UGA Football: Game Notes – Bulldogs Salute Seniors, Host Vanderbilt

Game & Broadcast Info

On Saturday, Georgia will make its fifth appearance of the season on the SEC Network, including its third straight. The Bulldogs topped Arkansas and Kentucky on the road earlier this season and have beaten Mississippi State and South Carolina in back-toback weekends on the network.

Ninth-ranked Georgia plays host to Vanderbilt on Saturday, marking the 81st matchup in a series that started in 1893. Georgia leads the all-time series 58-20-2, including a 30-7 mark in Athens. The Bulldogs are on a three-game winning streak over the Commodores. Georgia’s last loss to Vanderbilt came in Kirby Smart‘s first year as head coach in 2016 as the Commodores edged the Bulldogs 17-16. Dating back to 1995, Georgia is 22-3, including winning five out of the last six.

Last year, Vanderbilt was Georgia’s season-opening opponent for the first time since 1956. This year, the Commodores were scheduled to be the Bulldogs’ regular season finale. However, the Georgia-Missouri matchup that was postponed on Nov. 14 could now be made up on either Dec. 12 or 19.

The 2020 Bulldog seniors will be playing their final home game on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium. They enter this weekend’s contest with a 42-9 record, three SEC Eastern Di- vision crowns and one SEC title (2017). The most wins by a senior class belongs to the 2005 and 2019 groups that each had 44 wins and claimed a combined three SEC titles (2002, 2005, 2017).

Georgia’s most decorated senior class came in 1983 as they went 43-4-1, winning the 1980 National Championship and three SEC titles (1980-82). Last year’s senior class concluded their career with a 44-12 record. The 2019 Bulldogs highlighted their season by winning the 2020 Sugar Bowl versus No. 7 Baylor.

Opening with a league game for the first time since 1995, Georgia collected its 14th straight victory versus an SEC Eastern Division opponent as the Bulldogs dropped the Commodores 30-6 in Nashville. Current Buffalo Bill quarterback Jake Fromm threw for 156 yards and a touchdown to Demetris Robertson. However, it was the Georgia running backs who racked up 326 yards rushing and another pair of scores. Current Detroit Lion D’Andre Swift ran 16 times for 149 yards while James Cook and Brian Herrien each scampered in for touchdowns. Current Indianapolis Colt Rodrigo Blankenship drilled a trio of field goals, including a 50 yarder, for the only points from either team in the second half. Defensively, Monty Rice and Mark Webb had seven tackles apiece.

The Bulldogs piled up 28 first downs and 560 total yards, including 219 rushing, to extend their record to 6-0 with a 41-13 win over Vanderbilt between the hedges in 2018. Jake Fromm completed 17 of 23 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns in three quarters to lead Georgia while Rodrigo Blankenship connected on both of his field goals (53, 28 yards). The Bulldogs fell behind 3-0 early in the first quarter, but managed to take the lead for good 15 seconds later on a 75-yard scoring strike from Fromm to current Jacksonville Jaguar Terry Godwin. Current Chicago Bear Riley Ridley and D’Andre Swift also caught touchdowns from Fromm while current Philadelphia Eagle Elijah Holyfield and Brian Herrien added six each on the ground. Richard LeCounte anchored the defense with six solo stops.

Georgia inside linebackers Monty Rice and Nakobe Dean have been named two of 16 semifinalists for the Butkus Award. Rice, a senior from Huntsville, Ala., and Dean, a sophomore from Horn Lake, Miss., are the only two teammates on the list. Dean was the 2018 high school Butkus winner. Former Bulldog and current New York Giant Tae Crowder was a semifinalist in 2019 and former Dog and current Chicago Bear Roquan Smith won the 2017 collegiate Butkus Award.

Georgia debuted at No. 9 in the 2020 College Football Playoff rankings last week. The Bulldogs have been ranked in the top 10 of each CFP ranking release dating back to the initial 2017 CFP ranking when Georgia debuted at No. 1. Georgia has been in the CFP’s top 10 for 19 straight polls.

