UGA Football: Game Notes – Bulldogs Head To Nashville To Face Vanderbilt

Until 2020, Georgia had faced Vanderbilt every year going back to 1968. However, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic forced the Commodores to cancel last season’s meeting in Athens. Therefore, Georgia will be heading to Nashville again like they did in 2019 when the Bulldogs posted a 30-6 victory. The last time Georgia played two straight in the series in Nashville came in 1932 and then in 1952. Overall, Georgia leads the series 58-20-2, including 27-12-2 in Nashville.

Currently Georgia ranks second in the SEC in Scoring Defense giving up just 7.7 points per game. The defense has allowed just one touchdown this season and it came in the fourth quarter last Saturday versus South Carolina with the Bulldogs leading 40-6.

Georgia had held its first three opponents to a total of 23 points, which matches the 2019 defense through three games. This year, Georgia defeated No. 3 Clemson 10-3 in Charlotte, routed UAB 56-7 in Athens and then beat South Carolina 40-13. It is worth nothing that UAB’s touchdown came on a pick-six.

Most recently, South Carolina was limited to 13 points. The Gamecocks’ final stop came on 4th-and-goal from the nine. Georgia finished with one interception, three sacks and six TFLs. With 10:55 left in the contest, USC got a 36-yard TD pass from Luke Doty to Josh Vann which marked the first TD allowed by the Bulldog defense this season. In the first half, USC was held to six points on 131 yards (8 rushing, 123 passing) on 28 plays.

The leading tackler was junior Nolan Smith with a career-high 8 stops, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble that was recovered by Quay Walker. Senior Columbia, S.C., native Channing Tindall was next in tackles by matching his career-high with seven stops. Smith and Jordan Davis (2 stops, 0.5 sack) were in on a safety, the first since the final play of the 2020 season (Azeez Ojulari versus Cincinnati in the 24-21 Chick-fil-A Bowl victory).

During the Bulldogs’ win over No. 3 Clemson in Charlotte, N.C., the Tigers finished the night with just three points on 60 plays and 180 yards as Georgia tallied seven sacks. The Tigers previously had a streak of 400 yards of total offense in their past 12 games. In the first half, Georgia held the Tigers to 90 yards (1 rushing, 89 passing) on 30 plays. The Dogs carried a shutout through three quarters. The Tigers longest play of the night was a 44-yard completion in the fourth. The Tigers scored with 9:08 left in the game on a 22-yard field goal to cut Georgia’s lead to 10-3. Clemson’s three points were the fewest scored in the Dabo Swinney era and the fewest for the program since 2007.

The Bulldogs’ leading tackler against Clemson was safety Lewis Cine with nine and six different players registered a sack. Junior ILB Nakobe Dean led the way with a pair of sacks while Davis collected two tackles for loss and a sack. Davis was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week as well as the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week.

The Bulldogs opened their campaign with a rare SEC road game and made short work of Vanderbilt 30-6. Georgia rolled up 326 yards rushing, including 149 from current Detroit Lion D’Andre Swift, as QB Jake Fromm finished with 156 yards passing and a touchdown. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first half and allowed the Commodores only a pair of second quarter field goals. Current Indianapolis Colt Rodrigo Blankenship drilled a trio of field goals, including a 50 yarder, to add additional points for Georgia. Defensively, current Tennessee Titan Monty Rice and current San Diego Charger Mark Webb had seven tackles apiece. It was the first time since 1995 that the Bulldogs opened a season versus an SEC team and marked the first SEC road opener to a season since 1994. A pair of current Bulldogs in Kearis Jackson and John FitzPatrick made their first career starts.

Georgia is the only team in the nation with a 3-0 record versus teams with a winning record. The Bulldogs defeated #9/#7 Clemson (2-1) 10-3, UAB (2-1) 56-7 and South Carolina (2-1) 40-13.

