Tereshinski closer to taking first snap

ATHENS, Ga. - When last seen in Georgia's Outback Bowl win over Wisconsin last January, the player who will open this season as the Bulldogs' backup quarterback looked to be a long way from taking a snap.

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In fact, instead of taking snaps, Joe Tereshinski III was snapping the ball.

Through his first two seasons, Tereshinski's only playing time has come on special teams, including as the long snapper on special teams in the bowl game.

Coach Mark Richt says that soon will change.

With the end of the David Greene era, D.J. Shockley moves up as the new starting quarterback. Tereshinski, a junior from Athens, is the new backup.

Just as Richt tried to find a way to play Shockley in every game behind Greene, the coach says he will continue to use two quarterbacks this season.

"It won't be a whole lot different," Richt said. "You need to get your second-teamer ready to play. You don't have your (starting) quarterback in there for a series and everybody wants to throw a fit about it, but I think it's very important all your second-teamers are prepared for the future."

Unless there is a late change on the depth chart, he will be Shockley's backup in No. 13 Georgia's Sept. 3 season opener against No. 18 Boise State. Two freshmen - Blake Barnes and Joe Cox - have worked behind Shockley and Tereshinski.

With so much attention placed on Shockley's long-awaited chance to start, it's easy to forget that no other quarterback has any playing experience - at least on offense.

While waiting for his chance at quarterback, Tereshinski has played on special teams the last two seasons. He was the personal protector - or the up-back - on the punt team last year. Even as the new backup quarterback, he has continued to work on the punt team in practice this year.

"I enjoy that part of the game, I really do," he said this week.

Quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo says he's not worried about having his backup quarterback exposed to an injury risk on special teams.

"Not really," Bobo said. "If he can help the team, I'd like for him go get out and play."

Richt describes the 6-foot-3, 221-pound Tereshinski as "a mix" between Greene and Shockley.

"He runs the ball well," Richt said. "He can cross the line of scrimmage and give people trouble, too. And he's a good passer."

So far, Tereshinski's only game auditions have come in the spring. He completed 7 of 12 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in this spring's G-Day game.

Including 2002, when he was held out as a redshirt, it has been four years since Tereshinski passed and ran for a combined 23 touchdowns as a senior at Athens Academy. He says he can't list his strengths or weaknesses as a college quarterback.

"I'm not really sure yet," he said. "I don't think you can judge that yet until you get out there on the field. But I'm comfortable with going out with the ball past the line of scrimmage, trying to make a play. I feel like I'm pretty physical. I don't mind getting hit a little bit."

Tereshinski is a third-generation Georgia player. His father, Joe Jr., played on the 1974-76 teams and now is the program's video coordinator and assistant in the strength and conditioning program. His grandfather, Joe Sr., played on the 1942 and 1946 SEC championship teams.

Tereshinski says too much should not be made of who is second on the depth chart at quarterback, because this team belongs to Shockley.

"Shock right now is spectacular," he said. "He's come out and worked every single day, in the meeting room and out here on the field. With his leaderships skills, I mean right now he's at the top of his game since he's been here and he's ready for it."

But Shockley missed four games in 2002 with a foot injury and was lost with a knee injury six games into the 2003 season. Because he is a strong runner, he is more likely to try to salvage a busted pass play by taking off with the ball, thereby exposing himself to more hits than did Greene, who never missed a start in four years.

That means Richt and Bobo must have Tereshinski ready to play behind Shockley or to fill in as a starter.

"You never know what's going to happen," Tereshinski said. "Being one snap away, you have to be prepared every day. You never know what kind of fluke thing can happen. They do a good job in the meeting room and in practice making sure you know not just where to go but why."

Meanwhile, in every practice he says he tries to make time to practice his long-snapping skills. He was an emergency fill-in snapper on special teams in the Outback Bowl and also in the 2003 Clemson game.

"He's a guy who will do anything for the team," Bobo said. "That's what makes him a good quarterback."