UGA Football: Game Notes – Georgia Ready to Battle Tennessee at Sanford Stadium

Game & Broadcast Info

On Saturday, Georgia will make its first of at least three scheduled appearances on CBS this season. The network will televise the Tennessee game in Athens at 3:30 p.m. The Bulldogs’ all-time record on CBS is 61- 42-1. The Alabama game (Oct. 17, 8 p.m. ET) and the Florida contest (Nov. 7, 3:30 p.m.) are also slated to be on the network.

With Georgia’s 43-14 victory in Knoxville last season, the Bulldogs surged ahead in the all-time series with UT 24-23-2. The series between the two teams dates back to 1899. The 2019 victory marked the first time the Bulldogs broke a tie to take a series lead over UT since 1981 when it went up 9-8-2. Georgia blanked the Vols 44-0 in Athens during that 1981 contest.

Following the 1981 game, the teams didn’t play again until 1988 when the Bulldogs extended their series advantage to 10-8-2 with a 28-17 win in Athens. Then, the Volunteers won the next nine meetings. It would be 2014 before the series would be tied again (21-21-2) following Georgia’s 35-32 victory in Athens. UT claimed the series lead by winning the next two years while Georgia has emerged on top the past three seasons to take an edge in the series yet again.

The last time these teams met in a top-25 matchup was in 2016. Josh Dobbs’ Hail Mary in the closing seconds lifted No. 11 Tennessee past No. 25 Georgia 34-31. This is the only home loss to a ranked team in the Kirby Smart era as the Bulldogs are 6-1 in that category.

The Bulldogs enter the Tennessee contest with one of the nation’s top-rated defenses. Georgia is tied for fourth nationally in Scoring Defense, allowing just 8.0 points/ game. The Bulldogs are ranked third nationally in Rushing Defense (58.0 yds/game) and are second nationally in Team Passing Efficiency Defense (86.4). The Volunteers come into the game averaging 33/game and 408 yards of total offense in wins over South Carolina and Missouri. Georgia has allowed just 30 first downs this year and that ranks third nationally. In 2019, the Bulldogs led the nation in Scoring Defense (12.6) and Rushing Defense (74.6).

Last Saturday, Georgia held No. 7 Auburn to just a pair of field goals during a 27-6 victory. This marked the first time Auburn failed to score a touchdown since its 2018 road loss to Mississippi State. Also of note in the win over Auburn, Georgia forced Tiger QB Bo Nix into his first interception of the year. It ended a streak of 251 passes without an INT and that was an Auburn record and ranked second nationally behind Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence. Bulldog senior Mark Webb notched his first career pick on the play.

A crowd of 20,524 were in attendance for last weekend’s Georgia-Auburn game. This is the capacity for Sanford Stadium during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the first half last year against Georgia, Tennessee tallied 14 points and 239 yards of total offense on 31 plays. UT hit a 73-yard TD pass on its second possession (Brian Maurer to Marquez Callaway), which was the longest play allowed by the Bulldogs that year.

UT was shut out in the second half, gaining just 104 yards on 31 plays to finish with 343 (70-rush, 273-pass). In the fourth quarter, Bulldog DB Eric Stokes delivered a sack and fumble that Tae Crowder scooped up and returned 60 yards for a TD in the win.

Then redshirt freshman Azeez Ojulari (LB) served as one of the three Georgia game captains against UT, joining then senior Tyrique McGhee and junior Andrew Thomas. Ojulari became the first freshman to be named a team captain in the Kirby Smart era. Ojulari finished with three tackles, two sacks and two TFL against the Vols.

Several members of UT head coach Jeremy Pruitt’s staff spent time wearing the Red and Black. Pruitt served as the Bulldogs defensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015. UT offensive coordinator (OC) Jim Chaney was Kirby Smart‘s OC the first three seasons (2016-18); offensive line coach Will Friend was at Georgia from 2011-14; and inside linebackers coach Brian Niedermeyer was a graduate assistant at Georgia in 2015.

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)

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 Dogs in 2016, 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 seasons saw the Bulldogs advance to the SEC Championship Game, secure an invite to the Sugar Bowl and combine for a 23-5 record. Most recently, Georgia completed a 12-2 campaign with a 26-14 victory over #7 Baylor in New Orleans.

He has also made an immediate impact in recruiting, posting the nation’s top-ranked class in 2018, the second-ranked class in 2019 and the third-ranked class in 2017.

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.

