Thursday was Georgia football’s first day in shoulder pads, and for freshmen, their first real day of college football.

“It’s really intense,” said first-year tailback Washaun Ealey. “But we’re just out there having fun running around and learning all this stuff. It’s a lot more physical than high school obviously. The speed is stepped up, but I’m just listening to all the coaches.

The Bulldogs bring in a number of highly-touted skill players on offense this season – Ealey (who’s already making a move up the depth chart), wide receivers Marlon Brown and Rantavious Wooten, and tight end Orson Charles.

Charles wasn’t available for interviews Thursday, but the freshmen who were able to talk to the media for the first time since fall camp began spoke of big adjustments.

“The speed is totally different,” Wooten said. “I’m fast, but it’s one of those things where it’s just different . Everything is full speed all the time, no jogging, no loafing. Everything is game speed all the time.”

Ealey is apparently already climbing up the depth chart, as he took reps ahead of second-year guy Dontavius Jackson Thursday. Wooten is a true speedster and has already put on 11 pounds of muscle since the start of summer. Brown has a stature and skill set very reminiscent of A.J. Green’s.

But, “big-name prospects” or not, they were all catching their licks Thursday.

“We had a two-on-two drill where I had to block the safety, and I blocked [sophomore Bacarri] Rambo,” Brown said, simultaneously smiling and cringing. “And it was a big hit, I’ll put it like that.”

Added Wooten: “It was eye opening. [Corner] Brandon Boykin gave me a real good block. It was eye-opening.”

The on-the-field introduction has begun. But the real initiation to Georgia comes in a few days, when all of the Bulldog freshmen get their heads shaved – something that may hit Brown and his long, curly locks especially hard.

“I’m probably gonna cry,” he said laughing.