Personal
Full Name: Kirby Paul Smart
Birthdate: December 23, 1975
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama
Family: Wife: Mary Beth; Children: twins Weston and Julia (Feb. 8, 2008), and Andrew (May 25, 2012)
High School: Bainbridge (Ga.)
College: BBA Georgia ’98; MS Arkansas State State ’03Coaching Experience
1999 Georgia Admin. Asst.
2000 Valdosta State Defensive Backs
2001 Valdosta State Def. Coord.
2002-03 FSU Grad. Assistant
2004 Arkansas State Defensive Backs
2005 Georgia Running Backs
2006 Miami Dolphins Safeties
2007 Alabama Asst. HC/DBs
2008-13, ’15 Alabama Def. Coord./ILBs
2014 Alabama Asst. HC/Safeties
2016-current Georgia Head CoachPlaying Experience
Georgia (1995-98): Four-year letterman as defensive back. First team All-SEC in ’98; 13 career interceptions; four-time member of SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Bainbridge H.S. (1991-93): Three-year letterman in football, basketball, and baseball; first team Class AAAA All-State as a senior; 16 career interceptions.
High School Coach: Sonny Smart (father)

Three SEC Eastern Division championships, 52 wins, one SEC title, four bowl victories, and an appearance in one national championship game are more than respectable rewards over a five-year period. That’s what Georgia got when it hired former Bulldog player and assistant coach Kirby Smart to head the program in December, 2015.

The 2020 Bulldogs became Smart’s fourth straight team to earn a New Year’s Six bowl game. With a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory, the 2020 Bulldog senior class tied the record for the most wins by a senior class in school history (44), set by the 2005 and 2019 teams. That was also Smart’s fourth straight team to finish the regular season ranked in the top ten of the College Football Playoff rankings.

Smart’s 2019 Bulldogs became the first team in school history to win 11 or more games for a third straight season. The senior class posted a four-year record of 44-12, matching the school record of 44 wins for a senior class. Georgia defeated three Top 15 teams in the final CFP ranking — Notre Dame, Florida, and Auburn — and finished as the fourth-ranked team in the final polls. The season was capped by a dominant win over Baylor in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

When Georgia looked for a head coach after the 2015 season, the arrows pointed to Kirby Smart, longtime Alabama defensive coordinator and former UGA player and assistant. The 2017 Associated Press SEC Coach of the Year has not disappointed.

In his first year leading the Bulldogs, Georgia extended its school record to 20 consecutive bowl appearances and had wins over No. 8 Auburn and No. 22 UNC. In 2017, Smart directed UGA to a 13-2 record, an SEC title, a win at The Rose Bowl Game during the CFP semifinal and a spot in the National Championship. He was named the Maxwell Football Club’s George Munger National Coach of the Year. Before 2017, the Bulldogs last SEC title was 2005.

The 2018 and 2019 Bulldogs advanced to the SEC title game, secured an invite to the Sugar Bowl and combined for a 23-5 record.

He has also made an immediate impact in recruiting, posting the nation’s No. 1 class in 2018, the second-ranked class in 2019 and the third-ranked class in 2017 and 2020.

In addition to coaching, Smart oversees the Kirby Smart Family Foundation, which is focused on being champions in the community by supporting and giving back to needy children and families. In September of 2020, Smart and his wife Mary Beth pledged $1 million to support social justice and student-athletes impacted by COVID-19.

Quick Facts

• Advanced to 2017-19 SECCGs, making Georgia the first from the East to win at least three straight since 1996.
• Since 2017, Georgia is 19-2 in SEC East contests. Went 6-0 in the division in 2017-18 for the first time since the SEC split into divisions in 1992.
• 2017 Georgia Munger National Coach of the Year finalist, leading UGA to a 13-2 record, a Rose Bowl Game victory and an appearance the CFP National Championship Game.
• The Bulldogs’ No. 2 AP ranking in 2017 was the team’s top AP ranking since week three of the 2008 season when Georgia was No. 2.
• Eight fourth-quarter comebacks, including wins over #8 AU (’16), #22 UNC in Atlanta (’16), @ #24 Notre Dame (’17), vs. #2 Oklahoma in 2018 Rose Bowl Game. vs. #8 Cincinnati in 2021 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
• Led UGA to its first win over a ranked team in a season opener away from Sanford Stadium in school history.