Smart officially came home to Georgia on Dec. 6, 2015. He juggled two jobs for a month until January 11, 2016, when the Tide won its fourth national championship in a seven-year span.

Did You Know?
Kirby Smart is one of nine head coaches at schools from Power 5 conferences that are coaching at their alma maters.

The complete list:
Paul Chryst (Wisconsin), Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern), David Shaw (Stanford), Scott Frost (Nebraska), Kirby Smart (GEORGIA), Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State), Jonathan Smith (Oregon State), Jim Harbaugh (Michigan), Tom Allen (Indiana)

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: 346, Jacob Eason vs. VU (10/15/16)
Passing TDs: 4, Jake Fromm vs. GT x2 (11/25/18, 11/30/19)
Receiving Yards: 175 (12 rec.), George Pickens vs. #7 BU (1/1/20)
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)
Longest Pass/TD Pass: 80-TD, Fromm to Mecole Hardman vs. BAMA (1/8/18)
Tackles: 13, Roquan Smith vs. GT (11/26/16); SECCG (12/2/17); CFPNC (1/1/18)
Sacks: 3, Trenton Thompson vs. TCU (12/30/16)
TFL: 3, Azeez Ojulari vs. #7 AU (10/3/20); Thompson vs. Nicholls (9/10/16)

Quick Facts

• Advanced to 2017-19 SECCGs, making Georgia the first from the East to win at least three straight since 1996.
• Went 6-0 in the division in 2017-18 for the first time since the SEC split into divisions in 1992. Has gone 17-1 in the SEC East during the last three years.
• 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.
• Seven 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.
• Led UGA to its first win over a ranked team in a season opener away from Sanford Stadium in school history.

13 Defense/Special Teams Scores
2016: Safety vs. #22 UNC; Lorenzo Carter 24-yd fumble recovery for TD vs. Nicholls; Terry Godwin 43-yd KOR for TD @ SC; Maurice Smith 34-yd INT return for TD vs. #8 AU; Isaiah McKenzie 82-yd PR for TD vs. ULL
2017: J.R. Reed 3-yd fumble recovery for TD vs. Florida
2018: Juwan Taylor 1-yd INT return for TD @ USC; Mecole Hardman 70-yd PR for TD vs. MTSU; Tyson Campbell 64-yd fumble recovery for TD & Eric Stokes 8-yd blocked punt for TD @ Missouri
2019: J.R. Reed 14-yd PR for TD vs. Murray St.; Tae Crowder 60-yd fumble recovery for TD @ Tennessee; Tyson Campbell 0-yd fumble recovery for TD @ GT
2020: Safety @ ARK; Eric Stokes 30-yd INT return @ ARK

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

In his first career start at Georgia, junior Stetson Bennett helped lead the Bulldogs to a 27-6 win over #7 Auburn in Athens. Bennett was 17-for-28 with a career-high 240 yards and a touchdown. In the first half on third down, Bennett was 5-for-7 for 81 yards and a touchdown. The score was a 21-yard touchdown strike to sophomore George Pickens when it was 3rd-and-9. The play gave the Bulldogs a 17-0 lead.

Bennett came in off the bench to help spark the Bulldogs to a 37-10 road win over Arkansas in the opener after redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis got the start. Bennett directed the Bulldog comeback, delivering a career performance completing 20-of-29 for 211 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a two-point conversion during Georgia’s road win.

For the year, Bennett is 37-for-57 for 451 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Bennett played in five games for the Bulldogs last year and was 20-for-27 for 260 yards and two touchdowns. He was on the 2017 Bulldog squad that went 13-2 and was named the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year. Bennett spent 2018 at Jones County Junior College in Mississippi.

Mathis got the start against Arkansas in the season opener and finished 8-for-17 for 55 yards and an interception during his first outing. He enrolled early in January 2019 and competed during spring practice. Mathis was then forced to redshirt the 2019 season after undergoing surgery to remove a brain cyst. The native of Belleville, Mich., got his share of snaps this preseason after gaining his medical clearance before spring practice.

Georgia also has redshirt sophomore transfer JT Daniels and early enrollee Carson Beck competing for playing time.

While at USC, Daniels started all 11 games as a true freshman in 2018 before a knee injury in the 2019 opener shortened his sophomore season. He made 12 starts for the Trojans from 2018-19 and has completed 241-of-397 attempts (60.7 percent) for 2,887 yards with 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his career. Kirby Smart announced that Daniels was medically cleared the week before the Auburn contest.

