Big John Jenkins goes down but rest of ‘Dream Team’ survives scorching first day
New Georgia noseguard John Jenkins is helped off the field after becoming overcome by the heat midway through the Bulldogs' first practice Thursday in Athens. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
This was supposed to have posted at 5:30 a.m. this morning but “missed schedule” for some reason. Sorry. . . .
Athens — Day One of preseason camp is in the books for the Georgia football team as the Bulldogs endured a heat index of 103 degrees to get in 90 minutes of work on Woodruff Practice Fields on Thursday. And make no bones about it, the first day was mostly about survival.
Big John Jenkins, the highly-touted junior college transfer, was one of the first to succumb to the stifling conditions. The 6-foot-4, 350-pound nose guard from Meriden, Conn., was overcome by the heat about halfway through the practice and had to be helped off the field by team trainers. Jenkins did not return and there was no immediate word on the extent of his condition as no access was given to players or coaches after the workout. But it did not appear to be a serious situation.
Jenkins is one of 24 first-year players deemed “the Dream Team” by Georgia when it recruited them to Athens as a Top-5-ranked recruiting class. Several of them made strong first-day impressions, including tailback Isaiah Crowell, receiver Malcolm Mitchell and tight end Jay Rome.
At least half of that group is expected to contribute to varying degrees this season. But coach Mark Richt said they should not be feeling any pressure to do so.
“The rookies, their heads are swimming already,” Richt said during his media day press conference before the practice. “‘They realize they have a lot to learn. All I’m asking them to do is learn what to do. ‘Do your very best to get yourself in position to compete,’ but you’re not going to compete until you have an idea of what you’re doing. I hope a lot of them contribute in a big way. As far as their skill sets, there’s no question either sooner or later they will really be productive for us. It’s just going to be a matter of how quickly can they figure it out and maybe what our depth chart looks like at their position. A lot of things are involved, but I don’t want them to feel the pressure of having to try to carry the team on their back. That’s not the case at all.”
UGA completes internal investigation
Georgia has completed its investigation into eligibility issues facing linebacker Jarvis Jones. But it looks we’ll have to wait to find out what they may have discovered.
UGA’s office of public affairs, responding to an open records request from the AJC, confirmed that the school’s report was completed this week and sent to the SEC office. However, UGA declined to provide copies of that document under the advice of its Legal Affairs office, claiming “it would directly identify a particular student [Jones] and, therefore, is exempt from release under . . . the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. “FERPA,” as the federal law is commonly known, was enacted to protect the privacy of students’ education records.
Athletic Director Greg McGarity declined comment and Richt said he didn’t know much about it.
“The only thing I know is that we have submitted whatever we have found to the SEC offices and we’re just kind of waiting,” Richt said. “That’s all I’m really allowed to say.”
Jones, a transfer from Southern Cal who’s slated to start a strongside linebacker, is accused of accepting impermissible benefits from an AAU coach in the summer of 2009.
Austin Long sidelined with illness
Richt confirmed sophomore offensive tackle Austin Long will be sidelined for the start of preseason practice but possibly not as long as originally thought.
“What [director of sports medicine] Ron [Courson] is wanting us to call it now is a ‘mono-like’ illness,” Richt said. “We’re not entirely sure that’s what it is.”
Richt said Long will be monitored day-to-day with the hope he’ll be able to join practice before the season opener. He is the backup to Justin Anderson at right tackle.
Also unable to participate in Thursday’s practice were defensive end Derrick Lott (cut leg), defensive end Dexter Morant (shoulder), freshman outside linebacker Sterling Bailey (shoulder) and freshman offensive tackle Xzavier Ward (knee). However, sophomore outside linebacker T.J. Stripling, who was sidelined most of last season with a knee injury, practiced without limitations.
Troupe discipline ‘being handled’
Richt said discipline for senior wide receiver Israel Troupe is “being handled internally.” He would not say whether Troupe will suspended for the first game or miss any playing time as a result.
“We’re going to do what we feel is most appropriate,” Richt said.
