UGA: A.J. Harmon in line

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

photo Georgia tackle A.J. Harmon

A lot has changed since Saturday for Georgia redshirt junior offensive lineman A.J. Harmon.

The 6-foot-5, 340-pounder has practiced all spring as a reserve tackle behind starters Cordy Glenn and Trinton Sturdivant, but Sturdivant is expected to miss the 2011 season after tearing his right ACL during Saturday's scrimmage. Now Harmon, whose seven career appearances have occurred in games in which the Bulldogs won by at least 24 points, could get a starting job.

"You're always competing to be a starter, but you never want it to happen like this," Harmon said after Tuesday's practice. "When I saw it happen, I prayed for Trinton right then and there. This is the third time this has happened to him, and that got to me a little bit, but at the same time God has a plan for people, and you never know how it's going to turn out."

Georgia first-year line coach Will Friend said Harmon and Justin Anderson rotated at first-team right tackle Tuesday opposite Glenn, who seems set as the left-side starter.

Harmon said Sturdivant had been going up against outside linebacker Jarvis Jones in pass-protection drills when he went down. Sturdivant's first two ACL injuries were to his left knee, so Bulldogs linemen were relieved to see him favoring his right knee as he was helped from the scrimmage.

"We thought it was a strain," senior center Ben Jones said. "He called me that night, and I said, 'You're kidding.' He's like one of our brothers, and I hate seeing him out."

Said Harmon: "I got the phone call the next day from one of the coaches, and I knew right then I had to step up."

Harmon was a Parade All-American at Jefferson County High in Louisville, Ga., and he was Rivals.com's No. 2 guard prospect nationally in the 2008 signing class. He had a high-profile commitment, giving an early pledge to Clemson but switching to Georgia at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

His career in Athens hasn't been as eventful, but that may have changed.

"I feel like a lot of people had forgotten about me," he said. "I'll read the blogs, and some of them are like, 'Whatever happened to A.J. Harmon? He was supposed to be all world, and he's a big bust.' "Now all I've got to say about that is that we'll see what happens when the season starts."

G-Day rosters set

Saturday's G-Day rosters were established Monday in a draft held by game captains. Jones and senior cornerback Brandon Boykin were among the captains who picked one position at a time.

Aaron Murray and early enrollee Christian LeMay will quarterback the Black team, while Hutson Mason and walk-on Parker Welch will quarterback the Red. Murray said Shawn Williams was the top overall selection because he is the only healthy scholarship safety.

"We picked our friends, but we also made it competitive," Jones said. "By picking our friends, we'll be able to trash talk during the game."

Gray to Colorado

Former Bulldogs quarterback-turned-receiver Logan Gray has decided to play his final year at Colorado. Gray, who had nine receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown last season, is scheduled to graduate next month and would be immediately eligible for the Buffaloes if he's accepted into graduate school.