Auburn Week: Thursday News and Notes

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

PRESSURE POSITION: Unless things go very badly for the Bulldogs on Saturday, Dublin’s Brian Mimbs will get the first action of his collegiate career. Mimbs, a sophomore, will serve as senior Gordon Ely-Kelso’s holder on extra points and field goals. Ely-Kelso was Georgia’s holder until replacing Andy Bailey as the place-kicker.

“I really don’t feel any excess pressure,” Mimbs said. “I know what I have to do, just catch the ball and put it down, the laces the way Gordon likes it. I’m more anxious than I am nervous.”

Mimbs thinks Ely-Kelso, who will be place-kicking in a game for the first time since high school, will surprise a few people.

“During practice, he’s been fairly consistent,” Mimbs said. “He may be what it’s come down to, but I have confidence Gordon can get it done.”

THIS AND THAT: The NCAA released more bad news for Georgia on Thursday. The school graduated just 50 percent of its scholarship athletes who enrolled as freshmen in 1999. The student body as a whole graduated 73 percent of that class. … Quarterback Matthew Stafford is expected to wear a new, updated helmet on Saturday after suffering significant facial bruising against Kentucky. … Offensive lineman Michael Turner remained on crutches due to a sprained ankle and is questionable for the Nov. 25 Georgia Tech game.