Top Ind. Single-Game Performances Under Smart
Rushing Yards: 222, Nick Chubb vs. #22 UNC (9/3/16)
Rushing TDs: 3, Sony Michel vs. UK (11/18/17); vs. #2 Oklahoma (1/1/18)
Longest Rush: 83-TD, D’Andre Swift @ #9 UK (11/3/18)
Passing Yards: 401, JT Daniels vs. MSU (11/21/20)
Passing TDs: 5, Stetson Bennett vs. UAB (9/11/21)
Receiving Yards: 197 (8 rec.), Jermaine Burton vs. MSU (11/21/20)
Receiving TDs: 2, Isaiah McKenzie @ Missouri (9/17/16); Terry Godwin vs. Samford (9/16/17); Jeremiah Holloman vs. #9 Florida (10/27/18); Riley Ridley vs. GT (11/2518); George Pickens vs. Missouri (11/9/19); Jermaine Burton vs. MSU (11/21/20); George Pickens vs. Missouri (12/12/20), Brock Bowers vs. UAB (9/11/21)
Longest Pass/TD Pass: 89-TD, S. Bennett to B. Bowers vs. UAB (9/11/21)
Tackles: 15, Nakobe Dean vs. #8 UF (11/7/20)
Sacks: 3, Trenton Thompson vs. TCU (12/30/16); 3, Azeez Ojulari vs. #8 UC (1/1/21)
TFL: 3, Azeez Ojulari vs. #7 AU (10/3/20); Thompson vs. Nicholls (9/10/16); 3, Azeez Ojulari vs. #8 UC (1/1/21)

Under Kirby Smart, Georgia has registered 21 scores on defense or special teams. The Dogs are 18-1 when they register a non-offensive score under Smart. This season, Georgia has had three: Christopher Smith’s 74-yd INTreturn (#3 CU); Jamon Dumas-Johnson’s 20-yd INT return (UAB); safety (SC). The only loss came versus #8 UF in 2020.

%Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic; ^Liberty Bowl; $Rose Bowl Game

Georgia returns eight starters on offense for a team that averaged 32.3 points/game. Through three games in 2021, the Bulldogs are averaging 35.3 points/game.

The Bulldogs return their top five running backs, headlined by Zamir White. Georgia’s top three receivers are also back in Kearis Jackson, George Pickens (currently injured) and Jermaine Burton. Pickens is coming back from a knee injury that happened in the spring.

Georgia has had at least five touchdown passes that have covered at least 38 yards. Most recently, JT Daniels had a 38 yarder to freshman AD Mitchell and a 43 yarder to Burton against South Carolina. On the year, Burton has eight catches for 173 yards to be the Bulldogs’ second-leading receiver.

On the second play of the game versus UAB, Burton caught a 73-yard touchdown pass from Stetson Bennett. Also, Bennett had two more TD bombs in that game, a 61 yarder to redshirt freshman WR Arian Smith and an 89 yarder to freshman TE Brock Bowers. Smith missed the South Carolina game with an injury.

The 2020 season was the first under offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who placed a premium on explosive plays, which are at least a 12-yard rush or a 16-yard completion.

JT Daniels, an Irvine, Calif., native who was recovering from a torn ACL at Southern Cal in 2019, served as Georgia’s starting quarterback from game 7 of the Bulldogs’ 2020 campaign through the 2021 opener. He did not play against UAB due to an injury as senior Stetson Bennett got the start in a 56-7 win. Daniels returned to the starting lineup against South Carolina and led the Bulldogs to a victory after going 23-for-31 for 303 yards, a touchdown and one pick.

Georgia ranks fifth nationally on third down conversions (22-for-38, 57.8 percent) and a large reason of that is because of the play of Daniels. This year on third downs, he is 14-for-16 for 99 yards and one TD, one INT and one sack. Ten of the completions have resulted in a first down.

Bennett enjoyed a career a record-setting performance torching the Blazers for a school record tying five touchdown passes (all in the first half). He finished the day 10-for-12 for 288 yards with his scoring strikes covering 9, 12, 61, 73 and 89 yards. Bennett was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week as well as to the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 list following his performance.