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 ’03

Coaching 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 Coach

Playing 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: 401, JT Daniels vs. MSU (11/21/20)
Passing TDs: 4, Jake Fromm vs. GT x2 (11/25/18, 11/30/19); JT Daniels vs. MSU (11/21/20)
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) Longest Pass/TD Pass: 82-TD, Bennett
Longest Pass/TD Pass: 82-TD, Bennett to James Cook vs. #2 BAMA (10/17/20)
Tackles: 15, Nakobe Dean vs. #8 UF (11/7/20)
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; Monty Rice 20-yd fumble recovery vs. #14 UT; Eric Stokes 37-yd INT return vs. FLA

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

Redshirt sophomore transfer QB JT Daniels helped deliver a 31-24 victory over Mississippi State in his Bulldog debut and then followed it up with a 45-16 road win at South Carolina.

Daniels registered 401 yards passing with four touchdowns (both career highs) in the victory over the SEC West Bulldogs. This was the first 400-yard passing game for a Georgia QB since Aaron Murray in 2013. Most recently, Daniels went 10-for-16 for 139 yards with two touchdowns and a pick in the win at South Carolina.

Daniels was named the Maxwell Award Player of the Week, SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, Manning Award “Star of the Week” and Davey O’Brien “Great 8” honors following the Bulldogs’ win versus MSU.

Thus far with the Bulldogs, Daniels is 11-for-12 for 150 yards and four touchdowns on third down.

Daniels graduated high school early, won the starting QB job at USC in 2018 and started all 11 games that season. Daniels began 2019 as the Trojans starter but was lost for the year following a knee injury in the season opener. He transferred to Georgia during the summer of 2020 and continued to rehab his knee. Daniels joined the QB competition, which featured junior Stetson Bennett, redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis and freshman Carson Beck.

Daniels, who was medically cleared prior to the Auburn game on Oct. 3, continued to compete for the job and volunteered to quarterback the scout team. Following the Florida game, Georgia’s contest at Missouri was postponed because of COVID-19 concerns. Over the next two weeks, Daniels continued to battle for the starting spot. He made his debut as the starter against MSU and that marks the first time since 2006 that Georgia has started three different QBs in the same season (Joe Tereshinski, Matthew Stafford, Joe Cox).

Bennett helped Georgia go 3-2 as a starter, including two wins versus Top-15 teams and came off the bench to lead a comeback victory at Arkansas.

Georgia’s starting line features juniors Jamaree Salyer (LT), Justin Shaffer (LG) and Trey Hill (C) with senior Ben Cleveland (RG) and redshirt freshman Warren McClendon (RT). The unit recently was on the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll.

Redshirt sophomore Owen Condon (RT) got his first start at Arkansas while McClendon has gotten the nod the rest of the way. Also of note, McClendon has made four tackles this season following Bulldog turnovers.

Cleveland was named the SEC OL of the Week for the second and third times in his career following the wins over #7 Auburn and South Carolina.

Georgia’s most effective games running the ball have come against #7 Auburn and at Kentucky and South Carolina. Georgia churned out 749 yards and eight touchdowns on 134 attempts (5.6 avg.) during those three victories.

Against #2 Alabama, Georgia had 145 rushing yards on 30 carries (4.8 avg.), including a 10-yard touchdown by Zamir White.

Georgia tallied a season-high 332 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in the win at South Carolina. It was the most yards on the ground since piling up 426 against UMass in 2018.

Junior James Cook led the attack at South Carolina with a career-high 102 yards and two touchdowns. Redshirt sophomore Zamir White also scored twice and finished with 84 yards.

Cook (39 att., 267 yds., 2 TDs) is also a target out of the backfield with 15 catches for 188 yards and a touchdown. He had an 82-yard scoring catch at #2 Alabama and finished with 102 receiving yards. His score is the longest TD reception by a Bulldog since 2013.

White leads the running game with 121 carries for 614 yards (both team highs) and nine touchdowns. He posted his second straight 100-yard rushing game after going for 107 yards on seven carries versus the #8 Gators, highlighted by his 75-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game. Versus the Wildcats, White had a career-high 26 carries for 136 yards and a score.

White is also 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).

Redshirt sophomore Kearis Jackson (32 rec., 455 yds., 3 TDs) has emerged as a top target. After posting career highs in catches and yards against Arkansas, he set new career highs in the win over #7 Auburn. Jackson collected nine catches for 147 yards. Against Mississippi State, he hauled in the game-winning touchdown, a 40 yarder, from JT Daniels on a 3rd-and-20 situation.

Sophomore George Pickens ranks second on the squad with 24 catches for 252 yards and three touchdowns. After missing the Kentucky and Florida games with an injury, Pickens returned to grab eight catches for 87 yards, including a four-yard score on 3rd-and-goal in the win over MSU.

