Despite coming off an 11-3 season and a victory in lastyear’s Capital One Bowl, the Georgia Bulldogs have enteredthe 2004 season with something to prove.
Led by senior quarterback David Greene and a high-poweredoffense, the Bulldogs have already swept through the first threegames of the 2004 season, including an impressive victory at SouthCarolina two weeks ago.
After blowing out Georgia Southern in its season opener 48-28,the Bulldogs put together an impressive performance at SouthCarolina, coming back from a 16-0 deficit to win 20-16.
Last week, Georgia managed to pull out a victory at home againstMarshall 13-3 as Greene went 17-for-30 with 209 yards.
Greene is not the only one anchoring the Georgia offense thisseason as ten starters from last year have returned, includingsenior wide receiver Fred Gibson.
Gibson, who set the school record for 100-yard receiving gameswith five in 2001, caught 36 passes for 553 yards and threetouchdowns last season, despite battling an injured hamstring themajority of the year.
Complementing Gibson at the wideout position is senior ReggieBrown, who led the team last season with 662 yards on 49receptions.
While the running back position was supposed to be a majorstrength of the 2004 squad, preseason injuries forced out sophomoreKregg Lumpkin, who originally was expected to start attailback.
Instead, true freshman Danny Ware has taken over as the starter,rushing for 180 yards on 26 carries with three touchdowns in threegames.
Tailbacks Michael Cooper and Tyson Browning also havecontributed, combining for 193 yards on 42 carries this season.
Leading the offensive line will be junior offensive tackle MaxJean-Gilles, who earned honorable mention All-SEC honors by theAssociated Press last season.
Jean-Gilles was also named to the ESPN.com all-bowl team for hisperformance in last season’s 34-27 overtime win againstPurdue in the Capital One Bowl.
On the defensive side, the Bulldogs returned seven starters,including 2003 Ted Hendricks National Defensive End of the Yearaward winner David Pollack.
Pollack, in his fourth year at Georgia, is coming off asuccessful 2003 season, compiling 7.5 sacks and 92 tackles at thedefensive end position.
Pollack currently ranks fifth in Georgia history with 23.5career sacks, as well as holding Georgia’s single-season sackrecord with 14 in 2002.
Heading the Bulldogs’ secondary will be junor free safetyThomas Davis, who led Georgia in tackles last year with 138.
Davis will have to step up for the departured Sean Jones, whowas drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 2004 NFL Draft.
Jones finished second on the team in tackles last season with121, as well as leading the team in interceptions with five.
In the linebackers corps, junior Odell Thurman has yet to seeany playing time after being suspened prior to the season becauseof an undisclosed violation of team rules.
Thurman finished the 2003 season tied with Jones in tackles with121, as well as earning 6.5 sacks and two interceptions.
According to coach Mark Richt, Thurman will be eligible toreturn for the Bulldogs’ Oct. 2 matchup with LSU.