With Malcolm Mitchell’s part-time move to cornerback, Georgia needs a big season from senior wideout Marlon Brown.

The 6-5, 222-pounder came to Athens as the nation’s No. 2-rated wide receiver. But he has just 28 catches in a career that's been dogged by injuries.

Brown injured his shoulder in 2010, then sprained ligaments in his left ankle on the last day of 2011 fall camp.

“I just want to be a dependable guy in my last year here,” he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “And make big plays for my team.”

Brown is listed as the starting split end, paired with flanker Tavarres King.

In Wednesday’s scrimmage, Brown caught a team-high six balls for 103 yards and two touchdowns.

“He has started hot,” coach Mark Richt said. “He’s been hot this whole camp. He’s been outstanding. We’re all just praying that he stays healthy and he does well. He really has had a great camp. We were saying this a year ago.”

Freshmen in pressure roles: With the departures of Blair Walsh and Drew Butler, the Bulldogs are going with freshman kicker Marshall Morgan and freshman punter Collin Barber.

Morgan is realistic about the pressure that awaits him.

“Pretty much, you have to be perfect as a kicker,” he told the Macon Telegraph. “You go out there, and you have three, maybe four attempts. And if you miss one of those, you’re gonna get some stuff for it.

“It’s a lot of pressure. It’s a big job,” he said. “All the Georgia fans, they don’t take it as a joke. SEC football, it’s big. So I felt it.”

On the final play of Georgia's 2011 season, Michigan State blocked Walsh’s 47-yard field-goal to win the Outback Bowl 33-30.

Theus' learning curve: True freshman John Theus (6-6, 309) has the inside track for the starting right tackle job. 

He told the Journal-Constitution that lining up against Cornelius Washington in practice has accelerated his development.

“Cornelius is a man, no doubt about that,” Theus said. “Big, strong, powerful. It’s a different level up here. It ain’t high school anymore. There’s no breaks in practice. There’s no easy guys out there. All these guys are out there busting their tails and going hard on reps. So it’s helping me get prepared and get ready for the first game.”

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Daniel Lewis and Larry Hartstein, follow @CBSSportsSEC.