Beck completed 136 passes for 1,843 yards and 20 touchdowns last season for Mandarin HS (Fla.) while also rushing for six scores.

In the first two games, Georgia’s starting offensive line featured junior Jamaree Salyer (LT), junior Justin Shaffer (LG), junior Trey Hill (C) and senior Ben Cleveland (RG). Redshirt sophomore Owen Condon (RT) got his first start at Arkansas while redshirt freshman Warren McClendon (RT) got the nod for his starting debut versus #7 Auburn.

Hill also saw some time at RG against the Razorbacks when redshirt sophomore Warren Ericson came in at C.

Not only are the Bulldogs replacing four key players from the offensive line, they’re also breaking in a new position coach there. Matt Luke, the head coach at Ole Miss from 2017-19, replaced Sam Pittman, who departed in December to become head coach at Arkansas. Luke arrived in time to coach in the 2020 Sugar Bowl.

Georgia was most effective running the ball against #7 Auburn. In the season opener against Arkansas, the Bulldogs finished with 121 yards on 42 attempts (2.9 avg.). Against #7 Auburn, Georgia churned out 202 yards on 45 attempts (4.5 avg.). The Tigers’ lone sack came on an intentional grounding call in the fourth quarter.

In his first career start, Ericson played every offensive snap in the 2020 Sugar Bowl victory.

Also returning is Shaffer, who was sidelined with a neck injury after six games last season. He started a pair of games at left guard before his injury.

Redshirt sophomore Zamir White and junior James Cook have seen the most early action this season. White has started the first two games and leads the team with 32 carries for 159 yards and three touchdowns, including a career-high two scores against #7 Auburn.

White is a key member of the special teams unit, including collecting his first career blocked punt. This led to a touchdown, which gave the Bulldogs a 20-10 edge at Arkansas. White became the first Bulldog running back since 2005 to block a punt (Tyson Browning vs. Vanderbilt).

Cook was on the way to a productive start with five carries for 41 yards (8.2 avg.) against the Tigers before having to leave with a right should injury.

Sophomore Kenny McIntosh, who has nine carries for 35 yards, made a significant impact on special teams including two kickoff returns for 91 yards against the Razorbacks.

With Cook going down against Auburn, true freshmen Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards, along with McIntosh, got a combined 19 carries for 86 yards.

The Bulldogs welcome back half of their top 10 receivers from 2019, including leading receiver and Freshman All-SEC selection George Pickens. He earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the Sugar Bowl with 12 catches for 175 yards (both career highs) and a score. This year, Pickens has snagged six catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns from Stetson Bennett.

Twelve different Bulldogs caught a pass against Arkansas in the season opener. That tally was the most since the 2019 seasonopening win over Arkansas State when 13 different Georgia players had at least one reception.

Redshirt sophomore Kearis Jackson has become a favorite target for Bennett. After posting career highs of six catches for 62 yards against Arkansas, he set new career highs in the latest win over #7 Auburn. Jackson collected nine catches for 147 yards.

Three true freshmen made their debut in the opener with WR Jermaine Burton starting both games. Burton, TE Darnell Washington and WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint all registered their first career catches against Arkansas. Burton and Washington starting equaled the total of Bulldogs who have started as true freshmen on offense during the Kirby Smart era. LT Andrew Thomas (NY Giants) and TE Charlie Woerner (San Francisco 49ers) are the other two.

Redshirt sophomore TE John FitzPatrick has started both games so far this season. He finished with two catches for 19 yards, including his first career touchdown on a 7-yard strike, at Arkansas and had an 18-yard grab against the Tigers. Graduate transfer Tre’ McKitty (FSU) has missed the first two games while recovering from an injury.

Sophomore Dominick Blaylock (18 rec., 310 yards, 5 TDs in 2019) also returned in 2020. However, Blaylock, who tore his ACL during last year’s SEC Championship Game, injured the same knee during practice this year and will miss the 2020 season.

Georgia has three new on the field coaches this year. The first hire was Associate Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach Matt Luke, who joined the Bulldogs after serving as the Ole Miss head coach for three seasons. Luke began in December and was part of the coaching staff during Georgia’s victory over #7 Baylor in the Sugar Bowl.

Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken was the next addition to Smart’s staff in January. Monken arrived in Athens after spending a year as the Cleveland Browns’ offensive coordinator (OC). He also was the OC for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for three years prior to his stop in Cleveland and had three years as the Southern Mississippi head coach earlier in his career.

