Arkansas Week: Thursday News and Notes

ATHENS - News and notes from Georgia's practices.

Marquis Elmore's playing career hasn’t gone as well as he had hoped. He was one of those can’t-miss kids when he signed with the Bulldogs as the Class A defensive player of the year in 2000. However, he has only five career tackles.

Still, no one should read any sinister reasons into why Elmore isn’t playing more, Richt said.

“He’s one of the finest kids we’ve got,” Richt said. “He’s one of the hardest-working guys we’ve got, and he’s a joy to have around the program. He’s grown into an awesome young man, and I’m proud of him because of his attitude he brings every day.”

WHO, HIM?: Richt can remember seeing Arkansas linebacker Sam Olajubutu when he was recruiting Olajubutu’s high school teammate, Georgia safety Olaolu Sanni-Osomo.

“He wasn’t very big at all,” Richt said.

At 5-foot-9, Olajubutu is the Razorbacks’ leading tackler by far and the second-leading tackler in the league, while also being the shortest starting linebacker in the SEC.

“Pound-for-pound he might be the best football player we play all year long,” Richt said.

THIS AND THAT: Quarterback D.J. Shockley has been named one of seven finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which goes to the nation’s top senior quarterback. ... The Dawg Walk for Saturday’s game will be at 10:45 a.m. “It may be the earliest Dog Walk in the history of Dog Walks, and we need the fans to be there,” Richt said. ... Red ribbons will be displayed at the stadium in honor of Red Ribbon Week, which promotes drug-free and alcohol-free living.