard about A.J. Brown (NFL second-rounder) and D.K. Metcalf (NFL second-rounder) and Dawson Knox and Evan Engram (NFL first-round pick) in the Rebel draft history, too. 'Coach Luke knows how to take players and develop them from high school in college to make them into NFL stars,' he said. 'As far as any other position goes it is pretty much the same, you saw that from the time he was the head coach at Ole Miss.' He won't enroll at Georgia thinking he has to be the left tackle. Or the right tackle. 'Me personally I feel like I can play any position on the offensive line that helps the team win,' Morris said. 'Wherever I am needed, that's where I will be at.' Maybe not at center. He hasn't snapped since middle school. 'I've always felt like one of the things I have always been good at is being able to adapt as an offensive lineman,' Morris said. 'I've always felt like as long as I had good coaches helping me and showing me what they need me to do then I can adapt to any situation and offensive scheme of pass blocking and run blocking every play. I've been able to make the holes and protect the quarterback as needed.' He has played in the Wing-T and in the Spread so far at Camden County. Check out the pure brute strength on display here during a COVID-19 quarantine home workout. No gym. No problem PR 405 pic.twitter.com/OOAo5dzlNC Micah Morris (@MicahMorris56cc) March 28, 2020 Micah Morris: The Georgia degree mattered a lot here What stands out about the Bulldogs? The academic side of this decision has always been a cornerstone here. 'I think about other things,' he said earlier this year. 'Eventually football will be over. A degree from whatever college you choose to go to is really what you are going to make your money off of and live off of for the rest of your life. A degree from Georgia coming from the state of Georgia really means a lot.' 'A degree from Georgia even outside of the state of Georgia means a lot. So academics play a huge part in my decision. I feel like Georgia is a great school academically and athletically.' He also valued the school community and the fan base. He wanted to make sure there was a camaraderie there among the current team and the future players on the team, too. Morris as able to build relationships with Georgia tackle Warren McClendon and 2020 signees Carson Beck and Nazir Stackhouse over the last year, too. Yessirski!!! THE BEST IN GA STAY IN GA! https://t.co/LQteN4hD5W brock (@BrockVandagriff) April 9, 2020 Morris has been well schooled by his circle at Camden County High School in South Georgia. He knew how to move his feet, set his hips and fire his hands. But he also knew not to far too much in love with a position coach. 'I went into the recruiting process knowing that it is obviously as business,' Morris said. 'Because at the end of the day coaches are liable to switch. But you as a player have to go somewhere you feel you would be comfortable at aside from the coaches. Coaches aside and all that.' 'You have to go to an environment and a place where you feel like you could live there for at least four years and get a quality education and be around a community where you feel like you can just live there and not have any worries. When you reach that point where you feel that way about a school, then that is where I feel like you should go.' Micah Morris: Who might join him on the line in this class? Micah Morris visited Georgia a lot over the last three years. When he did, he usually saw 5-star OT Amarius Mims and 4-star OT Terrence Ferguson there, too. They seemed to always be together. It was a nice view for DawgNation recruiting fans to ponder. But it was always going to come down to three independent things. Terrence Ferguson will seek to choose the school that fits him best Amarius Mims will seek to choose the school that fits him best Micah Morris made the decision this week on the school that fits him best 'I know definitely throughout this whole recruiting experience that [Mims] and TJ Ferguson and I have all really became great friends together,' Mims said back in November. 'Obviously you want to play with somebody who you know is a physical player and a great offensive lineman. Whichever college you go to, you want to go play for a great offensive line. You don't want to just go somewhere without people you know who are going to give all they have got every play.' 'The friendships I have made with those guys are ones that you would love to continue to see with that guy next to you in college.' Morris was inside Sanford Stadium for two games last fall. 'When I was there and watched the Georgia offensive line I would see just Dawgs come out and tear up just whatever was in front of them. Just size wise they are just physically going to outmuscle you. I've never seen an offensive line that huge in college that was able to have the other team's will for most of the game. If not all of the game.' DAWGNATION RECRUITING (The recent reads on DawgNation) Good Day UGA: Connor Riley likens the early build of the 2021 class to the 2017 group Micah Morris commits to UGA Nation's No. 3 TE Brock Bowers breaks down why Georgia made his final 8 High school teammate shares what UGA is getting in OLB signee Mekhail Sherman What does the 2021 wide receiver board look like for Georgia? Kirby Smart says COVID-19 slowdown might lead to quicker recruiting decisions How elite OLB target Quintin Somerville tackles the COVID-19 quarantine COVID-19: How Kirby Smart sees that affecting Georgia recruiting The elite 2022 recruit who brings to mind Nick Chubb, Nolan Smith and Fred Sanford 5 things to know about recent 2021 commitment Jonathan Jefferson Nation's No. 1 CB Tony Grimes had three UGA visits set prior to COVID-19 outbreak Dylan Fairchild: The UGA offer for the elite OL was like 'drinking from a fire hydrant Elijah Jeudy: Has Georgia found another future Bulldog in Philadelphia? Pulling Bulldogs from the Bronx, Brooklyn and Jersey? HS coach raves about UGA Devin Willock: The 2020 signee and the surgical scooter which rolled him to UGA Georgia adds a key 2021 commit in Peach State product Jonathan Jefferson The post Micah Morris: Why the future criminal justice major is a big get for Matt Luke appeared first on DawgNation.