Then in February, Special Teams Coordinator Scott Cochran joined the Bulldog coaching staff. Cochran, who worked with Smart nine seasons at Alabama, had served as the head strength and conditioning coach for the Tide since 2007.

The Bulldogs are expected to have one of the nation’s top defenses again in 2020. Georgia opened up with a 37-10 road win over Arkansas and held #7 Auburn out of the end zone in a 27-6 home victory. The Bulldogs are +2 in the Turnover Margin this year. Auburn had its lowest point total against Georgia in the series since 2012 (38-0).

In 2019, Georgia led the country in Scoring Defense (12.6 points/game) and Rushing Defense (74.6 yards/game).

The Bulldogs allowed only two rushing touchdowns last season (both by quarterbacks) to lead the nation and set a school record with the lowest total in the SEC since 1970 (LSU). Arkansas was held to 77 yards rushing on 28 attempts while Auburn had just 39 yards on 22 tries. Arkansas’ lone touchdown came on a 49-yard scoring pass.

In the 2020 opener, senior S Richard LeCounte had his second straight game with two interceptions to give him seven in his career. He also had two picks in the win over #7 Baylor during the 2020 Sugar Bowl. LeCounte was ejected in the first half of the Auburn game for targeting.

Junior Eric Stokes also posted his first career interception against the Razorbacks and took it back 30 yards for a touchdown. This marked the second touchdown of his career after he blocked a punt versus Missouri and scored in 2018.

In 2020, Georgia is tied for fourth nationally in Scoring Defense (8.0 ppg) and third in Rushing Defense (58.0 ypg). The Bulldogs have allowed just 16 points through two games this season.

In 2019, Georgia held 13 of its 14 opponents under 20 points. Before the 2019 SEC Championship Game, Georgia and Clemson were the only two teams in the FBS not to allow more than 20 points in a game. In the SEC Championship Game, top-ranked LSU registered a 37-10 win over the Bulldogs as the Tigers came in ranked second nationally in Scoring Offense (48.7 ppg). In the CFP semifinal, Clemson beat #2 Ohio State 29-23. In the CFP National Championship Game, LSU beat Clemson 42-25.

Georgia is deep at LB with Monty Rice, who was a 2019 AP All-SEC Second Team selection, leading the way. He has 10 stops this year, including a game-high seven tackles versus #7 Auburn.

Sophomore Nakobe Dean, who tallied 25 tackles and forced a fumble in his first season last year, complements Rice in the middle. He was the leading tackler against Arkansas with seven stops and has a team high 11 stops through two games.

Redshirt sophomore and 2019 FWAA Freshman All-American/ National Freshman of the Year semifinalist Azeez Ojulari has a team-high three tackles for loss (all coming against #7 Auburn) so far this season. Ojulari, who led the Bulldogs with 5.5 sacks in 2019, added his first versus the Tigers.

Sophomore Nolan Smith, junior Quay Walker, senior Jermaine Johnson and sophomore and 2019 Freshman All-SEC selection Travon Walker are poised to strengthen this group even more in 2020.

Smith started off 2020 with a strong performance, collecting six tackles and 1.5 sacks at Arkansas. Walker followed up that performance with four tackles of his own against #7 Auburn.

Georgia’s defense starts with the trio up front headlined by preseason All-SEC selection Jordan Davis. Seniors Devonte Wyatt and Malik Herring make up the rest of the Bulldog front that allows the linebackers to make plays behind them.

Davis (6-6, 320), along with freshman Jalen Carter (6-3, 305), are part of a “jumbo” package that includes freshman TE Darnell Washington (6-7, 260) on offense. Both of TB Zamir White’s touchdowns came behind this package.

For the first time since 2015, Georgia needed to replace its placekicker after All-American and 2019 Lou Groza Award winner Rodrigo Blankenship graduated and won the starting job with the Indianapolis Colts after signing as a free agent.

Blankenship finished his Bulldog career with a school-record 440 career points (2nd all-time in the SEC). He connected on all 200 of his career PATs.

Redshirt sophomore Jack Podlesny made his debut in the 2020 season opener and handled the place kicking and kickoff duties. He made a pair of 38-yard field goals, went 3-for-3 on PATs and five of his six kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. He was 2-for-3 on FGs against #7 Auburn and had three more PATs. After redshirting in 2018, Podlesny did not attempt a kick last year.