True freshman Jermaine Burton (21-360-3) was a popular target for Stetson Bennett against #2 Alabama and also JT Daniels in the win over MSU. He had four catches for 58 yards and his first career touchdown against the Tide. His scoring reception was a 5-yard grab on 3rd-and-goal to give Georgia a 24-17 edge in the second quarter. Versus MSU, Burton made the best out of Daniels debut with eight receptions for 197 yards and two scores. His 197 yards ranked fourth best in school history.

Now healthy, speedy freshman Arian Smith grabbed his first career catch, a 31-yard touchdown, at South Carolina.

With Pickens out, freshman Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint got the call against #8 UF and hauled in his first career touchdown (a 32 yarder on 3rd-and-7) to put Georgia up 14-0. However, he sustained a right ankle injury as he crossed the goal line. Rosemy- Jacksaint will be sidelined for the remainder of 2020.

Georgia utilizes the tight ends as well with redshirt sophomore John FitzPatrick, graduate transfer Tre’ McKitty (FSU) and freshman Darnell Washington combining for 14 catches for 221 yards and two scores.

When healthy, the Bulldogs have one of the nation’s top defenses. Georgia has been without its starting safety in senior Richard LeCounte, starting nose in junior Jordan Davis and starting defensive tackle in senior Julian Rochester the last three contests. The Bulldogs rank second in the SEC allowing just 20.6 points/game. Georgia leads the league with 23 sacks.

In the Bulldogs’ six wins this year, they have allowed just a total of 80 points. Against the nation’s top-scoring offense in #2 Alabama, the Crimson Tide posted a 41-24 win in Tuscaloosa. Then, #8 Florida, who was 10th nationally in Scoring Offense at 42.2, posted a 44-28 win as Georgia was missing three starters due to injury. Still, the Bulldogs held the Gators to a pair of field goals in the second half.

Georgia tops the SEC and ranks third nationally in Rushing Defense (75.2 ypg). The Bulldogs have allowed a pair of 100-yd. rushers this year (UA’s Najee Harris, 152; UK’s Chris Rodriguez, 108). The aforementioned pair gained a combined 260 while the rest of the Dogs’ opponents have combined to rush for 342 yards.

Georgia held Auburn to just 39 yards on 22 tries. Thanks in part to five sacks, #14 Tennessee finished with minus-1 rushing yards on 27 attempts. The Bulldogs gave up only 22 yards on 14 carries in the win over Mississippi State.

Juniors Eric Stokes and Tyson Campbell and sophomores Lewis Cine and Tyrique Stevenson round out the starters in the secondary. Cine had a career-high 12 solo stops in the road win over South Carolina. Christopher Smith replaced LeCounte in the lineup the last three games. Smith had a career-high five tackles against the Gamecocks.

Senior Mark Webb also plays in the secondary and posted a career-high nine tackles against MSU as did Stevenson with seven stops.

Campbell collected his first interception and returned it 40 yards to set up a touchdown against South Carolina and added four tackles.

LeCounte, a Preseason All-American, is out due to a motorcycle accident after the Kentucky game. He missed his first start in Georgia’s last 24 games versus #8 Florida. LeCounte has three picks this year and eight in his career. Against the Wildcats, he had a career-high 14 stops and a forced fumble and was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his career as well as the Jim Thorpe Award Player of the Week.

Georgia is deep at LB with Monty Rice leading the way. He ranks second with 46 stops this year. Rice was named the Bednarik Award Player of the Week following his performance in the win over #14 Tennessee. He had strip-sack, recovered the fumble and ran it in 20 yards for his first career touchdown against the Vols.

Redshirt sophomore Azeez Ojulari has a team high 8.5 TFLs, including 5.5 sacks, and has a pair of forced fumbles. He ranks second in the SEC in both sacks and TFLs.

Against the Vols, Ojulari earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. He registered four tackles, including a sack for a loss of six yards, a forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Sophomore Nakobe Dean leads the team with 63 tackles. He posted a career-high 15 tackles versus #8 Florida.

Sophomore Nolan Smith, junior Quay Walker, senior Jermaine Johnson and sophomore and 2019 Freshman All-SEC selection Travon Walker have given this position additional depth.

Junior ILB Channing Tindall, a Columbia, S.C., native, was one of the Bulldogs’ three captains against South Carolina. He responded with his third sack of the year.

