Rising sophomore is only underclassman on ‘Dogs’ first-string line

Athens Banner-Herald

ATHENS, Ga. — A lot has changed in the nearly 14 months since Kenarious Gates decided to play football for Georgia.

He went from a late addition to the Bulldogs’ 2010 signing class to a starting spot on their offensive line, and then to a backup role.

He’s on his second position coach, Will Friend, after Stacy Searels left in January for Texas.

This spring he’s lining up as Georgia’s starting left guard after playing right guard last season.

“Gates is a great run-blocker, he’s a great kid,” senior center Ben Jones said. “He’s smart, he really comes off the ball hard and he comes out every day to work. You never have any problems with him. … I love having him beside me because I know he’s always going to come out and give it his best every day.”

The 6-foot-5, 328-pound Gates is lining up with a starting group that, for now, is all seniors except for him. The tackles are Trinton Sturdivant and Cordy Glenn, the right guard is Justin Anderson; Jones is at center.

“Once they told me I’ve got an opportunity to start, it just motivated me everyday,” Gates said.

“He pretty much knows it,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “Now we want him to be a little more physical; we want him to a better technician. You can know the plays and not be a great technician or maybe not be strong enough to finish a block. He’ll continue to get more comfortable with everything from a knowledge standpoint. His issue was just getting a true freshman body to look like a second- or third-year guy.”

Gates didn’t play until the sixth game of the 2010 season against Tennessee when he was inserted into the starting lineup after a 1-4 start. His teammates told him to relax.

“After the first play, I was ready to go,” Gates said. “Every game I picked up the speed of the game and I adapted to it.”

Gates also started the next two weeks against Vanderbilt and Kentucky — the team he originally committed to before a late offer from Georgia made him reconsider.

Before the Florida game, Gates returned to a backup role. He remained there the rest of the season.

“He was kind of in the same position that I was having, to be ready at any time,” backup quarterback Hutson Mason. “I know he started a few games and is going to be a starter for us this year. He’s a big, strong productive kid, and we expect good things out of him.”

Gates’ future could even include eventually lining up at tackle.

“We’ve got a lot of high hopes for him,” Richt said.