LSU Week: Thursday News and Notes

ATHENS - News and notes from Georgia's practices.

TWO ALL-AMERICANS: Offensive lineman Max Jean-Gilles and safety Greg Blue were named Thursday to the American Football Coaches Association All-America team. The AFCA only selects a first team.

Jean-Gilles’ inclusion is no surprise. He has been considered one of the game’s most dominant blockers all season, and he anchors a line that has given up the second fewest sacks in the SEC.

Blue, who played in the shadow of Thomas Davis last year, was a darkhorse for the most prestigious postseason honors. He leads the Bulldogs with 82 tackles.

“I knew he was of that caliber, but I didn’t know what kind of attention he would get,” Richt said. Blue becomes the third straight Bulldog safety to be named an All-American. He joins Sean Jones and Thomas Davis.

“That’s pretty good,” Richt said.

Alabama was the only other SEC school to place a player on the AFCA team as DeMeco Ryans was picked as one of the top three linebackers in the country.

WHERE’S A.J.?: Although Georgia has been using more and more receivers as it has gone back to the no-huddle offense of late, Peach County product A.J. Bryant still is struggling to get playing time. The sophomore caught two passes late in the game against Kentucky, but those are his only two grabs since Sept. 24. Bryant only has four catches all year.

The problem is that the former Trojans quarterback is struggling catching the ball in practice, wide receivers coach John Eason said.

“He just has to do a better job of catching the football,” Eason said. “I think he has to believe more in himself.”

Other than freshman Mohamed Massaquoi, no Georgia receiver has caught the ball consistently this year, and that hasn’t changed this week in practice, Eason said.

“At this point, I’m disappointed in all honesty,” he said. “We’re not stepping it up as I had hoped we would.”

ONE MORE: Georgia will hold a very brief workout this afternoon at the Georgia Dome. The only real point of the practice is to allow kick returners and receivers to get used to catching the ball while looking into the dome’s lights, Richt said. Georgia’s linemen may not even dress out, he said.

“It’s not super-organized,” he said.