The Red and Black

By CAL POWELL The Red & Black

When asked to describe himself, Georgia defensive end Marcus Stroud responds immediately, but then, just as quickly, catches himself.

"I think I'm a great nah, I can't say that," Stroud said, smiling. "I think I'm a pretty good pass rusher. I feel like rushing the passer and getting off the ball are my strong points."

But his first assessment was probably more true. The 6-foot-6-inch, 298-pound Barney native has blossomed into one of Georgia's finest defenders from his "Buck" end position and will lead Georgia's formidable defensive line into its 5 p.m. season opener Saturday against Kent.

Only a sophomore, Stroud recorded 26 tackles, including two sacks, in his redshirt freshman season a year ago.

Though he played in all 12 games, Stroud didn't start last season - that honor went to Paul Snellings. But Snellings, a senior, has been moved inside to tackle this season, paving the way for Stroud to earn his first starting position on what Georgia's defensive coaches are calling the best front wall the school has had in years.

"We're expecting a lot out of Marcus," said defensive ends coach Pat Watson. "With his experience last season and his size and the way he moves around, we're looking for him to have an outstanding season."

Stroud seems ready to meet Watson's expectations.

All throughout preseason drills, Stroud has waged war with Georgia's two offensive tackles, seniors Chris Terry and Matt Stinchcomb, both major NFL prospects.

But Stroud has won his share of these battles, which have become the most anticipated match-ups when Georgia goes to one-on-one drills.

"Obviously he's a load and he plays hard," Stinchcomb said. "He's a big body with athletic ability and he knows how to use his tools. He's got big, long arms, and he knows how to use those things well. Obviously anybody with a frame like that and that kind of power, the upside's phenomenal."

But underneath the rough exterior he displays on the field, Stroud is known by his fellow Bulldogs as one of the team clowns. His biggest gig is assigning nicknames, such as calling portly redshirt freshmen offensive linemen Clint Larkin and Bronson Sweatt "Brutus" and "Bluto," respectively, for their likeness to the "Popeye" characters.

He doesn't mean any harm. In fact, Stroud seems to be one of the most-liked players on the team.

"He keeps everybody laughing," said sophomore quarterback Mike Usry.

He even makes people laugh when he doesn't mean to. Every year at the end of two-a-days in August, Georgia's coaching staff rewards its players with a watermelon feast on the practice fields.

The players, still in uniform, typically gorge themselves in celebration.

Apparently, Stroud out-ate the entire team again this year.

Asked by a reporter where the watermelons came from and how many were purchased, head coach Jim Donnan said, "I don't know, but I bet Marcus Stroud does."

Stroud has fun with the game and with his teammates - in a lot of ways, he's the wide-eyed kid from Brooks County, amazed at how far he's come. But he knows there's still a lot of road left to travel.

"I'm beginning to come along with my run blocking, getting off blocks and going to make tackles, stuff like that," he said. "I think with my size and quickness, I can be a pretty good player. I played a good deal last year, but if I can improve, I hope to play more."

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