Troupe, who will graduate on Saturday, was cited for urinating in public and then missed his court date this week. He’s expected to be part of the Bulldogs’ six-man rotation at wide receiver.
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201 comments Add your comment
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 5th, 2011
4:21 pm
we-SAID-IT-3
Please #1, lets learn how to beat FL before we make coments like that.
Ive kept up with this team as well and we are 0-10 in beating FL and Tenn in the same year
Since your not drinking kool-aid, please put down your Bong and smoke a Marlboro instead
bigcalidawg
August 5th, 2011
4:25 pm
Big John will be fine. Liability issues are the difference today. As a youngun, playing HS football, we lost our 1st game and coach called a “gut check” practice the next day. 1/4 of the team quit and I saw 10 kids throw up. Those days are gone. It’s just too dangerous. Kids don’t hit like they used to, can’t run conditioning like you used to. We used to not get water during practice……
I do believe that altitude is a greater obstacle than heat. I have run in the high altitude and it feels like there is a giant vice squeezing your lungs. We will be in the dome, so…..no matter.
I believe Crowell could dip to about 205, specially workin off that cornbread and butta beans mamma used to make. Now, at UGA, he’s runnin like crazy and his meals are photographed (I drink a Michelob Ultra as I type this.)
I know this is just disney, but I can’t help but picture a Power-I, with Jenkins and Figgins up front and whoever won’t fumble behind them.
we-SAID-IT-3
August 5th, 2011
4:28 pm
@flat Tire
I do agree with you somewhat, however; I have “kept up” much longer than 10 years, and that my friend has no always been the case, but in recent history, you are correct. You should since the change and feel yourself, cancers have been removed (for now) and I sense more of a feel like say 30 years ago…ya i was their then. I must be optimistic this year and it will be the first time in a while. I admit that
JT DAWG
August 5th, 2011
4:31 pm
Yall have got to go to the TECH blog and read those Nerds comments. They keep talking about UGA and other really NERDY things. It is comedy at its finest. If you like Tech sterotypes, you will love this.
It’s the article titled “Practice Day 2 Updated.” Try not to comment, so we can keep reading about their ticle piles and what not. They are soooooo delusional! Hahahahahahaha
Chip Towers
August 5th, 2011
4:37 pm
The fact that Georgia has reported so many secondary violations this year shows it is diligent in being compliant, not a lack of compliance. . . . These inadvertent calls, texts and emails are very prevalent around the SEC. The SEC does not provide data on this but it’s my understanding the Bulldogs are likely in the upper half of such reports but all around league handling similarly. Mike Slive, by the way, supports new legislation that would “modernize” the NCAA’s communication rules.
sogadog
August 5th, 2011
4:44 pm
How many times must you run the story on Israel Troupe? Do you have to keep dragging him through the mud? He is a good hard working young man who is graduating this week and his offense was quite minor. Your coverage far exceeds the newsworthyness of the offense.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 5th, 2011
4:44 pm
we-SAID-IT-3
Sorry but my optimisim left when Richt put his friend before the program. Also Richt should have moved Bobo back to QB coach and found someone else. He didnt do anything about the strength and conditioning until it was glaring him in the face and also Kevin Butler and Fran Tarkenton made it public that something needed to be done
I hope Im wrong but there is other stuff. I have seen no fire since David Polick and Van Gorder left
If we lose to Boise we wont beat SC because the carry over from the UCF loss will be back as this team will give up, and you cant be down playing a team like SC with better players than Boise
Cmon man
August 5th, 2011
4:49 pm
4 star offensive tackle 6′4 310lb greg pyke has committed to uga
recruiting
August 5th, 2011
4:55 pm
Cmon man….thanks for the update! i saw on rivals that we signed someone but i dont have the password…whats his deal? is he supposed to be anything close to john theus? thanks
Commodore's Rule Life not Football
August 5th, 2011
4:59 pm
Troupe handling will be internal…of course! When even the school president has had to chastise our student body for trashing and urinating all over our buildings and grounds then it is just part of the school culture as currently practiced in Athens. Did anyone really believe he’d be held out of the Boise game with Richt’s job on the chopping block. Are you kidding me! Richt likely used the same spot at some point.