Daniels threw for 1,231 yards and 10 TDs during the final four games of 2020, capped by a 24-21 comeback over undefeated No. 8 Cincinnati in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Daniels made 12 starts at USC (2018-19).

A former walk-on who returned to Georgia on scholarship as a junior college transfer in 2019, Bennett threw for 1,179 yards last year as a junior with eight TDs and six INTs in eight games including five starts.

Carson Beck is a redshirt freshman from Jacksonville, Fla., who saw his first action late against Missouri last year. Beck saw his first extended playing time against UAB this year, finishing 4-for-10 for 88 yards with one touchdown (12-yd strike to Justin Robinson) and one INT.

Seniors Zamir White and James Cook along with sophomore Kendall Milton and junior Kenny McIntosh share the load.

During the win over No. 3 Clemson, White headlined the group with 74 yards on 13 carries, including a total of 32 yards on Georgia’s final drive of the game when they ran out the last 4:49 of the game.

Milton was the leading rusher in the win over the Gamecocks with 10 carries for 66 yards as the Bulldogs tallied 184 yards on 31 carries (5.9 avg.). This performance included a 23-yard scoring scamper by Cook, who also caught a 4-yard touchdown pass. A Look At The Offensive Line

There is plenty of competition for playing time on the offensive line for second-year Offensive Line coach Matt Luke.

Senior Jamaree Salyer (LT), redshirt freshman Tate Ratledge (LG), redshirt freshman Sedrick Van Pran (C), fifth-year senior Justin Shaffer (RG) and redshirt sophomore Warren McClendon (RT) were the starters versus Clemson.

McClendon was a 2020 Freshman All-American after starting the last nine games in 2021. Salyer and Shaffer have each started 14 career games.

Van Pran emerged as an option at C after Ericson sustained an injury during preseason camp. After Van Pran got the start at C in the season opener, Ericson had to replace Ratledge at LG in the first quarter after Ratledge went down with a right foot injury and did not return. Ericson has started the last two games at RG.

The Bulldogs have a variety of weapons at receiver with new targets emerging and existing receivers returning from injuries.

Kearis Jackson, Dominick Blaylock and George Pickens are working their way back to getting 100 percent from injuries. They are the most experienced receivers on Georgia’s roster.

In the meantime, sophomores Jermaine Burton and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and redshirt freshmen Arian Smith and Justin Robinson will be in the mix while true freshman AD Mitchell and redshirt freshman Ladd McConkey.

Burton caught his second touchdown passes in as many games against South Carolina and Mitchell posted career highs of four catches for 77 yards and a score versus the Gamecocks.

All players mentioned above played versus the Tigers in the opener as Georgia had 11 different players catch passes in the victory. Against UAB and South Carolina, nine different Bulldogs finished with at least one reception.

Freshman TE Brock Bowers has a team-best 14 catches for 203 yards and two touchdowns and has started all three games.

He made his career debut by starting against #3 Clemson. He led the Bulldogs with six catches for 43 yards in the victory. His first touchdown catch of his career was an 89 yarder from Stetson Bennett versus UAB. This was the ninth-longest passing TD in school history. Versus the Gamecocks a week later, Bowers was the leading receiver with five catches for 53 yards.

Bowers became just the eighth true freshman to start a season opener in the Kirby Smart era. Bowers saw increased reps during fall camp when junior John FitzPatrick and sophomore Darnell Washington missed time with injuries.

Defensive coordinator Dan Lanning is now in his fourth year and the Bulldogs feature one of the top defenses in the country.

Georgia is tied for fourth nationally with 13 sacks.

The Georgia defense has allowed just one touchdown this year. The Bulldogs’ first two opponents did not score until the fourth quarter. UAB’s only touchdown came on a pick-six. Clemson managed only a field goal. All 13 of South Carolina’s points came after three turnovers, including two field goals and a fourth quarter touchdown.

Head coach Kirby Smart stresses the importance of making havoc plays and how those plays give the defense momentum. Turnovers (interceptions, forced fumbles), deflections, tackles for loss, including sacks, are examples of havoc plays.

