Georgia football notes: Chris Conley gets his shot after injury to Malcolm Mitchell

ATHENS, Ga. -- Chris Conley had to wait longer than most of the recruiting class’ “Dream Teamers” to see the field this season. The receiver was on campus last December, well before the majority of his fellow freshmen.

But thanks to injuries at his position, Conley had his redshirt taken off two weeks ago. And his role may increase even more with fellow freshman Malcolm Mitchell, the team’s leading receiver, out for one game with a hamstring injury.

“Playing early, for me, was something that I definitely wanted to do, but it was not so much of a goal as it was a milestone to some of my other goals,” Conley said. “Being on the field isn’t really doing anything yet, there are a lot of things that I want to accomplish.”

Conley played but didn’t have a catch three weeks ago at Mississippi Then he caught an 8-yard pass against Mississippi State and a 17-yarder at Tennessee.

The playing time figures to increase: Mitchell is out, junior Rantavious Wooten (concussion) hasn’t recovered and senior Israel Troupe hasn’t been productive. So Conley, a 6-foot-3 graduate of North Paulding, practically has to be used now.

“We weren’t planning on playing him, but with the injuries to Marlon and Wooten we felt like we better play him, and he knew there was a possibility that those two guys would come back, and he’d be fighting for playing time,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. “The kid is a great kid, a hard worker, and he wanted just a chance to compete. And he didn’t care if his reps went down when those guys came back, he thought he would come in and produce and he’s come in and done that, and he’s gotten better.”

More hoops prospects?

Freshman tight end Jay Rome, who is redshirting, has expressed an interest in joining the men’s basketball team after the season.

“He might. I think he wants to,” head coach Mark Richt said. “I don’t think today’s the day. (Men’s basketball coach Mark) Fox and I are going to look at what the best time it is. I mean his first obligation is to football. But somewhere along the way coach and I will figure out when the best time for him to start is, and if he continues to do well in school, like he is right now, he’ll get that opportunity to do that.”

Freshman cornerback Nick Marshall, a former Wilcox County standout, who has played on special teams, is also set to join the basketball team once football is over. Marshall was an all-state pick in high school. Rome, at 6-foot-7, could provide some depth for the hoops team, but it’s not likely he would be a major factor, especially joining the team that late.

Ogletree update

Alec Ogletree wanted to try to play this week, but the Bulldogs decided to keep the sophomore inside linebacker off the field for one more week. Ogletree, who broke his foot in the season opener, has been running on the side this week and is on target to return for the Florida game.

“(Athletic trainer) Ron (Courson) said he’s had absolutely no setbacks at all when he’s running, changing direction,” Richt said. “He really, really wanted to play this week, and Ron in his wisdom said, ‘Let’s wait, it’s not worth it.’ So we’re going to go ahead and do what the doctor agreed upon, which was six weeks. It’ll end up being seven (by the time he plays).”

This story was originally published October 13, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Georgia football notes: Chris Conley gets his shot after injury to Malcolm Mitchell."