UGA Football: Game Notes – No. 2 Georgia Opens SEC Play vs. Gamecocks

The Bulldogs lead the series with South Carolina 52-19-2, and they have won five out of the last six in the series that dates back to 1894. However, the Gamecocks delivered Georgia its first loss in 2019 (20-17 2OT) in Athens. Since becoming SEC Eastern Division rivals in 1992, the Bulldogs own a 19-10 lead in the series. The Bulldogs are 4-1 overall against the Gamecocks in the Kirby Smart era.

First-year Gamecock head coach Shane Beamer was on Smart’s staff at Georgia in 2016-17 as tight ends coach and special teams coordinator. After serving in several roles for Oklahoma from 2018-20, Beamer took over at South Carolina prior to this season. Will Muschamp is now a member of Smart’s staff after coaching the Gamecocks from 2016-20.

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 the Bulldogs 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 (one rushing yard, 89 passing) on 30 plays. Georgia carried a shutout through three quarters. The Tigers longest play of the night was a 44-yard completion in the fourth quarter. 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 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 senior N Jordan 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. In game two this year, Georgia defeated UAB 56-7.

Georgia had held its first two opponents to a total of 10 points, which matches the fewest since the 2003 season. That year, the Bulldogs blanked Clemson 30-0 on the road and then beat Middle Tennessee State 29-10 in Athens. This year, Georgia defeated No. 3 Clemson 10-3 in Charlotte and then routed UAB 56-7 in Athens. It is worth nothing that UAB’s touchdown came on a pick-six.

The lowest three-game scoring total by Bulldogs opponents to open a season under Smart is 23 in 2019 as Georgia beat Vanderbilt 30-6 in Nashville, then whipped Murray State 63-17 and blanked Arkansas State 55-0 in Athens. The lowest three-game scoring total by Bulldog opponents to open a season in recent history would be 12 points in 2006. That year, Georgia opened with a 48-12 win over Western Kentucky in Athens, then shutout South Carolina 18-0 in Columbia and blanked UAB 34-0 in Athens.

Georgia focused on its rushing attack as the Bulldogs tallied 344 yards on the ground and cruised to a 45-16 road win over the Gamecocks. A week earlier, Georgia used an aerial attack to defeat Mississippi State 31-24 and finished with just eight rushing yards. Against the Gamecocks, James Cook posted a career-best 104 yards including a pair of scores to lead the ground game. The Bulldogs jumped ahead 21-0 in the first quarter and led 28-10 at the half. A Bulldog highlight came to start the fourth quarter when JT Daniels connected with then freshman Arian Smith for a 31-yard scoring strike. It was Smith’s first career reception and extended the lead to 45-10.

Georgia checked in at No. 5 in the AP preseason Top 25 poll as well as the Coaches poll and surged to No. 2 in the latest AP/Coaches polls after beating No. 3 Clemson. This marked the fourth consecutive season that the Bulldogs began in the top five. Georgia opened up with a 10-3 win over the Tigers in the Duke’s Mayo Classic in Charlotte and then topped UAB 56-7 at home. The Tigers were picked No. 3 in the AP and No. 2 in the Coaches poll. The first College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking will be released in October. Georgia will refer to the AP and Coaches poll rankings until the CFP’s weekly rankings.

Saturday starts a stretch of eight consecutive SEC games for the Bulldogs. Georgia won three straight SEC Eastern Division championships between 2017-19 before taking second in 2020. In the Kirby Smart era which began in 2016, the Bulldogs are 33-12 against league opponents counting three appearances in the SEC Championship Game. Since 2017, Georgia is 21-2 against the SEC East. Kirby 

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)

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 20 scores on defense or special teams. The Dogs are 17-1 when they register a non-offensive TD under Smart. This season, Georgia has had a pair of these: Christopher Smith’s 74-yard interception return (#3 CU); Jamon Dumas-Johnson’s 20-yard interception return (UAB).

%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 two games in 2021, the Bulldogs are averaging 33.0 points/game.

