QB Greyson Lambert Proves He's the Right Man for Georgia Football

Five months ago, Greyson Lambert looked like a man without a football future.

After serving as Virginia’s starter for 2014, the junior quarterback was cast aside by coach Mike London and the Cavaliers, passed on the depth chart by fellow junior Matt Johns.

His arrival at Georgia as a graduate transfer received little attention, largely because Brice Ramsey and Faton Bauta were regarded as the clear leaders to replace Hutson Mason as the Bulldogs’ new starting quarterback.

A funny thing happened on the way to September: Lambert won the job. And although a lightning-shortened season opener against Louisiana-Monroe is a small sample size, the forgotten man has done everything he can to prove he’s the right man for Georgia’s offense.

Lambert was highly efficient in new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s system, completing 8-of-12 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 51-14 victory, which was called with just under nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter following a pair of lightning delays.

While Ramsey also played, completing both of the passes he attempted for 51 yards and a touchdown, this was clearly Lambert’s show, and he took full advantage of it.

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Lambert utilized the talent around him, finding Sony Michel for a screen pass that turned into a 48-yard gain to jump-start a 94-yard scoring drive and hitting Jeb Blazevich for a 15-yard touchdown after a UGA interception gave the offense excellent field position at the ULM 15.

But he also showed some solid touch. His final pass of the day was a 28-yard fade that Malcolm Mitchell brought down in the right front corner of the end zone for a touchdown and a 44-14 Georgia lead.

UGA coach Mark Richt told reporters, including Mike Sammond of 92.9 The Game, that Lambert was "still our starting quarterback" following the matchup. Lambert told Sammond that "I'm happy with the game plan and how I played, but I've still got to fight for the job every week." 

Saturday, Lambert flashed some skills, but it’s fair to note that he might be a better fit in Georgia’s offense than he was in Virginia’s. The Bulldogs boast a deep backfield led by Heisman Trophy candidate Nick Chubb, who rushed for 1,547 yards as a freshman. He was excellent Saturday, carrying 16 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns, but Michel (41 yards rushing, 79 yards receiving) and Keith Marshall (10 carries, 73 yards, two touchdowns) are also highly capable of carrying an offense.

Throw in four returning starting offensive linemen and a solid group of receivers and tight ends, and you have a ready-made situation for a quarterback to step into.

This is also Schottenheimer’s first season as UGA offensive coordinator after replacing Mike Bobo, who left to become Colorado State’s head coach.

Everyone, including Lambert, had a clean slate, and he made the most of that opportunity. Per Logan Booker of Bulldawg Illustrated, Lambert continued former starter Aaron Murray's tradition of taking his offensive line out for ice cream after it didn't allow him to be sacked. 

We’ll find out a lot more about the Bulldogs the next two weeks against Vanderbilt and South Carolina as Georgia builds toward a tough October that features a visit from Alabama, a trip to Tennessee, a visit from two-time defending SEC East champ Missouri and the annual Cocktail Party tilt with Florida in Jacksonville.

With all that talent around him, Lambert doesn’t have to be a world-beater. He just has to avoid giving the game away. That wasn’t always the case at Virginia, where he threw 10 touchdowns against 11 interceptions last fall.

But if he can be continually efficient, Lambert could be just the man Georgia needs in its offense.

And the man that Virginia let get away.