Georgia started the season with preseason All-SEC selection Jordan Davis and a trio of seniors in Devonte Wyatt, Malik Herring and Julian Rochester up front. However, Davis and Rochester were injured in the win at Kentucky and have missed the last three games. Davis is aiming to get back in action and traveled to the South Carolina game but did not play.

Freshman Jalen Carter garnered his first start against the Gators and then again against South Carolina. He blocked a PAT and had three tackles, including a TFL, in the win over the Gamecocks.

Herring had four stops, including a sack, at #2 Alabama. Wyatt matched his career high with seven stops in the win at Kentucky.

Redshirt freshman Zion Logue and sophomore Travon Walker have also earned more playing time of late, recently contributing with five tackles and a TFL and three stops, respectively, versus SC.

Carter lined up in the backfield versus #14 Tennessee and caught a 1-yard touchdown reception from QB Stetson Bennett.

Redshirt sophomore Jack Podlesny is 10-for-12 on field goals and 30-for-30 on PATs this year. He made his debut in the 2020 season opener. Podlesny made a pair of 38-yard field goals, went 3-for-3 on PATs and five of his six kickoffs resulted in touchbacks in the win over Arkansas.

In the victory over #14 Tennessee, Podlesny had a solid game going 3-for-3 on field goals, including a career-long 51 yarder that gave the Bulldogs the lead for good at 23-21 in the third quarter.

At #2 Alabama, Podlesny hit his second FG from 50 or more yards and added three PATs.

Georgia extended the NCAA record this season for consecutive PATs made. The streak stands at 322 dating back to 2014. The streak involves six kickers (Marshall Morgan, Patrick Beless, William Ham, David Marvin, Rodrigo Blankenship and Podlesny).

For the first time since 2015, Georgia needed to replace its placekicker as the All-American/2019 Lou Groza Award winner Blankenship graduated. He now serves as the Indianapolis Colts PK.

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.

Junior punter Jake Camarda’s 47.8 average ranks third in the country and the Bulldogs 45.6 average in Net Punting leads the nation. He has punted 29 times and placed 17 inside the 20 and has had 14 that have traveled 50+. Opponents have only had two punt returns for two yards. Camarda is also kicking off as Georgia leads the SEC in kickoff coverage and is tied for the conference lead in KO touchbacks with 35 out of 48.

Camarda has been included on the Ray Guy Award Watch List. He has been named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week twice this year (ARK, UK). He has been on the “Ray’s 4” list as one of the week’s top punters nationally twice.

Against #7 Auburn, Camarda only punted twice in the first half and averaged 51.5 yards. During the win over #14 Tennessee, he had a pair of punts for an average of 56.5, including a 64 yarder.

Now in his third season, Camarda is averaging 45.7 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.

In the KOR game, redshirt sophomore Kearis Jackson has a 30.9 avg. on eight returns, which would rank seventh nationally if he met the minium of 1.2 ret./game. He had a team-long 56 yarder against #8 Florida. The team is third nationally at 32.1.

Sophomore Kenny McIntosh had six returns for 218 yards (36.3 average) after getting injured against #2 Alabama. He missed the Kentucky and Florida games and has not come back in the return game. McIntosh’s longest of the year was a 48 yarder at Arkansas.

With WR/PR Dominick Blaylock out for the year with a knee injury, Jackson has been handling the punt returns too. Jackson is averaging 9.8 yards on 10 punt returns this year, including a career-long 52 yarder at South Carolina.

Bulldog offensive coordinator Todd Monken defines an explosive play as at least a 12-yard rush or a 16-yard completion.

Longest Rush by Georgia: 75-yard TD by Zamir White vs. #8 UF
Longest Rush by Opp.:34 yards by SC’s Rashad Amos
Longest Completion by Georgia: 82-yard TD @ #2 BAMA (Stetson Bennett to James Cook)
Longest Completion by Opp.: 90-yard TD by #2 BAMA (Mac Jones to Jaylen Waddle)

Turnovers (interceptions, forced fumbles), deflections, tackles for loss, including sacks, are examples of havoc plays.

Did You Know? Georgia is 14-1 when it registers a Non-Offensive Touchdown/Score in the Kirby Smart era. There have been a total of 17 since 2016 (15 TDs, 2 Safeties).

