Georgia Bulldogs sophomore Ray Drew came in last season as a 240-pound linebacker. Fifty pounds later, he's practicing as a 290-pound defensive end. It's been a smooth transition, as he told the Athens Banner-Herald's Roger Clarkson.
"It hasn’t been too much of a transition because it’s very similar to what I ran in high school," Drew said. "The defensive end-outside linebacker position was interchangable as well so I never really lost the feel for having my hand in the dirt and knowing what I’m supposed to do there. So it was a fairly smooth transition."
Defensive line coach Rodney Garner said Drew could get even bigger.
"Ray weighs 290 pounds now," Georgia defensive line coach Rodney Garner said. "You can’t play linebacker when you weigh 290 pounds. That’s too big. We knew he was going to get bigger when we brought him in. You could just tell by looking that he hadn’t filled out yet. Just look at his feet. He wears a size 17 or 18 shoe and he hadn’t grown into his feet yet so he’s probably going to get bigger."
The Bulldogs open the season Sept. 1 at home against Buffalo.
For more on the Georgia Bulldogs visit Dawg Sports, SB Nation Atlanta or our SEC blog Team Speed Kills. For more college football news and information, check out SB Nation's College Football hub. Be sure to check our YouTube channel for video commentary.