While some may refer to Georgia as “RBU”, one could make a case for “DBU” with the recent Bulldogs now in the NFL including four who were drafted last season (Eric Stokes, 1st Round, Green Bay; Tyson Campbell, 2nd Round, Jacksonville; Richard LeCounte, 5th round, Cleveland; Mark Webb, 7th round, L.A. Chargers).

The Bulldogs’ secondary tallied its second and third picks of the year in the win over UAB. Junior Lewis Cine and freshman Kelee Ringo each had an interception versus the Blazers after senior Christopher Smith scored the game’s only touchdown with a 74-yard INT return for a TD against #3 Clemson.

To help offset these losses, Georgia landed a pair talented players via the transfer portal in All-ACC first teamer Derion Kendrick (Clemson) and All-America Tykee Smith (West Virginia). However, Smith went down with a foot injury in camp and has yet to play.

Kendrick had his first career pick for the Bulldogs (fourth of his career after snagging three for Clemson) during the win over South Carolina. The Bulldogs are second in the SEC with five picks.

Smith scored the only touchdown in the win over No. 3 Clemson on a 74-yard interception return (the first pick of his career). He earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors following his performance. Cine had a team-high nine tackles and two pass breakups while Brini tallied four stops and Speed had a pair of tackles.

Seniors Latavious Brini and Ameer Speed are manning the cornerback spots for the Bulldogs during their final seasons.

Preseason All-American Jordan Davis joins fifth-year Devonte Wyatt as the veterans in the center of the defensive line. The pair combined for six tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack, and a pass breakup against No. 3 Clemson. Davis was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week as well as the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after his effort against the Tigers.

The duo is joined by junior Travon Walker, sophomore Jalen Carter, junior Tramel Walthour and sophomore Nazir Stackhouse who comprise the rotation of the Bulldog front. Walker had four tackles and a sack in the 2021 opener while Carter chipped in with two stops, including a sack.

Clemson was held to two yards rushing as Georgia’s defense tallied seven sacks.

Davis shared a sack with teammate Nolan Smith that led to a South Carolina safety as Davis and Wyatt combined for four stops and two TFLs in the win over the Gamecocks.

Junior ILB Nakobe Dean shares the team lead in tackles (17) with junior S Lewis Cine. Dean was a semifinalist for the 2020 Butkus Award. He is joined by senior Channing Tindall and junior Quay Walker in the middle.

Tindall was the leading tackler in the rout of UAB as he had seven tackles and a sack. He followed that up with another seven stops against South Carolina.

Dean set the tone early against No. 3 Clemson as he finished with a pair of sacks and five tackles on the night.

Senior Adam Anderson and junior Nolan Smith are filling the spot vacated by NFL second round pick Azeez Ojulari. Through the first three games of 2021, Anderson has 12 tackles and three sacks while Smith has a dozen stops and 2.5 sacks.

Smith exploded for a career-high eight tackles against the Gamecocks in a performance that included 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Senior punter and 2020 Ray Guy Award finalist Jake Camarda was the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year last season. He posted an SEC best 46.6 average that ranked fourth in the country and was named a FWAA Second-Team All-American. Camarda is a preseason All-American at his position in 2021.

Camarda had five punts for a net average of 43.4 and dropped four inside the 20-yard line with a long of 51 during the season-opening win over No. 3 Clemson. He was included on the Ray Guy Award’s “Ray’s 8” for his performance versus the Tigers.

This year, Camarda is averaging 47.4 yards/punt placing seven inside in the 20 and five have been 50+. Georgia leads the SEC in net punting at 45.7. Camarda is averaging 45.6 yards/punt, which is on pace for a school record. Drew Butler, the 2009 Ray Guy Award winner, owns the Bulldog record with a 45.4 mark.

Camarda is also handling most of the UGA kickoffs this year with 14 touchbacks out of his 16 kickoffs.

For his career, junior PK Jack Podlesny is 15-for-20 on field goals and 52-for-52 on PATs. This year, he is 2-for-4 on FGs and 14- for-14 on PATs. Podlesny made his debut in the 2020 season opening win at Arkansas and capped his first year by earning Offensive MVP honors at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. In the 24-21 win over #8 Cincinnati, Podlesny accounted for 10 points, including the game-winning 53-yard FG with three seconds remaining.

