Troubled safety Josh Harvey-Clemons has been dismissed and will need to be replaced. Harvey-Clemons was already suspended for the first three games of the season, so the starting job was up for grabs anyway. Veteran Corey Moore looks to get the nod, but newcomer Shattle Fenteng may have something to say before the season starts.
The 2013 season was rife with injuries. Losing Keith Marshall, Justin Scott-Wesley and Malcolm Mitchell early limited the Bulldog offense and put more pressure on Todd Gurley, who sustained injuries of his own and missed some games mid-season. These recovered Dawgs and their production will be a welcome sight for Richt.
The only two players that have locked up starting positions are David Andrews at center and John Theus at one of the tackle positions; the other three positions are wide open. Kolton Houston, Mark Beard, Watts Dantzler and Hunter Long have experience, but incoming freshman Isaiah Wynn has the ability to play early.
Todd Grantham is gone. Dawg fans called for his head all season and he got the hint, moving on quietly after the end of the season. Enter Jeremy Pruitt, the former architect of the vaunted defense of the Florida State Seminoles. Pruitt looks to shake things up and stresses fundamentals over scheme, a change from the former regime. It will be interesting to see if this different philosophy results in marked improvement.
Hutson Mason is the starter after four years of waiting. His play is crucial to the Dawgs' success and Georgia fans got a dose of the future when Aaron Murray went down with injury last season. Mason is a pocket passer with a keen knowledge of the playbook. However, if Mason does not respond quickly, Faton Bauta may be called upon to lead the way.
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