Monday Practice Notes (10/6)

Dannell Ellerbe is only taking one class this semester, but his free time is being put to good use.

The preseason All-SEC linebacker suffered a knee injury in the first quarter against Alabama on Sept. 27, and he has been receiving three sessions of treatment per day since then in hopes of returning to action this week against Tennessee.

"It feels better," Ellerbe said. "It's a whole lot better from Saturday."

Ellerbe said he felt the knee was at about 60 percent, which may be enough to get him on the field Saturday.

"Chances to me, right now, I'm getting better, so I'd say it's more than a 50-50 chance," he said.

Ellerbe will need to participate in at least one practice this week, he said, to be cleared to play. If he is active for the game, however, he likely won't fill his usual role on kickoff and punt teams.

"Hopefully it'll be more than 15 or 20 plays, but I know it'll strictly be defense, probably no special teams," Ellerbe said.

MORE BUMPS AND BRUISES:

Georgia's linebacker depth took another hit last week when freshman Marcus Dowtin hurt his back lifting weights.

Dowtin, who has appeared in all five games so far this season and has collected eight tackles, said he incorrectly executed one of his workouts which led to the injury. He practiced in a green non-contact jersey Monday, but said he planned to be ready to play when the Bulldogs host Tennessee on Saturday.

"It's nothing serious," Dowtin said. "I'll be ready to play."

Wide receiver Tavarres King also hopes to be on the field against the Volunteers after missing the Alabama game with a sprained ankle.

"It's feeling pretty good," King said. "I ran on it (Monday), I rehabbed on it all last week. It felt good. Just stopping and cutting are the main things."

King said he initially suffered the injury in fall camp but it wasn't serious at the time.

After playing split end and flanker in the first four games of the season, King said he practiced in the slot Monday as a result of injuries to Kris Durham and Tony Wilson.

"We've just got guys falling," King said. "We've got to get everybody learning different things."

JUST FOR KICKS:

Freshman running back Richard Samuel wasn't on the field for a single offensive snap against Alabama, but he did make a big play with a 41-yard kickoff return. Samuel almost scored on the play, but was brought down from behind by an Alabama defender.

The lack of work on offense follows a strong start to the season in which he opened as the No. 2 running back, but he said he's happy to get on the field any way he can.

"It doesn't matter, I just want to play," said Samuel, who returned kicks occasionally in high school. "If it's running back or returner, I just want to play."

DECISION DELAYED:

Georgia fans hoping to make their homecoming plans will have to wait a bit longer before learning what time the Bulldogs' game against Vanderbilt will kick off next Saturday.

An announcement could come as early as today or could be bumped back until Sunday, depending on whether any of the possible television broadcasters chooses to exercise their option to delay selecting a game for the week.

CBS has first pick, and it will choose between the Bulldogs' clash with Vandy, LSU at South Carolina or Mississippi at Alabama for the 3:30 game. The other two games will be carried by either ESPN or Raycom.