VA DAWG
August 5th, 2011
5:00 pm
Pyke looks to be a mauler, just what the doctor ordered. GO DAWGS!
Joey
August 5th, 2011
5:11 pm
More future OL help:
http://georgia.scout.com/a.z?s=135&p=9&c=8&toinid=740&yr=2012
P_The_Ricker
August 5th, 2011
5:14 pm
Yawn. waiting for stats from the 1st scrimmage.
JT DAWG
August 5th, 2011
5:20 pm
I love peeing outside. It’s probably on my top 3 list of “Why it is great to be a Man.” I fart from time to time as well. Shoot me.
Beast from the East
August 5th, 2011
5:24 pm
http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20110804/COLUMNISTS/110809813/1044?Title=Only-SEC-can-stop-itself-from-winning-another-BCS-title
Tampa Gator
August 5th, 2011
5:29 pm
Today…….Georgia gets a big, 4-star OT (Pike)…..Bama gets a 5′9 skinny, fast WR (Black)……Georgia wins that one….finally….over Bama.
Tampa Gator
August 5th, 2011
5:31 pm
Having spent some youth time in Tifton, Georgia……I can tell you Troupe got a lot of practice peeing outside….there is nothing else exciting to do in that town….except sitting on the front porch and counting knats crawl on your eyelids…..what a horrible town to spend any amount of time in….then and probably now….and especially if you are black.
Tampa Gator
August 5th, 2011
5:34 pm
P.S…..
Congrats to Troupe for earning his degree this Saturday…..he deserves a outside pee….and that means he does not have to go back to Tifton to live….and that deserves a second opportunity to pee freely outside. Good job…..Mr. Troupe….played 5 years at Georgia and earned your degree in the process. So….let’s talk about something else that matters.
no dog
August 5th, 2011
5:38 pm
global warming
loel
August 5th, 2011
5:40 pm
I talked to Crowell and his mother a few minutes at the end of the Calhoun game last fall and sized him up. He does appear small but he will play plenty big.
JT DAWG
August 5th, 2011
5:40 pm
errr… climate change. Yea, that’s the ticket.
loel
August 5th, 2011
5:44 pm
I didn’t think there was anyway Boise St could stay on the field with Georgia, but after Central Fl,, anyone can get up for a game expecially the first game.
LakeDawg
August 5th, 2011
5:47 pm
Its hot. I need some Dawg kool aid!
Delbert D.
August 5th, 2011
5:55 pm
Have any of y’all been in an outhouse when it’s 100 degrees outside? Heck yeah, I peed outside when we’d visit the grandfolks in July and August.
Nashdawg
August 5th, 2011
6:55 pm
Who cares Knowshon weighed 207.
ARdawg
August 5th, 2011
7:57 pm
The heat can affect anyone big or small. Some people are more susceptible to it than others. No big deal as long as they are taking all the proper precautions.
Looking forward to seeing Big John’s contributions
GO DAWGS
RedandBlackDAWG
August 5th, 2011
8:12 pm
Jenkins will be just fine,
He will get acclimated in a couple of days. He probably failed to hydrate enough for the practice but he is a big kid, so he will need to put some more liquid in him before he practices in this heat again.
The big guys do suffer a little until they get used to it, but that is to be expected. Don’t worry, come sept. 3rd, heat will not be a problem for the big guy. The big guy is going to be a problem for Boise.
Pitbull
August 5th, 2011
9:35 pm
It was so hot in Savh. I wet myself to cool off!!!!
LogicalUS
August 5th, 2011
9:35 pm
So what if the JUCO linemen was not really ready for SEC practices, everyone knows that it doesn’t matter UGA is 4 deep at every position anyway.
UGA is always the preseason national champion with every player the next Heismen winner at every position, then they have to actually play the season and then we have to start listening to the delusional UGA fans and “we beat ourselves, again”.
Still haven’t got an answer how this team of 4 deep supermen went 6-7 last year, but reality stinks.
