After a strong showing last week at his inaugural SEC Media Days, first-year Georgia head coach Kirby Smart once again continues to impress with his presence and demeanor when dealing with the media, this time during his visit to ESPN for the SEC’s carwash event.

Monday, Smart broke down his quarterback battle while in studio during First Take and also gave the latest info on the team’s injured running backs to Danny Kanell and Ryan Russillo on their nationally broadcast radio show.

Of course one of the main topics Smart came prepared to answer during the carwash was on true freshman Jacob Eason and the state of the Bulldogs quarterbacks as the team prepares to enter fall camp. The ESPN host opened with a question on the talented freshman quarterback.

“We want to get the best guy,” Smart said during his appearance on First Take. “We want to make sure we give each one (of the three quarterbacks vying for the starting role – Eason, Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey) an opportunity to lead the team in fall camp, so we can find out who the best guy for the job. Ultimately, it is going to go to the guy who gives us the best chance to win that opener.”

As for a desired timeline for narrowing down the likely starter, Smart said this:

“We’ll have two scrimmages in fall camp. We would like to say, after the second scrimmage we would like to narrow this thing down and figure out who it is but obviously that’s guessing (on the timeline) right now.”

While the identity of the player ultimately responsible for lining up as under center remains a mystery in Athens, the running backs expected to carry the offense has been well known for some time – the only question is how healthy are junior running backs Sony Michel, who suffered a broken arm Fourth of July weekend, and Nick Chubb, who tore his PCL and several knee ligaments in October.

Smart discussed the status of his star running backs during his segment on the Russillo & Kanell radio show.

“It’s day by day,” Smart said. “I’m getting updates every day on Sony, his I have less knowledge on because he didn’t get out of the hospital until last Friday. He’s in there rehabbing everyday, it was a tough injury because the bone went through the skin. He’s done all he can do to get to where he is now, we’re gonna find out in fall camp what he can do, I don’t know a lot there.

“Nick Chubb, he’s 100 percent as far as what he’s doing in our workouts. We don’t have pads on, we haven’t asked him to hit anyone, block any body. He’s got to get over that psychological part.”

Despite facing a number of unknowns entering the season, expectations remain high in Athens and a big drop off from last season’s 10-win effort likely won’t be tolerated for very long by a fan base eager to remain atop the SEC East standings. However, if Smart can manage to upset a conference opponent or two in Year One, with the talent currently committed to Georgia, the Dawgs could be setup for years prosperity and potentially many short trips to Atlanta each December for years to come.