Bulldogs counting on Kenarious Gates to come through once again
Right now it looks like it will be junior Kenarious Gates who will be protecting quarterback Aaron Murray's blind side in 2012. (UGA photo by John Kelley)
ATHENS — There are a lot of question marks along Georgia’s offensive line. But there is at least one thing we know for certain: Kenarious Gates is going to be an integral part of it.
That has pretty much been that case with Gates ever since he showed up. Though he was a late addition to the 2010 recruiting class — he snapped up UGA’s last-minute offer on the eve of national signing day — Gates started three games as a true freshman and has played in every game ever since for which he was physically able.
Now a 6-foot-5, 328-pound junior, Gates’ role becomes even more significant this season. He opened spring camp as the Bulldogs’ first option at the all-important left tackle position. He is heir apparent to Cordy Glenn, who has graduated and moved on to the NFL after protecting quarterback Aaron Murray’s blind side last season.
It’s a role Gates saw coming and one he is more than happy to accept.
“I knew as soon as the bowl got over with that was a position I needed to get familiar with,” said Gates, who started nine games at left guard last season and missed two with an ankle injury. “I knew I’d probably be the guy to pick that up. So before spring ever got here I’ve been working on it, trying to get better at it.”
Gates is getting plenty of competition. Junior Austin Long is getting some looks at left tackle and the Bulldogs brought in Mark Beard from junior college to compete at that and other positions. Later this summer, 5-star signee John Theus of Jacksonville will join the fray.
For the most part, it appears to be Gates’ position to lose. He has much work to do after playing guard for the Bulldogs the past two seasons.
“It’s not that big of a difference,” he said. “You’ve just got to be quicker to the outside and to the inside. I’m somewhat used to it because I played it throughout high school and I’ve practiced at it here. . . . You’ve got to be an athlete. You’ve got to have quick feet and be athletic to play the position because it’s the blind side of the quarterback. It’s one of the most important positions out there.”
Whatever flaws and imperfections Gates may have as a left tackle, they figure to get exposed during this camp. In the spring, the Bulldogs always scrimmage the No. 1 offense and defense against each other. That means Gates is often matched up with All-American outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, who led the SEC in quarterback sacks this past season.
“Jarvis Jones is one of the best outside linebackers in the nation and we go against each other every day,” Gates said. “He helps me and I help him all the time. We’re going against each other throughout every practice. He makes me better; I make him better.”
Georgia is quite fortunate to have Gates on board. He was originally committed to Kentucky but switched when the Bulldogs offered him the day before national signing day in 2010. UGA came forward with an offer only after a couple of other prospects turned it down.
Gates ended up playing seven games in 2010 with three starts at right guard.
“I’m here now and I’m glad to be here; I never looked back at the way all that happened,” Gates said. “I’m happy to play here and now I have the opportunity to play my natural position.”
Gates played his entire career at Greenville High at left tackle. He calls “The Blind Side” his favorite movie and Michael Oher, the inspiration for said movie, his favorite player.
So if anybody is anxious about Gates playing left tackle, it’s not Gates.
“I’ve got to get better with my footwork and with my hands,” Gates said. “But overall I feel like I’ve done good there. . . . They wouldn’t put me there if they didn’t think I could do it. They’ve believed in me and trusted me to fill other positions.”
Now the Bulldogs are looking for Gates to come through once again.
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171 comments Add your comment
Randall "Pink" Floyd
March 26th, 2012
12:02 pm
Predicting John Theus starts at LT from Day 1. Gates back to Guard.
AltamahaDawg
March 26th, 2012
12:09 pm
Don’t you mean fun fun fun?
2 SEC Championships
March 26th, 2012
12:14 pm
2 SEC Championships, the last one of which was 2005. 2005 season was 8 years ago now this up-coming 2012 season. After 2005, Mark Richt is the # 6 in The SEC in won/lost record this coming 2012 season; and # 21 nationally after 2005. That does not make me a techie to not settle for that; it does however, make you a RICHT-O-PHILE to settle for that. There is a huge difference in being a Mark Richt fan, and being an UGA Bulldogs’ Football Program fan. If all you want is mediocrity, choose 1 of the 119 other colleges, and be a fan there for Mark Richt. There are 65 Georgia Bulldogs’ Football Program fans to this 1 blog who have told you this. Ignorance is not bliss; it is a lack of education. If you are satisfied with # 6 in just SEC teams and # 21 nationally in won/lost record after 2005, then take a hike – the other 65 of us are not. And, we don’t need your kind around any longer.