ATHENS Georgia football has the best defense in the nation returning, and that should bode very well under the circumstances. RELATED: 4 reasons Georgia football should be title favorite when action resumes ESPN analyst and SEC Network sideline reporter Cole Cubelic told DawgNation how he would approach his defensive mentality with offenses having abbreviated time to prep. 'I'm going after everybody,' Cubelic said during his Ingles On The Beat appearance. 'I don't think the quarterbacks and receivers are on the same page, I don't think my O-Line is on the same page, I don't think they are physically ready to do it, I don't know if they are gonna be able to survive big hits. 'I am teeing off every play, if I'm a defensive coordinator.' On another note, coaches are growing restless with athletic directors becoming more concerned by the day as the coronavirus pandemic continues to keep sports stalled and threaten football season. Discussions for a return to group training are ongoing, though nowhere near approved. Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said earlier this week ' the plan right now is for that to start on May 1.' Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said earlier this week he believes players could return for training on Aug. 1 for training without a delay to the season. Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly has said July 1 would be the right time for a return to group training. 'I think it's going to be the most interesting case studies of people management and athlete management, as far as their bodies, their minds, and the physicality,' Cubelic said. 'There is no blueprint to follow.' Cubelic also hared his thoughts on The Cocktail Party, as well as his favorite SEC stadium. DawgNation 2020 season stories DawgNation Draft: Should No. 2 have gone No. 1? Kirby Smart shares how coronavirus break has led to innovations College football stipulations in progress, per Kirby Smart Kirby Smart reveals 5 players who impressed in workouts 3 takeaways from Kirby Smart beat writer teleconference Kirby Smart predicts recruits will make decisions sooner than later Why Kirby Smart gave Scott Cochran opportunity Nick Saban wouldn't Smart boosts Dan Lanning over $1 million, new staff salary numbers Quarterbacks affected more than any position during stoppage, per Kirby Kirby Smart's sports stoppage message: Control what you can control The post WATCH: ESPN analyst shares controversial, aggressive strategy for teams returning to football appeared first on DawgNation.

ATHENS A record Georgia NFL draft class was predicted more than a year ago, and it appears the Bulldogs could be on the verge of making that vision a reality. RELATED: Why Georgia 2020 NFL class could produce record numbers Eight Georgia players are expected to be selected according to the most recent 7-round mock draft from CBSsports.com, a number that would match the program-high picked in 2013. Seven Georgia players were drafted last year. The 2020 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place April 23-25 in Las Vegas, but it will be closed to the public on account of the coronavirus pandemic. The mock draft, authored by Ryan Wilson, appears as follows: First Round No. 10 Andrew Thomas, Cleveland No. 26 D'Andre Swift, Miami Second Round No. 39 Isaiah Wilson, Miami Fourth Round No. 112 Jake Fromm, San Diego Sixth Round No. 193 J.R. Reed, Indianapolis No. 204 Solomon Kindley, New England No. 212 Rodrigo Blankenship, New England Seventh round No. 248 Charle Woerner, Houston Georgia receiver Lawrence Cager might be another candidate to slip into the draft, even though he was unable to workout at the NFL combine on account of his post-ankle surgery rehabilitation. Defensive lineman Tyler Clark is another UGA player who has appeared in some mock drafts, and tailback Brian Herrien was among the 10 Bulldogs at the NFL combine. Graduate transfer Eli Wolf posted an individual workout that included some impressive results. But Wolf, along with others like defensive tackle Michael Barnett and linebacker Tae Crowder saw their NFL draft hopes diminished when Georgia Pro Day was postponed, and then canceled, on account of the coronavirus. The only true first-round lock in this year's Georgia draft class is Thomas, though it seems very likely Swift will also be a first-round pick. The players' stock is a matter of position, with offensive tackles in great demand, and tailbacks seemingly undervalued. Indeed, there has been recent speculation that Wilson, as raw as some scouts believe him to be, could end up a first-round pick because of his massive size and potential. Swift, meanwhile, is viewed by most as the top tailback in the NFL draft and will be the first at his position off the board. Fromm's draft stock is a little bit more difficult to determine, as he's sure to have interviewed well. Coaches love the possibilities a fast processor and accurate thrower like Fromm could bring to the table, particularly if adjusting his footwork can add velocity and distant to certain throws. RELATED: Jake Fromm identifies deep ball passing issue Reed's drop to a third-day projection