Senior Sean Bailey is set for his last year as a Bulldog and is hoping to make the best of it after having to forgo his first senior year due to injury.

But first he has to prove to his teammates and coaches he can be back out on the field for spring football.

“I’m excited. My knee feels great,” the receiver from Alpharetta said. “I’m just anxious to get out there and just re-establish myself.”

After injuring his knee during practice for the Sugar Bowl in December 2005, Bailey underwent surgery to repair the problem.

He missed all of last season while recovering from the surgery and rehabilitating his knee.

Since he sat out last season, Bailey finally is able to partake in his senior year and show the team a good example.

“This is what you come to Georgia for … hopefully have a great season to leave your legacy on,” Bailey said, adding he is typically a quiet man who does not say much, but is now speaking out more and making sure people know what to do.

And the coaches are looking for the same qualities from him.

“Obviously you want him to set an example on the field that the younger guys can look at and try to emulate in a positive manor,” wide receivers coach John Eason said.

Not only is he a leader to the younger players, but he can relate to rising senior Thomas Brown and others about the challenges of going through knee surgery and recovering for the next season.

And Bailey, now recovered, can see the potential in other players who are injured.

“Thomas is mentally strong,” Bailey said. “He knows when to be patient and said. “He knows when to be patient and what not to do.”

The return of Bailey also gives some depth to the receiving chart, which garnered a great amount of criticism last season for dropped passes, and the addition is a fact the quarterback is excited about.

“He’s the guy that, when the ball’s in the air, he goes and runs it down,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “I think he is going to help us stretch the field so teams have to defend the whole field.”

The second year quarterback also said having Bailey back on the field will add to the depth.

Bailey and Stafford have the entire spring and summer to build a relationship on the field.

After watching last season from sidelines, which Bailey said was frustrating, the receiver feels it is now the time to prove himself again and prepare for the upcoming season.

“It’s just a mindset – you have to prepare yourself mentally,” the senior said. “I feel great – I feel like I am ready.”