Scoreboard
March 26th, 2012
12:18 pm
Strange the media and ajc ignore this story
http://abcnews.go.com/US/male-student-shot-death-mississippi-state-university-suspects/story?id=15997857#.T3BWiY6YkdV
beanster
March 26th, 2012
12:20 pm
“then take a hike – the other 65 of us are not. And, we don’t need your kind around any longer.”
Boy, you must be drunk.
bham dawg
March 26th, 2012
12:24 pm
@TampaGator… Mitchell is far to fast to be caught by the APD… So the answer is no
All Dawg
March 26th, 2012
12:25 pm
Who are the “Dogs”??!! Chip, you should know, it’s “Dawgs”!!
TampaGator
March 26th, 2012
12:29 pm
bham dawg….
Then….if he is too fast…..then, has be been pulled over for speeding yet?
TampaGator
March 26th, 2012
12:35 pm
Scoreboard…..
I am sure the AJC is not ignoring that story…..but I am not sure what relevance to the Atlanta area it has. Sounds like a robbery gone bad or a drug deal gone bad to me. Has someone reported that the Georiga or Tech dorms are next on the agenda for the suspected 3 black guys or something?
bham dawg
March 26th, 2012
12:35 pm
@2 SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS… I understand your frustration with richt but who would we replace him with? If you hire a new coach you are looking at at least 3 years before we are even competing again. The fall out within the program would do much more harm than good if we let Richt go. I believe in McGarity and for him to give Richt an extension I fully believe he thinks Richt can turn this thing around.
bham dawg
March 26th, 2012
12:36 pm
@TampaGator… have you ever been pulled over for running too fast?
Joe
March 26th, 2012
12:39 pm
From the practice fields……..
There were several fights, according to inside linebacker Mike Gilliard, including one between inside linebacker Alec Ogletree and tailback Isaiah Crowell that a visiting recruit tweeted about.
“Those boys got into it,” Gilliard said. “I’m not really sure what happened. That’s football. … It’s all good. We’re all one team at the end of the day.”
As if we didnt already know it- I Crowell is another cancer on this team……just like Caleb and Waushan were……..here we go yet again….
AltamahaDawg
March 26th, 2012
12:42 pm
Quite the opposite.YOU are the one that is entirely obsessed with Richt. The rest of us behave as fans of the Georgia Football program.
AltamahaDawg
March 26th, 2012
12:44 pm
But Ogletree is cool, out there fighting with other players?
Mark (another one)
March 26th, 2012
12:44 pm
Want to know why some people post all the negative garbage? Check out http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/03/26/149237888/facebook-may-not-be-so-friendly-for-those-with-low-self-esteem. The research translates to sports blogs as well.
bham dawg
March 26th, 2012
12:45 pm
@Joe… Are you kidding me? You have obviously never played football. From what i remember playing there were fights nearly every practice. I actually loved seeing this. For I.C. to be getting into with one of our best defensive players and a leader on the team shows me some fire in his gut and a willingness to compete, which there was an obvious lack of last year. I think this is very encouraging that they are having spirted practices in the first day of pads during spring.
You are crazy if you think this is a cancer to the team.
Joey
March 26th, 2012
12:47 pm
Are you serious, Tampa Gator? Since Muschamp has been in Gainesville, there have 9 UF football players arrested. Yeah, 9.
Mike Bianchi (2/20/12): “The arrest record under Meyer was embarrassing and already nine UF players have been arrested under Muschamp. It’s no coincidence that eight of those nine players were either recruited by Meyer or committed to Meyer before Muschamp took the job.”
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_bianchi/2012/02/urban-meyer-will-muschamp-who-is-responsible-for-gators-arrests.html
2 SEC Championships
March 26th, 2012
12:48 pm
DawginLex,
Thank you for your insight from your point of view and all the practices regarding Isaiah Crowell.
As I have already shared my opinion you studied for that reply, we shall wait until this time next year, to determine if you are right. I would love nothing more than for a guy who spent his entire time in my presence jawing at Lesser Opponents, doing nothing against the better opponents, now recently having his behind beat by Alec Ogletree, failing drug test, being suspended twice, taking himself out of games, failing to be the guy the team could rely upon, and now this off-season bragging he is going to be Heisman Trophy – to wake up and do what his Carver Columbus coach, Del McGee, told him to do all season last season.
When Del McGee is satisfied with IC, I will be. When he isn’t, nothing you can say about his “abilities” alters my current up-to-date hopes that IC is the guy this football team requires as our Lead Tailback.
