Sports

An early return

• Enrolling early has been a popular trend at Georgia, and with four more freshmen making their debut in today’s G-Day Game, the Bulldogs hope the string of positive results continues.

Paul Dehner Jr.

ALBANY — Today’s spring game will  mark the unveiling of four early enroll freshman to the Georgia fan base.

While Richard Samuel, Ben Jones, Tavarres King and Dontavius Jackson will be new to college football, the concept of early enrolling has grown to an all-time high in recent years.

Early enroll is defined as graduating high school after the winter semester and enrolling in college in January Last year, 69 true freshmen arrived early at BCS conference schools, up from 53 in 2006 and the previous high-water mark of 35 set in the 2005.

While schools are jumping in the act, Georgia blazed this trail long ago as the Bulldogs have consistently led the NCAA in early enrollees.

History spans as far back as 1991 when former quarterback and current announcer Eric Zeier showed up in January then went on to start by the midpoint of the following season. He eventually broke 67 Georgia and 18 Southeastern Conference passing records during his four seasons with the Bulldogs.

“If I hadn't gone to school early, there would have been no way I could have played during my first year,” said Zeier in a 2007 interview.  “It would have just been too difficult getting acclimated to school, getting used to being away from home and making the adjustments on the field. Enrolling early made a big difference in my career, especially during that first year.”

As the Bulldogs peaked midway through this past season, the direct correlation between the lessons learned in spring and results produced in fall were evident.

Starting left tackle Trinton Sturdivant began digesting the intricacies of college football as an early enrollee and was protecting Matt Stafford’s blind side on opening day.

He became the first true freshman to start at that position in a season opener since Mike Fellows in 1989.

“There is no way Trinton would have been able to do that without coming in midyear,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said.

Stafford certainly appreciated the opportunity for Sturdivant, as his grasp of the offense kept the quarterback’s health in tact throughout a breakout year.

“It was big for him,” Stafford said. “I think he improved a lot. I think it is really helpful to have guys in during the spring because we are trying to implement offense and learn about defense. It is a time for guys to get a lot better and he definitely did.”

Stafford knows all about the improvement made in spring, as he was an early enroll product in 2006.

In fact, without showing up early, he says he likely wouldn’t have even been around to snag the starting quarterback position in his freshman season.

“I probably would have red-shirted,” Stafford said. “Playing quarterback, there is so much to learn. That extra time in spring and having spring practice and summer really benefited me.”

This year’s crop paid immediate dividends as King made an impact by putting on six pounds of muscle in his first month with the UGA strength staff.

King, a 6-foot-1, 160-pound split end from Norcross, has no regrets about his early arrival.

“It was a no-brainer,” King said.

King says the biggest advantages of coming in at midyear are felt off the field instead of on it. While most freshmen will be adjusting to their first time living away from home during the intensity of football season, this gives students a chance to ease into college life during the lax spring.

“Guys might get as many as 21 credit hours before their true freshman year even starts,” Richt said.

A concern of many coaches is that kids will miss out on the experiences of the final quarter of their senior year of high school.

However, all four of this year’s freshmen plan on returning to high school for their prom and walking in graduation.

Jones expressed a disappointment in not returning to his baseball team at Bibb County (Ala.) that advanced to the state championship game last year, but said the move still made sense.

“Some of my baseball teammates gave me a hard time about it,” he said. “But they understood.”

Jones understands he can follow in the footsteps of Sturdivant and was alerted of that as soon as he verbally committed to the Bulldogs.

Stafford certainly hopes so. Another piece to an already consistent offensive line means healthy days for the UGA quarterback.

And granted, the cream will usually rise to the top and early enroll in no way guarantees success, but Stafford himself is living proof it doesn’t hurt.

“There are some positions you have to just kind of be an athlete and that works out for you,” Stafford said. “Some spots you really have to learn and get to know things, coming in early definitely holds a big advantage.”

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