Georgia notebook

ATHENS, Ga. - The less-heralded of Georgia's two freshmen defensive tackles has made the biggest splash this preseason.

When blue-chip New Jersey recruit Kade Weston fell behind after missing nearly two weeks of practice time with a hamstring injury, Jeff Owens of Sunrise, Fla., quickly made a rise up the depth chart.

Owens has positioned himself as a key reserve heading into Saturday's season opener against Boise State.

"I came all the way from Florida to get a new experience, and I just can't wait," Owens said. "It's overwhelming right now. It's nervousness, excitement, it's all built up into one. When I step out onto that field, I'm going to explode."

The 6-foot-3, 280-pound Owens possesses a combination of brute strength and what defensive line coach Rodney Garner calls "football savvy."

"He's sort of like a little football junkie," Garner said. "He loves football, which is sort of hard to find especially in my room."

Owens said he began watching Georgia game film sent to him after he signed with the team.

"I'm always willing to learn new things to try to get better," Owens said.

Owens recorded the fifth-highest bench press (485 pounds) on the team this summer, behind seniors starters Max Jean-Gilles, Gerald Anderson, Kedric Golston and sophomore Charles Johnson.

Garner said Plantation High School, where Owens played, has a strong weight program, but Owens said he was "very surprised," at his summer weight room showing.

"I didn't really know my strength until I got here," he said.

THAT'S BETTER: Two days after Garner chided the performance of his players in Thursday's scrimmage, the No. 2 offense went toe-to-toe with the defensive starters in what coach Mark Richt termed "a draw," during 11-on-11 drills at the end of Saturday morning's full-contact practice.

"I don't think there's any problem" Richt said. "We've got some very good No. 2s on offense."

One reason for that unit's ability to move the ball, Richt said, is the second-team offensive line that includes guard Fernando Velasco of Jefferson County, tackle Ken Shackleford and center Ryan Schnetzer.

"That's probably as good as I've had it since I've been here as far as the second offensive line to provide some time and space - time for the quarterback and space for the runners," Richt said.

Richt still thinks when push comes to shove, the defense will be there to bail out the offense.

"They probably will again," Richt said. "Until something happens in a real game, I'm sticking with that."

REDSHIRT DECISIONS: Georgia coaches are taking a cautious approach before declaring a freshman is headed for a redshirt season, Richt said.

"We talked about it and basically came to the conclusion that we can't say for sure," Richt said.

Injuries could push a player who was thought to be a redshirt into action.

"You might have some guys where the probability is there but the more I thought about it, I felt like we're probably not wise to put anybody in that mode of thinking right now," Richt said.

Garner indicated that coaches are still determining if Weston will play as a freshman.

Injury update: Defensive tackle Ray Gant sat out Saturday's practice with a strained MCL after taking a chop block in the scrimmage, but expects to return on Monday.

Also due back are linebackers Danny Verdun Wheeler of Thomson (ankle) and Dannell Ellerbe (stinger).

Receiver Mohamed Massaquoi's return remains uncertain with a hamstring injury, as is his status for the game. Massaquoi has been jogging through assignments and routes at practice.

"On Monday, if he looks like he knows what he's doing, I wouldn't count him out," Richt said.