Ely-Kelso might be new PK option

ATHENS – Georgia is getting punter Gordon Ely-Kelso ready to place-kick in an emergency, assistant coach David Johnson said.

However, starting kicker Andy Bailey isn’t so sure his job isn’t on the line.

“I think it’s a little bit of both,” Bailey said.

Ely-Kelso auditioned for the job during Tuesday’s practice and hit all four of his attempts, including one from 50 yards, during the team’s special teams drills.

“It’s called insurance,” said Johnson, who works with the team’s kickers. “If Coach (Mark) Richt feels there needs to be a change there, there will be, but there’s no plan for that right now as far as I know.”

Bailey has been the Bulldogs’ kicker since All-America candidate Brandon Coutu was lost for the season due to a hamstring injury prior to the Oct. 7 Tennessee game. He is 5-of-6 on field goals and 7-of-8 on extra points attempts since taking over, but his 38-yard field goal miss against Vanderbilt was critical. He also missed an extra point against Mississippi State that could have come back to hurt the Bulldogs.

Walk-on Ben Wilson still is struggling with a knee injury but could be back in action next week, Johnson said. Rowdy Francis will take Ely-Kelso’s job as holder if Ely-Kelso kicks, Johnson said.