*Deandre Baker 56-yard INT Ret. then dropped ball before goal line, Juwan Taylor picked up in endzone
^Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic, Ga. Dome, Atlanta; +now known as TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville

Georgia, Kentucky and Arkansas are the only three teams in the nation that have faced three opponents ranked in the AP Top 10 at the time of game. The Bulldogs knocked off #7 Auburn 27-6 and fell to #2 Alabama and #8 Florida.

Junior DB Eric Stokes is tied for the team lead in interceptions with three alongside senior S Richard LeCounte. Stokes, who did not have a pick before this season, has returned two for touchdowns (vs. #8 Florida, @ Arkansas) and is one of only three players in the FBS who have accomplished that feat this year. Stokes also scored a touchdown after blocking a punt and returning it versus Missouri in 2018.

Stokes is the third Bulldog to return two picks for scores in the same season. In fact, both Jake Scott (W, 35-14 @ Kentucky, 1968) and Darryl Gamble (W, 52-38 @ LSU, 2008) had their pair in the same game.

No Bulldog has ever had three picks returned for touchdowns in a season. Cal’s Deltha O’Neal owns the NCAA record with four interceptions returned for touchdowns in one season in 1999.

The Bulldogs have maintained their spot in the AP Top 25 now for 62 consecutive weeks, which ranks fourth nationally, dating back to the start of the 2017 season. Following Georgia’s second loss of the season, the Bulldogs fell out of the Top 10 on Nov. 8 for the first time since Sept. 25, 2017. This was a streak of 54 consecutive weeks in the Top 10 and that trailed only Alabama and Clemson, who each stand at 88 apiece.

The Bulldogs wore black jerseys during their latest victory over Mississippi State. Georgia has worn black jerseys six times (five games and one G-Day scrimmage) in the modern era with the traditional silver britches.

In the 2020 season opening victory at Arkansas, Georgia wore wear red pants as a tribute to the 1980 Bulldogs, who wore them once that season in the opening win at Tennessee. In both instances, Georgia paired the pants with white jerseys.

This year is the 40th anniversary of that undefeated national championship season. A circular commemorative national championship patch is also displayed on the chest of the jersey. Additionally, a square patch with the phrase “Together Equality” is on the jersey.

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

Bennett came in to help spark the Bulldogs to a 37-10 road win over Arkansas in the opener after Mathis got the start. In addition to his passing performance, Bennett also ran for a two-point conversion.

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.

The Bulldogs and donors gave $100,000 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.”

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 27,000 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.

“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.

The Georgia football team has officially started its third project of the “Dawgs For Pups” initiative in the form of a coat drive for area children.

The latest initiative is a coat drive for children in the Athens- Clarke County area. With winter approaching and colder temperatures coming, the Bulldog football team and the rest of the UGA Athletic Association will be working with the local Boys & Girls Club to generate donations of new or gently used coats for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Donations for the coat drive can be dropped on the main floor (third floor) of the UGAAA’s Butts-Mehre Building (1 Selig Circle, Athens, GA 30602) between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Bulldogs will be offering 2020 football schedule posters signed by head coach Kirby Smart to anyone who donates a new or gently used coat.

“It’s going to start getting pretty cold out there and a lot of kids don’t have the gear they need to stay warm,” said Bulldog receivers coach Cortez Hankton. “We want to be sure we provide them with coats and support. We want to be sure our Dawgs take care of the ‘Pups’ in our community and that we give what we can.”

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 17 first-time starters in 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)
#14 UT: 2 (Tre’ McKitty, Nolan Smith)
@ #2 UA: none
@ UK: 2 (Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Quay Walker)
vs. #8 UF: 3 (Jalen Carter, Christopher Smith, Kendall Milton)
@ MU: ppd
MSU: 1 (JT Daniels)
SC: none

During the 2020 season opener, 10 true freshmen played for the Bulldogs. This season, 15 true freshmen have taken the field for Georgia.

@ ARK: Malik Herring, Richard LeCounte, Jamaree Salyer
#7 AU: Tyson Campbell, Monty Rice, Zamir White
#14 UT: Mark Webb, Kearis Jackson, Jordan Davis
@ #2 UA: Azeez Ojulari, Rice, Salyer
@ UK: Herring, Trey Hill, Eric Stokes
vs. #8 UF: James Cook, Rice, Campbell
@ MU: ppd
MSU: Salyer, Ojulari, Jackson
SC: Ojulari, Channing Tindall, White