Fall Camp: Day Off News and Notes

ATHENS - Josh Kendall's news and notes from Georgia's fall camp.

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS: Peach County’s A.J. Bryant admits he tossed and turned in bed in the nights leading up to the start of fall practice.

“My mind would be wandering at night time, just putting pressure on myself,” he said. “I try not to do that, but it happens because I have to do something. I’m getting old now. I’m a junior.”

Bryant missed spring practice due to postseason shoulder surgery but is 100 percent healthy now, he said. After enrolling with much fanfare as a quarterback, Bryant was moved to wide receiver as a freshman, but he has just eight career catches for 142 yards.

“I see marked improvement in A.J. Bryant, snatching the ball and not fighting it,” Coach Mark Richt said. “He’s really looking like he’s becoming more comfortable.”

MOTIVATED BACKUP: During the day, junior tailback Danny Ware plays the good soldier. He just wants to do what’s best for the team.

At night, though, Ware can’t help but think back to 2004, when he was Georgia’s starting tailback. This season, he finds himself No. 3 behind Thomas Brown and Kregg Lumpkin.

“It haunts me in my dreams every night,” Ware said. “I just want to go out there and fight and fight and fight and fight to get back, but if that don’t happen then I just have to find my role and run with it.”

Last year, Ware carried the ball 101 times for 535 yards, second most on the team behind Brown. He doesn’t know, he said, exactly what he has to do to get his old job back. “If I did, I’d do it, I promise you,” he said.

HIGH PRAISE: Richt continues to be impressed by his wide receivers ability to catch the ball in traffic.

“I think I’ve seen more bravery in this camp than I’ve seen in five years,” he said. “Hopefully, that’s a habit they’ll continue on with after I brag about them.”

DAY OFF: Richt called off Wednesday’s scheduled practice to give his players some rest and more time to focus on the first day of fall classes.