In recent years, Georgia football has been no stranger to arrests and suspensions. With 10 arrests since the beginning of last offseason, it’s become more like a dear friend.

While there have been no new arrests recently, there have been suspensions – tight end Bruce Figgins for six games and defensive end Justin Houston for two, both, according to ESPN, on drug-related offenses – and a transfer – safety John Knox to Georgia Military College for academic reasons.

These could have not happened at worse positions for the Bulldogs.

Figgins’ suspension leaves White, a redshirt sophomore, as the only Georgia tight end with real playing experience. Houston’s suspension depletes an already thin and injury-ravaged corps of defensive ends. And Knox’s transfer puts the pressure on senior Bryan Evans at free safety, a position he moved to mid-2008.

But make no mistake – grudges will not be held, and the focus is still there.

“We know everybody makes mistakes,” said defensive end Demarcus Dobbs, who hopes his fractured foot will be cleared for full participation during his doctor’s visit today.

“Nobody holds anything against anybody, some people were just caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. You can’t do anything but learn from it.”

Said White: “You want to make sure he feels like he still has the support of this team, anybody that gets in trouble like that. You want to make sure that they know you’re behind them, and you’ve got their back. You’re not forgetting about them, and they’re still a part of this team.”

Players repeatedly pointed to a renewed sense of leadership during spring camp, and taking responsibility for themselves and their teammates is especially crucial during summer workouts – with no or fewer classes, no guidance from coaches and a less formal structure.

No problem there, Evans said.

“I think this year we might have the most leadership that I’ve been a part of on this team,” he said. “With a lot of leadership, I don’t think that this team will break apart at all.”

At this point in the offseason last year, six Georgia football players had been arrested. Though there have been those suspensions, a Bulldog has yet to be arrested. Dobbs credited that to leaders like Evans, offensive lineman Clint Boling (who has an arrest in his past) and quarterback Joe Cox, but said it has to be a continual process, especially this summer.

“We need people like that that are going to be those leaders,” Dobbs said. “Show up for every workout early, making sure everybody comes to every postion meeting and drills.

“We have to have leaders that lead in a certain way so the young guys don’t get corrupt or think they can slack off. We’re all here as a team and we need everybody to contribute in order to have a successful season.”

Added Evans: “We want to be a player-driven team. And [the suspended players] know that … It’s not only affecting you, it’s affecting the team and it’s also bringing a bad name upon the Georgia team like it’s been the past couple years. So we’re trying to clean up our slate with all that and win a championship without arrests and see what the nation says about that.”