I want nothing but the best for IC. If he doesn’t pan out, I will not lose one minute of sleep on the guy, and the size of IC vs size of Keith Marshall means nothing to me : since it is the size of the fight in the dog, not the size of the dog that I personally require.
I am going with 13-1, as you know. That leaves no time for me wasting another year of excuses. The Proof is in the Pudding, not some words and practices; we had plenty of those last season. A lifetime full.
Go Isaiah Crowell : We’re all pulling for you sir. Now, go have a great year 2012. Thanks for the chat DawginLex, sir.
Mark (another one)
March 26th, 2012
12:48 pm
The guys I fought with in practice had my back during games, and we went drinking together at night. Don’t put too much into a few scraps. Competition is not for the weak at heart. Light ‘em up. See how they stand up to intimidation.
AltamahaDawg
March 26th, 2012
12:49 pm
Wouldn’t NOT having a few dust-ups in spring practise be unusual?
Mark (another one)
March 26th, 2012
12:51 pm
Enter your comments here
Joey
March 26th, 2012
12:53 pm
Just joining in on the fun, Tampa Gator.
1 4 GT
March 26th, 2012
1:05 pm
I hate the dumb popup at the bottom of the page. I assume it is on all the blogs. I have decided to just ignore it since the advertisers base their decisions on it’s $ value to them, indicating how many readers the blog has. I’ll bet you that clicking on the down button also registers as a “HIT”, so if WE will ignore it, it will lose it’s appeal to the advertisers using this offensive way of pestering folks and maybe they will let it expire. The popup advertisements are just as obnoxious as telemarketers calling at all hours. Shuck ‘em all!!!!
Brainiac Dawg For Life:
March 26th, 2012
1:07 pm
@ McDawg: “Do not move Geathers to O-Line” Damn right it would similar to what “Bean” went through last season and that was not pretty.
@ Dawgfan: It is VITAL that ALL O-linemen have really good footwork and handwork. Check it out. It is extremely important if they are to be seriously effective
some sense
March 26th, 2012
1:07 pm
Thank you, Chip.
bham dawg
March 26th, 2012
1:10 pm
@2 SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS… I.C. had the weight of an sec program on his shoulders as a true frosh. The fans the media and everyone around him annointed him the savior of the bulldog backfield and although he has the talent he did not have the maturity to handle the pressure. This is not fair for any freshman but hopefully another year in the program and he will grow up. The guy still rushed for over 800 yards and was named SEC frosh of the year. Not too shabby. I expect a huge year from I.C.
WDE
March 26th, 2012
1:22 pm
My Lord players fighting at practice..oh the horror ! You have got to be kidding me, where do these trolls come from?
bham dawg
March 26th, 2012
1:25 pm
@WDE… anything that someone can spin to make georgia or any of our players look bad it will be done. Welcome to the AJC.
ClinchCountyDawg
March 26th, 2012
1:36 pm
Bham Dawg
I agree that Crowell will have a big year. He miised a lot of time with injuries and the suspension cost him one game where he could easily rushed for 150 yds.He is biger, stronger and more mature this year. Also, Marshall will be a big motivator.
bham dawg
March 26th, 2012
1:43 pm
also everyone was giving I.C. for coming out of games and not pushing through the injured ankle. Turned out he had torn ligaments in his ankle, but no one talks about that.
bham dawg
March 26th, 2012
1:47 pm
@ClinchCountyDawg… i think that Boo is a big motivator too. The way he ran at the end of the season and from what the coaches said about him it sounds like the light has turned on and he is starting to make an impact. He is running number 2 right now behind I.C. and i expect that to be the case in september.
Alabama | MrSEC
March 26th, 2012
1:52 pm
[...] their way to the Elite Eight, but will Bradley Beal and Kenny Boynton return?3. Kenarious Gates opened spring drills at Georgia at left tackle.4. Linebacker Jarvis Jones likes the look of UGA’s defense.5. Everyone’s saying [...]
slydog
March 26th, 2012
1:53 pm
Excuse me for not having a sense of humor, but does this conversation have to descend into another black male athlete and running from the police? Anyway, if Gates has a “great” season at left tackle, he’s outta here, as in NFL. The fact that he’s a 3 year starter who was thrust into these positions, not expected from day one like some others, bodes well for his future. If he gives up less than 3 sacks, you can book his ticket to the pros. Then Theus will be ready to start at left tackle in 2013.
bham dawg
March 26th, 2012
1:58 pm
@slydog… it was a joke from my part. Tampagator said mitchell was moved to DB right? So has he been arrested?
