Georgia Football: 4 Redshirts with Best Chance to Earn Starting Spot in 2015

Sony Michel, Nick Chubb, Lorenzo Carter and Jeb Blazevich were just a few of members from the 2014 signing class who made key contributions to the Georgia Bulldogs last season, which is why they were able to win 10 games and finish in the Top 10 in both the AP Top 25 and USA Today football coaches polls.

It’s rare that a good amount of true freshmen are major players in a season, but the Bulldogs had to have the best players on the field, and they were the best options to win.

But this season will be different because the Bulldogs don’t lose too much talent from last season’s squad and there will be some redshirt freshmen and veterans looking to make noise between the hedges.

Who will be the new players to help the Bulldogs reach their goals for 2015?

Here are the four redshirts who have the best chance to earn a starting spot this upcoming season.

WR Charlie Hegedus

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Charlie Hegedus is a veteran player who transferred from N.C. State last year. He would have seen some action in 2014 had it not been for a hamstring injury suffered during the preseason.

Hegedus, a 6’2’’, 208-pound receiver from Marietta, Georgia, has the size, speed and hands to be an elite receiver for the Bulldogs. And with Michael Bennett as well as Chris Conley gone, Hegedus will have a great opportunity to earn a starting spot.

The only problem is he will have to fend off the likes of Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott-Wesley, and both players should be 100 percent after suffering knee injuries in 2013.

CB Shattle Fenteng

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Shattle Fenteng is another transfer who played JUCO in 2013. He was looking to earn some playing time last season but injured his shoulder during preseason and was out for the rest of the year.

That probably isn't a bad thing for Fenteng because the injury gave him time to learn the new defense. And with Damian Swann having graduated, Fenteng has a chance to earn a starting role.

Standing at 6’2’’, Fenteng has a size advantage over the rest of the cornerbacks on the roster, but he will have to impress defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt in order to earn playing time—let alone a starting position.

ILB Detric Bing-Dukes

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Tim Kimbrough and Reggie Carter saw some action behind Ramik Wilson and Amerlo Herrera at inside linebacker last season. However, let’s not discount Detric Bing-Dukes, who was ranked by 247Sports as the 20th-best inside linebacker prospect in 2014.

Bing-Dukes can tackle and has great striking ability as well as instincts. There is no doubt he will see action on the field this season, but he will have a tough task passing Kimbrough and Carter due to experience.

Georgia also has veteran Ryne Rankin, while UAB transfer Jake Ganus is expected to make an impact as well.

QB Jacob Park

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One of the more interesting positional battles going into spring football and fall camp is at quarterback.

Brice Ramsey comes into 2015 as the starter, but Jacob Park will give Ramsey as well as Faton Bauta a run for their money.

Park ran the scout team all of last season and was more than impressive. He has a strong arm, can run and he’s very confident in his ability.

And with a new offensive coordinator in Brian Schottenheimer, the quarterback position is wide open because Schottenheimer has no recruiting ties to the quarterbacks.

Final Analysis

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Odds are these four players won’t get a start next season unless injuries happen. However, all four players should—and will—see a lot of time on the field.

Park will be the one to watch the most out of the four. If he is not able to win the starting job, he will see some playing time because of his athletic ability.

There are other redshirts who will see the field, such as offensive lineman Kendall Baker and tailback Keith Marshall, who took a medical redshirt last year.

These redshirts have not seen the field in a long time, but that will change in seven months when the 2015 season begins.