Attempting to jump start an offense that ranks near the bottom in many statistical categories, Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said Mackenzi Adams will start at quarterback when the No. 22 Commodores take on No. 10 Georgia this Saturday (11:30 a.m. CT) in Athens.

"He's a motivated young man, a go-getter and we think he'll maybe provide us a spark," Johnson said, "and hopefully we can get some things going on offense because we weren't very good against Mississippi State."

Halfway through the season, Johnson believes Adams gives the Commodores the best chance to win. He has completed 21 of 37 passes (57 percent) for 231 yards and two touchdowns along with one interception in limited action over the past three games.

Meanwhile, Chris Nickson has completed 36 of 70 passes (51 percent) for 311 yards and three touchdowns along with two interceptions. Over the past three games, he was 12-for-25 for 59 yards, one touchdown and two picks.

"Last Saturday a lot of the things that were going wrong offensively in the first half weren't particularly Chris Nickson's fault," Johnson said, "but at the same time, we just felt like when we got into the second half and not anything was happening after that, we had to make a change and Mackenzi came in and did a good job and we're going to see what he can do with it.

Asked what Adams brings to the offense that Nickson doesn't, Johnson  said the main thing  was "a fresh start," but went on to elaborate.

"I think Mackenzi has demonstrated that he can sit in the pocket and figure things out and see who's open and do a good job of hitting them," Johnson said. "I don't think there's a big drop off when you start running the quarterback draws and the options and the things like that. Mackenzi's a good athlete, can run and has actually made some very fine runs this year. It's just another way to see if we can get better."

Center Bradley Vierling said expects to see the same thing from Adams that he's seen the past three games.

"He throws the ball well, he runs the ball well," Vierling said. "I think him and Chris are very similar in a lot of things. Why (Nickson) got to start, why (Adams) hasn't been starting? I have no idea. That's up to the coaches and whatnot. I don't even worry about it."

Vierling added  that Adams adds a little intensity to the huddle.

"Mackenzi's a very intense guy and he always has a great attitude, especially during the games," he said. "He's always fired up."

There's no question Adams will be fired up to play Georgia. In last year's narrow loss to the Bulldogs, Adams relieved Nickson, who was 2-for-5 for six yards, and completed seven of 10 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown while leading the Commodores down field for a potential game-winning drive before Cassen Jackson-Garrison fumbled.

Johnson knows Adams is ready for the opportunity.

"We knew the whole time Mackenzi would be ready to go because he'just that kind of kid," Johnson said. "We expect the same thing out of Chris now. Any time you do as much with the quarterback as we do, you've got to have somebody ready to go and ready to step in there and we think Chris will do the same thing.

"While I'm he wants to play and he feels like he could do whatever we need him to do, he's right on board right now and he'll work hard. Chris is a worker too."