I said he was far too fast to be caught by the APD. joke all in good fun. can’t speak for tampagator though
dawgfan
March 26th, 2012
2:00 pm
“It is VITAL that ALL O-linemen have really good footwork and handwork. Check it out. It is extremely important if they are to be seriously effective”
I agree. Its also equally important that they man up and get some push on the defense when the time comes. We have been GREATLY deficient in that area for several years now. I’m sure our O-line’s footwork and hands are fine. I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about their toughness. You should be too.
Thanks.
slydog
March 26th, 2012
2:01 pm
Georgia should lead the SEC in total rushing yards and rushing yards per game next year, based off talent and current depth. The O-line is young but there are enough bodies to spread out some snaps and curb mental mistakes. The talent is there to either ground and pound or slash and burn. Passing more to RB’s out of the backfiled, shifting Marshall and having him line up at WR or the slot, and yes, dare I say more bubble screens shouldn’t hurt. With Mitchell getting used to CB, there is no true “blazer” among the wideouts, but plenty of sure hands and experience between Conley, Bennett, Brown, and Wooten (King drops too many touchdown passes). I bet 2013 season tickets, even with the necessary talent, Georgia DOES NOT lead the SEC in rushing in 2012 but IC will gain 1300 yards and score 10 touchdowns.
slydog
March 26th, 2012
2:04 pm
BTW, 1300 yards and 10 touchdowns is still a good season if you have to split carries between Samuel, Malcome, and Marshall. Gurley will redshirt, book it, unless IC craps out again.
slydog
March 26th, 2012
2:08 pm
@bham dawg
I know it was all in good fun, it’s just the humor has worn off a “lil” bit.
slydog
March 26th, 2012
2:10 pm
@dawgfan
You hit the head on the nail. This team needs to push back. I don’t think that’s something you can “learn” how to do. You just either do it or you don’t.
TampaGator
March 26th, 2012
2:32 pm
@bham dawg…..
NO. Never been associated with “running fast.”
@Joey……
I don’t believe a single Muschamp recruit has been arrested for anything yet, although I am sure it will happen. But Muschamp puts a lot of emphasis, when recruiting high school kids for the Gators, that they have good character. I think some eyebrows will be raised in the next few years when some of Florida’s top athletes are not heavily recruited by Muschamp…..because they might have questionable character. At the same time, I think you will see better Florida teams as a result.
AltamahaDawg
March 26th, 2012
2:49 pm
Every coach out there says they put a lot of emphasis on “good character”. Isn’t that what Meyer said too? The problem is that it’s impossible to know which kid is going to have a scrap years later involving alchohol, or MJ, or the DDL. I doubt any of those 9 player were predictably going to get into trouble and Urban knew it, took em anyway. If so, that’s on the school.
That’s not to say that I don’t believe Muschamp is trying to keep it clean as best he can.
bham dawg
March 26th, 2012
2:52 pm
@slydog… “there is no true “blazer” among the wideouts”… Justin Scott-Wesley will have something to say about that.
sandiegodawg
March 26th, 2012
4:30 pm
Wow Tampa Gator, things must be slow down there in the swamp
Joey
March 26th, 2012
5:03 pm
You’re right Tampa, it will happen, and to me it just doesn’t reflect on the coach that much. I do believe some college town authorities have a “deal” with head coaches, and that’s fine. I just wish the Athens Police would treat 6′4″, 285 lb guys walking down the sidewalk the same with beer in a cup the same as they treat a 5′9″, 155 lb guy walking down that same sidewalk with that same cup of beer.
You can’t tell me Bama athletes don’t misbehave – if they don’t, Saban must make them sleep in the gym on mats, while he patrols on the hour . . .
Not nearly as bitter a pill as the nerds have to swallow
March 26th, 2012
5:05 pm
HOW MANY MORE YEARS ON MAJOR NCAA PROBATION?
sandiegodawg
March 26th, 2012
5:20 pm
Enter your comments here
Irony can be pretty ironic
March 26th, 2012
5:27 pm
Speaking of arrests, how is your assistant Tennis coach doing these days?
Joey
March 26th, 2012
5:38 pm
Hey, bitter pill nerd, you sure have lousy timing, scumbag:
“Georgia Tech assistant men’s tennis coach Conor Pollock was arrested Saturday on a rape charge, according to police. He was also charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana.”
Nice . . .
AltamahaDawg
March 26th, 2012
5:46 pm
Well one thing for sure , they never misbehave in Oxford, Ms. I know this because I never read of any arrest. And I contribute that to the fact that the head coach didn’t put up with it. All 7 of them.
AltamahaDawg
March 26th, 2012
5:49 pm
Oh, and they are very selective in who they recruit.