Pitbull
August 5th, 2011
10:31 pm
ESPN Gameday will feature Oregon and LSU not Dawgs. Also both games are at the same time so no one will be watching the game. Heck, I might not even watch it. Way to go Chicken Bowl. The same time/day. What a dumb thing to do ESPN?chicken Bowl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Out of the week, the same time and day. How damn dumb is that!
RedandBlackDAWG
August 5th, 2011
10:54 pm
Logical,
What team do you support?
L.A. BULLDAWG
August 6th, 2011
12:06 am
WHY ISN’T ANYBODY TALKING ABOUT RICHARD SAMUELS? A FORMER 5-STAR RECRUIT! THIS WILL BE HIS YEAR TO SHINE! WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO CROWELL, WHEN AN ATHLETES BACK IS AGAINS THE WALL, HE COMES OUT SWINGING! BY THE WAY, UGA HAS 2 OF THE BIGGEST NOSEGUARDS IN COLLEGE FB! SO, NATURALLY HEAT WILL BE A PROBLEM! TAKE IT EASY ON THE BIG GUYS!
Terry
August 6th, 2011
12:59 am
You do realize 6 is the Number of Man, and he’s One Big Man!
Thomas Brown
August 6th, 2011
2:56 am
Kellen Moore is the only football player on the entire Boise State roster for 2011.
NFL Scout Draft projections have Kellen Moore the pick # 144 in the 2012 NFL draft. By then, there should be about 10 Georgia Bulldogs Drafted. There always are. Every year.
The Scout.com Rankings for football players shows that Kellen Moore is 5.09 in the 40-yard dash, making him the slowest quarterback in the United States of America. At 5’ 11” and 179 lbs, he figures to be made into a greasy spot on the Georgia Dome turf, and his only appearance at the Georgia Dome in his lifetime, unless he comes back and buys a ticket someday.
Average Rankings for Scout.com 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 :
2.41 Stars Boise State Blue Broncos
3.58 Stars Georgia Bulldogs
51 Georgia Bulldogs ranked either 5-Star or 4-Star on Georgia roster
1 Boise State Blue Bronco ranked 4-Star on Boise State roster
21 Georgia Bulldogs ranked in the Top 100 players nationally on roster
0 Boise State Blue Bronco players ranked in the Top 100 players nationally
Kellen Moore will end up with over 15,000 passing yards after this season, playing as they do 11 of their 12 games against teams Rivals rank an average opponent of # 81 for all of 2011. Cupcakes.
Kellen Moore has for his entire career, against said cupcakes, 81 rushing attempts for a grand total of negative 67 yards. About what you would expect at 5.09 in the 40-yard dash, even against Cupcake City.
He is their best football player.
He is their only football player.
The line will collapse onto Kellen Moore and he figures to lose to Georgia approximately 13-48, the exact score the last time this group of 85 two-star players ventured into this state of Georgia where football reigns King, as DJ Shockley threw for 5 TD passes and ran another TD in himself for 6 TD by DJ Shockley alone against lowly cupcake-playing Boise State.
Boise State says no one will play them. Waah.
Thomas Brown
August 6th, 2011
2:57 am
Excuse me. We are playing you Boise State.
Try showing up this time.
With your 1 players vs. our 51.
Kellen Moore, I will predict is SACKED 10 times, as we knock him silly – like we did to Colt Brennan.
Boise State threw 4 interceptions to Georgia in our last game against them.
574 yards of offense we had against their 2-star defense.
Boise State had 3 fumbles.
Jared Zabransky was Boise State’s QB in the game
DJ Shockley was the leading rusher in the game with 85 yards on just 5 carries.
Boise State got 0 interceptions from Georgia.
Thomas Brown
August 6th, 2011
2:59 am
38-0 before we put in our 4th string, which also were better than Boise State’s 2-star team.
Georgia had 394 yards of passing and Boise State had 123.
Jared Zabransky had 70 yards passing total on 17 attempts, 4 of which we caught.
Jared Zabransky the year before he played this game against Georgia was
11-1.
Jared Zabransky the year after he played this game against Georgia was
13-0.