Georgia leads the nation with a streak of 298 straight PATs dating back to 2014. The streak involves six kickers (Marshall Morgan, Patrick Beless, William Ham, David Marvin, Blankenship and Podlesny).

Georgia’s snappers this year include redshirt sophomore Payne Walker and redshirt freshman William Mote. Walker, who was one of the snappers last year as well, snaps on field goals and PATs while Mote handles the snaps for punts.

The Bulldogs return junior Jake Camarda at punter. He was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time in his career after the Arkansas game and was included as one of “Ray’s 4” as being on the Ray Guy Award’s top weekend performers.

Camarda looked to be in midseason form in the opener by averaging 49.9 yards on seven punts, placing five of those at the 11-yard line or better. He boomed five punts that were 50-plus yards, including a 63 yarder. Against #7 Auburn, he only punted twice in the first half and averaged 51.5 yards.

This year, Camarda is averaging a national leading 50.2 yards on nine kicks. The Bulldogs are fifth nationally in Net Punting at 45.8.

Camarda had one of the finest seasons ever by a Bulldog punter in 2019 as he averaged 46.8 yards/punt in 2019, which ranked second in school history.

Through his first two seasons, Camarda was averaging 45.1 yards/punt, which would place him in the top three in school history. Camarda’s 42.1 net punting average in 2019 ranked second in UGA history and helped Georgia jump from 70th nationally in 2018 to eighth last season in that category.

With WR/PR Dominick Blaylock out for the year with a knee injury, Georgia turned to redshirt sophomore Kearis Jackson. Jackson has four punt returns for a 10.0 average.

In the KOR game, sophomore Kenny McIntosh has three returns for a 43.0 average (third nationally), including two against Arkansas for a total 91 yards and one 38 yarder versus #7 Auburn.

The Bulldogs have maintained their spot in the AP Top 25 now for 54 consecutive weeks, which ranks fourth nationally, dating back to the start of the 2017 season. Georgia ranks in the top three for active streaks in the top five and top 10.

Head football coach Kirby Smart and his wife, Mary Beth, will donate $1 million to their alma mater to support the UGA Athletic Association’s new social justice program, create scholarships for senior student-athletes whose final seasons were impacted by COVID-19, and contribute to the expansion of the UGA football program.

“Mary Beth and I are where we are because of the University of Georgia, so we feel a duty to give back to the university that opened so many doors for us, brought us together and brought us home,” said Smart. “The current moment presents unique challenges for all of us, whether that’s dealing with the ramifications of this pandemic or acknowledging and addressing racial inequality. We hope this gift can fuel positive change in both areas.”

The Smarts joined Detroit Lions quarterback and former UGA standout Matthew Stafford and his wife, Kelly, to endow UGA Athletics’ new social justice program. The goal of the program is to continue developing an environment to effect meaningful change in the areas of diversity, inclusion, equity and social justice for all, including student-athletes, coaches and staff.

Many student-athletes saw their seasons canceled or postponed this year as part of public health precautions to protect against COVID-19. As a result, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility and lifted team financial aid limits so that senior studentathletes could return and complete their final seasons of eligibility at UGA. But with a pandemic-related financial shortfall impacting the Athletic Association’s budgets, UGA Athletics faced a challenge: finding new funding avenues to support returning student-athletes.

This is where the Smarts stepped in, dedicating a portion of their gift to defraying the costs associated with returning seniors whose spring and fall activities were impacted by COVID-19.

The final portion of the Smarts’ gift will support the Butts- Mehre Expansion Project, which will expand and renovate all aspects of football operations at UGA. The project will, among other improvements, expand the weight room and add a locker room, meeting rooms, coaches’ offices and a sports medicine facility to Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall.

The Georgia football team kicked off its initiative called “Dawgs For Pups” in early September by pledging to raise money for WiFi hotspots for Clarke County students.

After the idea arose from a team meeting, the Bulldogs are participating in a number of “Dawgs For Pups” activities in the Athens area and beyond to help students and others affected by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The first activity has been to supply families who have kindergarten to eighth grade students with WiFi hotspots. This access to an internet connection will help students stay connected with their virtual classroom.

Through September, the Bulldogs and donors have given nearly $75,000 to the project.

“Helping out the youth in this area is so important because they are our future,” said senior defensive back Eric Stokes. “I have a platform (at the University of Georgia) and I am trying to use that platform and make it as big as it can go.”

