Georgia football quarterbacks and other things to know from the first preseason scrimmage

Saturday marked the most momentous day of Georgia football’s preseason thus far with its first scrimmage.

It came with an advisory for the heat index up to 106 with temperatures in the mid 90s.

“I was glad that we got the conditions we got,” coach Kirby Smart said. “We may play (at least four) games in what is tough heat."

The Bulldogs open the season Sept. 2 at Sanford Stadium against UT-Martin and the team went between the hedges for the closest thing to a game yet.

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Georgia football coach Kirby Smart looking for more from quarterbacks

The quarterback job seems to be Carson Beck’s to lose after he shined on G-Day and served as Stetson Bennett’s backup last season.

Beck completed 74 percent of his passes with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions last season.

He’s competing with Brock Vandagriff from Prince Avenue Christian for the starting job with Gunner Stockton also in the mix.

Smart said he couldn't provide an evaluation until he watches the scrimmage tape, but he said there were a couple of overthrows on deep balls.

“I can tell you that I'd like to see all three of them play better, but the people around them have to play better,” Smart said. "If there's seven drops in the scrimmage because of wet hands and heat, then you evaluate that."

He said all three quarterbacks can run the offense, but "they have to avoid catastrophe situations because we have a defense that causes havoc and can be disruptive and disguise.”

Georgia has seven to eight offensive lineman that can play “winning football,” Smart said. Earnest Greene has gotten the bulk of starting left tackle work because Austin Blaske missed time with an illness.

Georgia football offense should be fine even if running back depth isn’t

With Kendall Milton held out with an apparent hamstring injury, Branson Robinson also not going due to his foot injury and Andrew Paul on the rebound from last year’s torn ACL, Dell McGee doesn’t have close to a full deck at running back.

Good thing for Georgia that it feels good about the rest of the offense.

“Our offense won't live and die by our running backs,” McGee said. “We've got really good players all over the football field.”

Tight end Brock Bowers is one of college football’s biggest stars. Ladd McConkey and Missouri transfer Dominic Lovett are part of a deep wide receiver group that includes Mississippi State transfer Rara Thomas, who scrimmaged after dealing with a hamstring spasm this week.

"I ain't going to lie: it's really deep,” Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith said of his position.

The offensive line again looks loaded even if it didn’t have its best day Saturday.

Getting the ball in the hands of Bowers, McConkey and Smith in creative ways figures to continue.

“There’s ways to be creative around your running backs,” Smart said.

Daijun Edwards and freshman Roderick Robinson were the scholarship running backs fully healthy Saturday. Smart said Robinson has a “really nice run,” and was strong in pass protection.

Walk-on Cash Jones could be counted on due to injuries.

Paul is going without a brace on the surgically repaired knee.

“Paul is still trying to get his confidence back," Smart said. "That was a big psychological hurdle for him to be able to be tackled live.”

What’s in the pipeline at safety for Georgia football?

Sophomore Malaki Starks is set to start at safety, and Javon Bullard could be the answer at the other safety spot after starting at Star nickelback last season.

The next wave of players at the position looks in flux as it relates to the 2024 signing class.

Four-star prospect Peyton Woodyard flipped to Alabama. That came days after five-star Buford safety KJ Bolden, a top Georgia target, committed to Florida State. Jaylen Heyward, a 4-star from Rockledge, Fla., previously decommitted from Georgia and recently committed to UCF.

Georgia has a possible star in 2023 five-star Joenel Aguero from Lynn, Mass.

The nation’s No. 3 safety recruit is working at the Star nickelback.

“Joenel is a freak athlete, man,” Bullard said. “The guys shows flashes on a day-to-day basis."

Georgia’s backups include David-Daniel Sisavanh. Former starter Dan Jackson is returning from a foot injury and dealing with a pulled hamstring.

Jacorey Thomas and Justin Rhett are trying to get in that rotation.

"Both of them made some plays today," Smart said.

Tykee Smith’s strong spring allowed Bullard to move to safety. Smith is getting some safety work, too.

Starting cornerback Kamari Lassiter and defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins didn’t scrimmage due to foot injuries. Freshman cornerback Chris Peal was out with a turf toe.

Cornerback Julian Humphrey had less reps due to sickness and cramping and is competing with Daylen Everette and Nyland Green for a starting spot.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Three things out of Georgia football's first preseason scrimmage