Big-hitting Georgia safety Alec Ogletree is moving to inside linebacker.
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham revealed the move Thursday, a week before the Bulldogs begin spring practice.
The 6-foot-3, 224-pound Newnan product started four games at safety last year as a freshman.
“He’s a tall guy, he’s got good size, he can run, he can hit, he’s physical,” Grantham said. “I feel like moving him closer to the ball is going to allow him to make more plays and be productive for us.”
Ogletree tied for 10th in the team in tackles with 34, including 10 against Auburn but he was also beaten twice in coverage for touchdowns in that game.
Even before arriving at Georgia last year as the top recruit in the 2010 class, some pegged Ogletree’s future better suited at linebacker. He said then that he could envision moving to linebacker after his freshman season.
Ogletree’s switch comes after Georgia lost inside linebackers Akeem Dent and Marcus Dowtin, who ranked first and fourth on the team last season in tackles. Dent completed his eligibility and Dowtin was given his release to transfer after not playing in the Bulldogs’ bowl game.
“He has good size and good ball skills and he also comes down and he’ll meet a guy in the hole,” Dent said in December of Ogletree. “When he puts his pads on, he’ll try to knock you out.”
“He’s had some plays where he knocks the pile back a little bit,” secondary coach Scott Lakatos said last fall.
The move leaves Jakar Hamilton and Shawn Williams to compete this spring for the starting safety spot opposite Bacarri Rambo.
Other tidbits this afternoon:
–Justin Anderson is moving from nose guard back to the offensive line, where he will play guard. Cordy Glenn will play strictly offensive tackle.
–Jarvis Jones, the Southern Cal transfer, will play outside linebacker. He worked at inside linebacker during bowl practices.
–New inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti will oversee the kickoff coverage. Former ILB coach Warren Belin handled it last year.
–Injured OLBs Dexter Morant and T.J. Stripling won’t practice this spring.
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