Defensive back Devin Bowman intercepts a pass for a touchdown during Georgia's game with Vanderbilt.ATHENS, Ga. -- Since the first week of February, the Georgia Bulldogs have lost six defensive backs from either their 2013 roster or their 2014 signing class.
Former Ridgeland High cornerback Devin Bowman is not part of the exodus.
Bowman's four-year journey at Georgia has included some turbulence, but the 6-foot, 179-pound redshirt junior is finally providing significant contributions. He has started four of the first five games this season and had a 63-yard interception return for a touchdown in last Saturday's 44-17 win over Vanderbilt.
"I'm happy for Devin considering the road he's traveled so far and how he's actually getting into games and playing," coach Mark Richt said Tuesday. "He made a big play in this last ballgame, a very important play.
"It's just one game, and we'll see if he continues on, but I'm happy for the position he's gotten himself into. Hopefully he will continue to take advantage of it."
Bowman started the 2012 opener against Buffalo as a redshirt freshman with Bacarri Rambo and Sanders Commings serving early-season suspensions. Then Bowman had to sit out the first four games last season as the result of a suspension.
So far this season, Bowman has six tackles, two pass deflections and his first career interception.
"I've come a long way, and I've worked my butt off all year," Bowman said. "It's just a really good feeling."
Josh Harvey-Clemons, Tray Matthews and Sheldon Dawson have been dismissed from the program since February, while Shaq Wiggins elected to transfer. Among Georgia's 2014 signees, Rico Johnson was medically disqualified last Thursday and Shaq Jones was dismissed Sunday after a shoplifting arrest.
"We still have enough for a two-deep, but we're in desperate need of a great recruiting class in that area," Richt said.
Rise and shine
Georgia's game Saturday at Missouri will have a noon kickoff on CBS, meaning it will start at 11 a.m. local time.
"I haven't played an 11 a.m. game since peewee football," Bulldogs quarterback Hutson Mason said.
The Bulldogs have not had a morning start locally since 2011, when they won at Ole Miss. Television selections for this weekend were not announced until Sunday, and Richt said the early start this week was preferable to an evening game on ESPN.
"A 9 p.m. game would have gotten us in around 6 or 7 in the morning, and a 6 p.m. kickoff would have gotten us in around 3 or 4 in the morning," Richt said. "Knowing you've got another game the next week, it would have been tough, so we were hoping for an earlier time than those two.
"The time we went to Arizona State [in 2008], we were landing at 6 or 7 in the morning. Guys were sleeping on the floor of the plane, and it was just not a good way to start the next week."
Eyes to the West
Senior inside linebacker Amarlo Herrera is focused on leading the Bulldogs to a third SEC East title in four years, but he likes keeping tabs on the league's West showdowns as well.
"I watch as many of those games as I can, especially a week like last week," Herrera said. "I always watch Auburn, because I'm cool with Nick [Marshall, the Tigers' quarterback]."
Odds and ends
Missouri has not lost a fumble all season, while the Bulldogs have lost just one. ... Keith Marshall is out again this week with a sprained ankle and knee, but Richt is hopeful the junior tailback can return next week. ... Senior receiver Jonathon Rumph (hamstring) practiced Tuesday but is not expected to play Saturday. ... Herrera on Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk: "Who's that? I'm just playing with you."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.