Spring Break
Rantavious Wooten stepping up in A.J. Green's absence
FLETCHER PAGE
Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: First & Goal
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Georgia's biggest playmaker is sidelined with a bruised lung, replaced by freshman Rantavious Wooten.
Wooten has four catches for 91 yards this season. Those are ordinary one-game statistics for Green.
"It's a concern and it will be a little bit different," said offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. "We're losing our No. 1 playmaker for this week and it's a concern. But it's also an opportunity for other guys to step up."
Wooten has impressed coaches with his route running and catching ability. His 5-foot-8, 158-pound frame make Wooten a unique, shifty individual. He's just unfortunately behind the SEC's leading receiver on the depth chart. But with Green out, Wooten will see extensive playing time Saturday.
"His opportunities have been a little bit limited because he's playing the same position as A.J.," Bobo said. "It's been a struggle for him to grasp everything in the playbook and it's not really fair to move him around. In our base offense he plays the same position. We feel he knows that well and he'll play a significant amount of time this week."
Sitting behind Green has kept Wooten's role limited. But there are advantages to watching a player who practices and studies like Green does.
"Every day in practice I'm watching A.J and the things he does," Wooten said. "I just try to imitate what he does. I feel like it carries over. Coaches see that."
Wooten came to Georgia from Glades Central High School in Florida, with a football program Georgia coach Mark Richt has praised. Richt says players who come from Glades are more physically and mentally prepared for the college game than most.
"Even in the summer, we don't get to watch, but you get reports from the veteran guys about the freshmen," Richt said to reporters this week.