“During our team meeting, I talked about breaking the cycle in our community and I have realized that being in Athens and being at the University of Georgia, we kind of lead this community without knowing it,” said freshman defensive lineman Warren Brinson.

“Youth in our community need to have something to look forward to, something they can be great at. Education is one of the most important things in your life.”

The donations will help support the more than 1,000 families in Clarke County who do not have the Internet access needed for online learning. For only $20, donors can sponsor a family’s unlimited high-speed date plan for a month. For $60, donors can sponsor a family’s WiFi for the fall semester. All donations received will be solely for the purpose of hotspots for CCSD. The link to donate to “Bridging The Digital Divide” is here: http://gado.gs/53q

The Bulldogs’ second project of the “Dawgs For Pups” initiative was called the Food2Kids Snack Drive. The Food2Kids Snack Drive came at a pivotal time for the area community. The temporary COVID-19 unemployment benefits have ended and many parents are unable to go to work with their children receiving a virtual education and not attending school. The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia has reported an 80 percent increase in demand over its 2019 numbers and with September being Hunger Action Month, food bank representatives are stressing that the need for any help in this arena remains high.

The Bulldog football team, as well as other UGA teams, and donors gave nearly 28,000 pounds of food to the Food Bank.

Healthy and transportable snacks were the ones targeted for the Food2Kids Snack Drive. Granola bars, snack-size trail mix, nuts and pretzel bags, 100 percent fruit treat snacks and other various snacks that are not easily crushed under the weight of canned goods were requested for the drive.

“The food drive is very important for kids who are not fortunate to have daily snacks and who have hunger, and I think us as athletes and the staff at (the University of Georgia Athletic Association) have a duty to help our community become a better place and become united,” said senior receiver Demetris Robertson.

“I’ve been giving back to my community as far as I can remember,” said sophomore linebacker Nakobe Dean. “Doing projects like this makes me feel like I am kind of continuing that tradition that we did with my mom growing up. It’s important to help the youth at all times, not just right now in times of despair but all the time since they are the future of our country.”

The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia still accepts donations for this program. The food bank’s hours for drop-off are 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

Georgia ranked second in the league with 10 representatives on the Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team. First Team Defense selections junior DL Jordan Davis and senior S Richard LeCounte highlighted the group of Bulldogs.

Junior C Trey Hill, sophomore WR George Pickens, senior DL Malik Herring, senior LB Monty Rice, sophomore LB Nakobe Dean, junior DB Eric Stokes and junior P Jake Camarda were included on the Second Team. In addition, sophomore LB Nolan Smith was named to the Third Team.

Georgia has a pair of player on this year’s roster who have already earned their undergraduate degrees. The graduates include: DB Prather Hudson (Georgia – Finance) and TE Tre’ McKitty (FSU – Criminology).

All of the SEC players who have achieved an undergraduate degree are sporting the SEC Graduate patch on their uniforms.

The seven Georgia players in 2020 matched the total from 2019 and equaled the second-best total in school history.

OT Andrew Thomas (1st Rd.-No. 4, Giants), RB D’Andre Swift (2nd Rd.-No. 35, Detroit), OT Isaiah Wilson (1st Rd.-No. 29, Tennessee), OG Solomon Kindley (4th Rd.-No. 111, Miami), QB Jake Fromm (5th Rd.-No. 167, Buffalo), TE Charlie Woerner (6th Rd.-No. 190, San Francisco) and ILB Tae Crowder (7th Rd.-No. 255, N.Y. Giants) were all picked by NFL teams.

Selected as the draft’s final pick, Crowder became Georgia’s second “Mr. Irrelevant” after Bulldog Donald Chumley was taken with the last pick in the 1985 draft. Crowder is on the Giants active roster. Also, eight Bulldogs signed as free agents.

Georgia has 50 players on NFL rosters, including 10 that were part of the Bulldogs’ offense last year.

The Bulldogs have had nine first-time starters in their 2020, including seven in the opener.

@ ARK: 7 (Darnell Washington, William Mote, Jake Podlesny, Nakobe Dean, Jermaine Burton, D’Wan Mathis, Owen Condon)
#7 AU: 2 (Stetson Bennett, Warren McClendon)

During the 2020 season opener, 10 true freshmen played for the Bulldogs.

@ ARK: Malik Herring, Richard LeCounte, Jamaree Salyer
#7 AU: Tyson Campbell, Monty Rice, Zamir White