has been somewhat puzzling, with analysts citing a lack of athleticism. Reed has been one of the most reliable open-field tacklers in the SEC, and he was rarely caught out of position or beaten deep. Blankenship is another wild card of sorts, as most kickers don't find their way into the NFL draft. It would seem Smart's relationship with Bill Belichick could provide Blankenship a great boost if this projection is accurate. Flashback to 2013 NFL Draft *-still active First Round No. 17. Jarvis Jones, Pittsburgh No. 30 Alec Ogletree, St. Louis* Third Round No. 82 John Jenkins, New Orleans* No. 84 Shawn Williams, Cincinnati* Fifth Round No. 134 Sanders Commings, Kansas City No. 161 Tavarres King, Denver Sixth Round No. 188 Cornelius Washington, Chicago No. 191 Bacarri Rambo, Washington DawgNation Georgia NFL draft stories Mel Kiper Jr. Top 10 position rankings feature several UGA players Isaiah Wilson's NFL draft stock rising, per 7-round CBS mock Georgia football Mauler' Solomon Kindley on Atlanta Falcons radar Andrew Thomas in first-class form at NFL combine Isaiah Wilson sheds light on 2020 Georgia O-Line Jake Fromm, Jacob Eason reunite anf NFL combine Lawence Cager message at NFL combine high ceiling' D'Andre Swift draft stock makes Georgia football RBU' again Jake Fromm evaluation, comparison, per former Super Bowl scout Brian Herrien shares Nick Chubb story at NFL combine The post Georgia football could have record 2020 NFL Draft class on tap appeared first on DawgNation.

NFL draft analysts have repeatedly questioned Jake Fromm's arm strength, but the former Georgia quarterback doesn't see that as the root of his problem throwing the deep ball. 'I think it's been my feet,' Fromm told The Herald Bulletin. 'My feet have not been as clean as they needed to be this past football season. That's something that we've really been hammering throughout this process. 'So, for me, I'm trying to get my feet better and as good as they can be because wherever my feet are, and how they are doing, it's going to take care of the rest of whatever is going on. It starts from the bottom up. I'm really trying to take care of those.' RELATED: NFL Hall of Fame questions Jake Fromm combine session Jim Chaney was Fromm's quarterback coach his freshman season at Georgia, while James Coley worked with him the past two seasons. Chaney has moved on to Tennessee, and Coley is now the tight ends coach at Texas A&M. Fromm remains one of the more polarizing figures in the NFL draft, with some experts impressed by his ability to process at the line of scrimmage and manage the game. Fromm led Georgia to three straight SEC Championship Game appearances and dominated the Bulldogs' rivals. RELATED: Jake Fromm on point, slams Gators again Others, such as Mel Kiper Jr., have droned on about Fromm's lack of arm strength. Fromm also lacks the mobility of some of the top quarterback prospects in this year's NFL draft. RELATED: Kiper calls Fromm NFL draft status, Fromm calls turkeys Fromm has been back working with former Ole Miss quarterback David Morris of QB Country in Mobile since his freshman year of high school. Former Southern Miss quarterback Nick Mullens, now a backup quarterback with the 49ers, is also working with Morris. Mullens holds the distinction of being a former pupil of new Georgia offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Todd Monkey. Fromm, however, is more zeroed in on improving his draft stock that picking up any tips on how the UGA offense will look without him next season. Many thought Fromm would return with hopes of leading Georgia to a national championship, but his prayers led him to choose a path to the 2020 NFL Draft. Fromm is projected as being anywhere from a second-round pick to a fourth-round pick. Kiper has compared him to Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton, while Senior Bowl executive director and former NFL scout Jim Nagy sees similarities to Drew Brees. Fromm, himself, likes to model his game after the New Orleans Saints future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback. 'I would love to emulate my game the best way possible after Drew Brees,,' Fromm said at the NFL combine in Indianapolis in February. 'The way he approaches the game, the way he works and the way he throws, hopefully I can be as close to him as possible.' Certainly Georgia coach Kirby Smart gave the green light for Fromm to have the same sort of on-field control last season that Brees enjoys piloting the Saints' pass game. 'The coaches really trusted me a lot,' Fromm said. 'I could change a run to a pass, and a pass to a run, this play for that, and I really was grateful for the power they gave me with the offense. 'It was a great learning curve, for me and it will prepare me for this next level.' DawgNation Jake Fromm stories Georgia QB Jake Fromm shares light moment with Laura Rutledge Kurt Warner on Jake Fromm: Is there enough there?' Jake Fromm, Jacob Eason reunite anf NFL combine Jake Fromm evaluation, comparison, per former Super Bowl scout The post Former Georgia QB Jake Fromm identifies deep ball issue it's not his arm appeared first on DawgNation.