C.J. Hawthorne

Stephen Tsai with the wrap-up of C.J. Tausaga and Stephen Lei departing and Jazen Anderson returning.

And as one C.J. leaves, another C.J ascends the depth chart in ten different positions.

"We're looking at him everywhere. He's a special guy," said defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville. The pun was intended, since Hawthorne, who is No. 1 on the depth chart at right cornerback, will likely play on several special teams as well.

...

"My first game my senior year (at St. Martin High School in Owen Springs, Miss.), I didn't come off the field a single play," Hawthorne said after the Warriors practice yesterday. "Safety and cornerback, running back, receiver, running back kicks, covering kicks."

He's displayed a propensity for blocking kicks. Problem is, Jones would also like him to return kicks. As they say in track and field, that's a tough double.

It's a good problem to have. He sounds like an awesome utility player. Let's hope he doesn't get injured or we'll be out in a lot of areas. He'll be the Chone Figgins of the Warriors.

Ferd Lewis has a profile of GA offensive line coach Dennis McKnight and his colorful vocabulary.

"He (McKnight) reminds me a lot of Coach Cav because he had a lot of his own sayings, too," said Dane Uperesa, a starting fifth-year senior tackle. "If we had a normal offensive line coach, we probably wouldn't respond as well as we need to. Us big guys need somebody yelling at us to motivate us. Everything in our system is repetition and it is good to have a coach lighten it up a little. He makes you laugh and makes you focus."

At the end of this Dave Reardon article, there's a profile on freshman free safety Spencer Smith, who has been playing with the first and second teams.

"I am a little surprised actually," he said. "Leonard gave me a couple of his reps since he's the expert on it and he's just been taking me under his wing and helping me out and telling me what to do. He's been a great mentor since I've been here."

Leonard is such a cool guy.