Welcome back to the state of Georgia, Boise State
georgia bulldogs fan in nwfla
August 6th, 2011
7:53 am
scheduling times in am and in evening will get them in shape…i work a construction crew , you got to think of safety first ..period…
Dr. Phil
August 6th, 2011
8:17 am
These heat problems must be related to the ever-increasing size of the players. Wally Butts was well known for four-hour practices, regardless of the heat. Linemen weighed 200 pounds back then and played both ways. Players weren’t allowed to collapse. I just wonder how big these guys are going to get and how they are doing it.
» UK Fan Day today - Tarczewski puts UK in his final four - Miss Ky - SEC stuff - Tix available for Yum Center game John Clay’s Sidelines
August 6th, 2011
8:30 am
[...] mammoth juco nose tackle John Jenkins did not make it through Georgia’s hot practice. Chip Towers of the AJC reports: “Big John Jenkins, the highly-touted junior college transfer, was one of the first to succumb [...]
legionaire
August 6th, 2011
9:18 am
In the 50’s when I was a bench warmer, water was not allowed on the practice field. Of course the biggest guy on our team weighed 215 and eventually went to UGA and played in the NFL.
RedandBlackDAWG
August 6th, 2011
9:21 am
Jenkijns had trouble on opening day, but made it through just fine on Friday. Don’t worry about the big man, he will be just fine. He has played in Miss. for two years and it is just as hot there, so he will acclimate pretty quickly.
Steve
August 6th, 2011
9:59 am
Dogs will lose to the team from the blue field in the first game and Richt will not last the season or step down after the season. What on earth makes people think this season will be different after we got pushed around last season by the likes of Colorado, Miss. State and UCF???
Practice update: Dogs get another break with overcast morning practice | UGA sports blog
August 6th, 2011
10:28 am
[...] Thursday’s practice notes [...]
Thomas Brown
August 6th, 2011
11:50 am
Steve,
Do not even try to kid me that Boise State with only 1 player on their entire roster from all their recruiting classes of 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 who is above a 3-star player
is any kind of competition for The Georgia Bulldogs with 51.
RedandBlackDAWG
August 6th, 2011
12:21 pm
Steve,
Do you not think that teams learn from their mistakes and new players come in? This is college football, not the Pros. The landscape changes a lot each year for college teams. UGA has a lot of players ready to go come kick off time, and they are superior in size and speed to the blue smurfs. Think that might make a little difference. Take the time to compare, the sizes, speed and experience level, and although UGA has a young team, so does Boise. You have a couple of new receivers that need to get game experience, a new running back, and a smaller OL line than last year. UGA has a young bunch of receivers and Rb’s, but do you think they might not be out to prove something after last years record? UGA on defense, probably out weighs Boise by about 40 pounds on the line of scrimmage. How long will they hold up to getting pounded by those big boys, that are also fast for their size?
You have got to play on green colored astro turf in a dome, against a big, hungry, fast team, so I would suggest you keep your bragging to a minimum when you come onto a Gerogia news paper blog, and try and put down one of the home state teams.
GO DAWGS
chris
August 6th, 2011
7:01 pm
good thing itll b 75 in the dome poor guy not used to georgia weather 103 degrees could get anybody
ugab
August 6th, 2011
9:35 pm
I am getting nervous. It is time for some football. Goooo Dawgs!!! I see there are alot of hamstring injuries as always with the dawgs. I hope MR makes the best out of every minute of practice!!!! I just don’t see the reason to waste a practice to swim or ride horses.
codie
August 7th, 2011
6:26 pm
Go broncos, sounds like ur just getting ur team together, definitly cant say that about our first full practice day. ha ha were coing to georgia…..Go BSU
Savannahstang66
August 9th, 2011
12:40 am
Big John is wearing #6 because they have plans for him on offense!
Will Jackson
August 9th, 2011
8:53 am
Just fyi for future notes: UGA OL David Andrews is from Wesleyan School, not “THE” Wesleyan School. The word “The” has never been a part of the school’s name. Not sure where that came from.
Thanks. I enjoy your work.