Josh Harvey-Clemons, Georgia Bulldogs LB/DB, will ‘play multiple positions’ in 2013

Lowndes High School outside linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons poses for a photo with his sister Ashley Clemons after signing his letter of intent with the Georgia Bulldogs. He was supposed to be an outside linebacker but played all over the field. (Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports)

Josh Harvey-Clemons signed his letter of intent with Georgia as the No. 1-ranked prep outside linebacker in the nation in 2012. However, the young man had trouble settling into the position once he reached Athens, and wound up bouncing around the field as a true freshman.

Besides outside linebacker, Harvey-Clemons also played inside, at defensive back, and almost switched altogether to wide receiver. Such inconsistent work was seen, obviously, as a detriment to a student-athlete both so young and so hyper-talented.

That is not the way Mark Richt and the rest of the Georgia coaching staff saw things, however. In 2013, the Bulldogs plan on moving the 6-foot-5, 207-pounder all over the football field.

As a freshman, Harvey-Clemons was seen as ‘a player without a position’. In Year 2, the same player with the same positional issues is going to be called “versatile”.

“Sophomore Josh Harvey-Clemons will play ‘multiple spots,’ Richt said. That includes safety and outside linebacker,” Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald tweeted.

DawgNation’s David Ching provides his take on the player. Basically, continuing to increase Harvey-Clemons’ role within the defense but neglecting to give him a set position is a matter of need — Georgia has to replace 12 players who either started or played key roles defensively in 2012.

“Harvey-Clemons contributed mostly on special teams for the Eastern Division champions, totaling 14 tackles and one tackle for a loss. However, now that 12 key defensive players from last season have completed their college careers, Harvey-Clemons is in line to play a key role for the Bulldogs this fall — with defensive coordinator Todd Grantham recently calling him ‘one of the best players we have.’”

No matter where he lines up in 2013, Harvey-Clemons is going to have NFL-caliber shoes to fill. Should he step into that proverbial footwear and hit the ground running, Georgia will have filled a major piece of its puzzle as it embarks upon the 2013 season striving for a third-straight SEC East title.

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