This sort of feels like the week leading into the first game of the season.

Why? The sessions with coach Ralph Friedgen rarely last long then.

The highlights from the 6-minute, 2-second session in College Park:

* Bennett Fulper (shoulder) is being evaluated tonight, and the team will know more tomorrow. He's been a surgery candidate for a couple weeks. Justin Lewis did not practice tonight.

"The guard play, it is what it is," Friedgen said.

* Tuesday's practice was "very sharp." This afternoon's was "so-so."

* Friedgen talked again about the youthfulness of his defense.

"I see a lot of good players," Friedgen said. "A.J. Francis has played well for us all year, probably better than I expected him to play. Isaiah Ross has been a pleasant surprise. Ben Pooler is getting better. Demetrius Hartsfield goes without saying. Cameron Chism. These guys have 2-3 years left. Justin Anderson, Carl Russell. We've played a lot of guys. I think down the road that'll pay big-time dividends."

* Friedgen re-iterated Hartsfield is on track to return for the Nov. 21 game at Florida State.

--- Patrick Stevens

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