ATHENS — It could be Connor Norman to the rescue again for Georgia’s secondary.
Norman won’t be confused with a superhero or a superstar on the gridiron, but with a starting safety suspended to start the season for the second consecutive year, it’s his time again.
The senior from Duluth started the first two games last season in place of Bacarri Rambo. He could be called on again this year to step in with Josh Harvey-Clemons suspended for the Aug. 31 opener at Clemson.
“You never want it to feel like it’s something normal,” Norman said of being ready to fill-in again. “It always hurts when you lose a guy like him for any period of time. That’s why you’ve got depth so guys can step in and play.”
Norman, who came to Georgia in 2010 as a walk-on after playing for a season at Presbyterian (S.C.) College, says he sees himself as a role player.
For Georgia, his role includes being a veteran leader who knows the system and has a grasp on several positions in the secondary. He shares that knowledge with the younger players in a unit that returns just one starter from last year.
This summer, it was Norman who led the offseason workouts for the defense, sophomore cornerback Sheldon Dawson said.
“We’re limited on the time we can meet with them, but Connor can meet with them and talk to them,” defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said. “I think he’s done a really good job trying to explain the initial concepts of our defense.”
Said Dawson: “He’s like the field general. Connor knows every position. He can bounce from here, he can bounce from there. He can bounce from star (the nickel back) to safety and be OK. We’re going to need Connor. Connor has always played a big role in our defense. If he’s not teaching, he’s out there playing.”
Harvey-Clemons was in line to start at strong safety and also play the “star” position in Georgia’s nickel package.
The 5-foot-10, 201-pound Norman certainly brings a different skill set to the table than 6-5, 212-pound Harvey-Clemons, but some teammates say Norman’s athleticism is underrated.
“I don’t know, I feel like I can hang,” Norman said. “All you’ve got to do is get there to make plays. It doesn’t really matter how you get there.”
At least Norman will be familiar with the stage he’ll be on if called upon.
Junior Corey Moore and junior college transfer Shaquille Fluker are other options at safety.
They were recruited on scholarship.
What’s his name?
Norman’s not a guy who came to Georgia with a name through the recruiting circles.
In fact, Grantham had referred to him as “Conrad Newman,” but now it’s just an occasional “Conrad.”
“It’s a joke now,” Norman said.
When Norman was transferring to Georgia, he contacted staff member Joe Tereshinski to tell him he wanted to walk on.
He was awarded a scholarship before last season, but said he doesn’t know if he will get one this year after Georgia signed a 33-player class.
“That would be nice again,” he said.
Either way, his mentality won’t change.
“I feel like once a walk-on always a walk-on,” Norman said. “It’s kind of the mentality you have coming in. You’ve got to push yourself and prove yourself to the coaches.”
Like Grantham.
“His value is he’s versatile, he can do multiple things,” Grantham said.