Georgia entered the 2021 season with the NCAA record for Consecutive PATs Made. The streak now stands at 344 and involves six kickers (Marshall Morgan, Patrick Beless, William Ham, David Marvin, Rodrigo Blankenship and Podlesny).

Georgia’s snappers this year include returning starters junior Payne Walker and redshirt sophomore William Mote. Walker snaps on field goals and PATs while Mote handles the snaps for punts.

Senior punter Jake Camarda (1st Team) along with senior offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer (2nd Team) and senior defensive lineman Jordan Davis (2nd Team) have been named preseason All-Americans by the Associated Press. Camarda, a Ray Guy Award finalist in 2020, made the AP 3rd team a year ago when he was honored as the SEC’s Special Teams Player of the Year as voted on the league coaches.

The Bulldogs also had four players earn 2021 Walter Camp Second Team All-America honors this preseason. Davis, Camarda and junior WR George Pickens were included on the squad. Pickens will be unavailable during the first portion of the season after tearing his ACL during the spring.

Bulldogs on 2021 National Award Watch Lists
Bednarik Award (Defensive Player): Nakobe Dean, Jordan Davis
Butkus Award (LB): Adam Anderson, Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker
Lou Groza Award (Kicker): Jack Podlesny
Ray Guy Award (Punter): Jake Camarda
Lombardi Award (Lineman): Justin Shaffer, Jamaree Salyer)
Lott Trophy (Defensive Player): Nakobe Dean
Mackey Award (TE): Arik Gilbert, Darnell Washington
Manning Award (QB): JT Daniels
Maxwell Award (Player of the Year): JT Daniels
Nagurski Trophy (Defensive Player): Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, Tykee Smith
Davey O’Brien Award (QB): JT Daniels
Outland Trophy (Interior Lineman): Jordan Davis, Jamaree Salyer, Justin Shaffer
Rimington Trophy (C): Warren Ericson
Johnny Unitas Award (QB): JT Daniels
Doak Walker Award (RB): James Cook, Zamir White

Georgia had seven first-time starters in the 2021 season opener against No. 3 Clemson in Charlotte. The Bulldogs had 19 first-time starters in 2020, including seven in the opener.

vs. #3 CU: Bowers, McConkey, Ratledge, Van Pran, Kendrick (1st at UGA), Speed, T. Walker
vs. UAB: none
vs. SC: Mitchell

During the 2021 season opener, six true freshmen saw action against the Tigers in Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium.
In 2020, a total of 10 true freshmen played for the Bulldogs.

vs. #3 CU: James Cook, JT Daniels & Nakobe Dean
vs. UAB: Jamaree Sayler, Zamir White, Christopher Smith
vs. SC: Channing Tindall, Jordan Davis, Kearis Jackson

Georgia is even in turnover margin in 2021. The Bulldogs have scored 35 points off six turnovers. Opponents have scored 20 points off six Georgia miscues.

vs. #3 CU: (W, 10-3) UGA got 7 points off 1 turnover; CU got no points off 2 turnovers.
vs. UAB: (W, 56-7) UGA got 14 points off 3 turnovers; UAB got 7 points off 1 turnover
vs. SC: (W, 40-13) UGA got 14 points off 2 turnovers; SC got 13 points off 3 turnovers

UGA has 12 plays that have covered 25 yards or more while opponents have 7.

GAME 1: #5 Georgia vs. #3 Clemson (W, 10-3)
UGA: 2 plays; Longest: 74-yard KOR TD (C. Smith)
#3 CU: 1 play; 44-yard pass (Uiagalelei to Ngata)

GAME 2: #2 Georgia vs. UAB (W, 56-7)
UGA: 7 plays; 89-yard TD pass (Bennett to Bowers)
UAB: 1 play; 61-yard INT return for TD (K. Swoopes)

GAME 3: #2 Georgia vs. South Carolina (W, 40-13)
UGA: 3 plays; 43-yd TD pass (Daniels to Burton)
SC: 5 plays; 61-yd pass (Nolan to Vann)