Wilson shines as Georgia linebacker

Friday, January 1, 1904

ATHENS, Ga. -- Saturday's G-Day game marked the 15th and final spring practice for Georgia, but it was the 13th practice for Ramik Wilson.

The 6-foot-2, 224-pound sophomore linebacker was home in Tampa mourning the death of his father when his teammates opened drills. He returned for Georgia's third spring session and began working both inside and outside for third-year defensive coordinator Todd Grantham.

"It's been real tough, but I've talked to my family a lot and I've read the Bible a lot," Wilson said. "When I'm on the field, I just try to go out there and play. My father always liked to watch me play, so I'm motivated to make plays for him and be successful. I play for my father and the Lord, and I'm trying to contribute to this team."

Wilson led all Bulldogs defenders Saturday with seven tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception of Christian LeMay that he returned 19 yards early in the second quarter. His pickoff set up a 26-yard Jamie Lindley field goal that gave the Red a 10-3 lead in its eventual 32-31 triumph.

In eight games last season, Wilson tallied four tackles.

"I'm happy with my performance today," Wilson said. "I still have a lot to learn and a lot of assignments to make up for, but I think I did pretty good."

Said Grantham: "I was glad to see that, because he's a guy who can help us. He's going to make some plays for us."

Watch that door!

Redshirt freshman cornerback Devin Bowman was late to Georgia's locker room after the G-Day game, and when he bent down to peek and check if it was OK to enter, the door suddenly opened and left him with a bump over his right eye.

"I was talking to my mom and seeing what we were going to do after the game, and that's why I was late," Bowman said. "It kind of hurt, but I'll be all right."

The former Ridgeland High standout played for both teams, wearing his usual No. 37 on some plays and No. 89 on others. He had four tackles and a pass deflection, with the deflection preventing Aaron Murray and Michael Bennett connecting on the opening drive.

"That was a good moment for me," Bowman said. "It was fun today. I wanted to see if I could keep my stamina up, and I just had in my head that I was going to play both ways and that I needed to play through it."

Odds and ends

Senior receiver Marlon Brown had a tough first half, dropping a first-quarter pass from Murray and getting leveled by Sanders Commings on a second-quarter Murray overthrow. ... Coach Mark Richt said Richard Samuel, who played this spring and fullback and tailback, brings a change of pace to the running game and could play a little of both this season. ... CSS is scheduled to replay the G-Day game this morning 11 and Monday night at 7. ... The Bulldogs picked up their 15th commitment for their 2013 signing class Saturday, receiving a nonbinding pledge from Reggie Wilkerson. The 5-11, 168-pounder from Ocala, Fla., is the nation's No. 22 cornerback according to Rivals.com.