The Bulldogs return their top five running backs, headlined by Zamir White who went for 779 yards and 11 touchdowns. Georgia’s top three receivers are also back in Kearis Jackson, George Pickens (currently injured) and Jermaine Burton. Jackson and Pickens had 36 catches to lead the corps. Pickens and Burton were the latest Bulldogs to go down with knee injuries. Burton’s occurred during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl while Pickens’ injury happened in the spring.

On the second play of the game versus UAB, Burton caught a 73-yard touchdown pass from Stetson Bennett. On the year Burton has five catches for 103 yards to be the Bulldogs’ second-leading receiver.

Sophomore Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint returned for the 2021 season opener but the Bulldogs did not have Pickens, Dominick Blaylock, TE Darnell Washington and Jackson only fielded punts.

Eleven different Bulldogs caught a pass in the win over Clemson.

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 is 5-0 as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback. He did not play against UAB as senior Stetson Bennett got the start in a 56-7 win.

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.

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 trio of Bulldogs back up Daniels. 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. Brock Vandagriff, who was rated a five-star recruit, is more of a dual-threat QB. 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. Vandagriff saw his first collegiate action but did not attempt a pass.

Zamir White leads a loaded backfield for the Bulldogs. Senior James Cook, sophomore Kendall Milton, junior Kenny McIntosh and sophomore Daijun Edwards make up the rest of the top-five rushers from 2020 and all return this season.

White highlighted the running game last season with 144 carries for 779 yards (both team highs) and 11 TDs. Also, he is a key member of the special teams unit, including collecting his first career blocked punt at Arkansas last year.

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.

In rout of UAB, the Bulldogs shared the load at RB. Cook provided the highlight with a 14-yard scamper for a score.

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 13 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 started game two at RG versus UAB.

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 at receiver while true freshman AD Mitchell and redshirt freshman Ladd McConkey are also battling for snaps following a productive preseason.

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

Jackson (36 rec., 514 yds., 3 TDs) and Pickens (36-513-6) were Georgia’s co-leaders from the corps last year.

Freshman Brock Bowers made his career debut by starting against #3 Clemson. He led the Bulldogs with six catches for 43 yards in the victory. Then Bowers followed that up with a career day against UAB with three catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns. His first touchdown catch of his career was an 89 yarder from Stetson Bennett. This was the ninth-longest passing TD in school history.

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.

Washington has missed the first two games with an injury.

Defensive coordinator Dan Lanning is now in his fourth year and guided his unit to a national leading mark in Rushing Defense (72.3 yards/game) last season.

This year the Bulldogs have been even better at stopping the run, averaging just 64.5 yards on the ground a game. Georgia’s first two opponents have not scored until the fourth quarter this season and UAB’s touchdown came on a pick-six. Clemson only managed a fourth quarter field goal.

The Bulldogs return only four starters on defense – DLs Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt, ILB Nakobe Dean, DB Lewis Cine -and they all made an impact in the win over No. 3 Clemson.

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 missed the season opener. Kendrick made his first career start at Georgia and finished with three tackles in the season-opening win.

Smith scored the only touchdown in the win over No. 3 Clemson on a 74-yard interception return (the first 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, redshirt sophomore Zion Logue 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.

In the win over UAB, Walker had four tackles while Stackhouse had two stops, including a sack, and a pressure led to an interception.

Junior ILB Nakobe Dean was the team’s leading tackler with 71 last year and finished the season as a semifinalist for the 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.

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 two games of 2021, Anderson has eight tackles and two sacks while Smith has four stops and a sack.

Veteran Robert Beal and sophomore MK Sherman provide depth at the position along with early enrollee freshmen Chaz Chambliss and Xavian Sorey.

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. Camarda followed that up with a 49.7 average on three punts versus UAB.

This year, Camarda is averaging 45.8 yards/punt placing five inside in the 20 and three have been 50+. Georgia leads the SEC in net punting at 46.0. Camarda is averaging 45.5 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 nine touchbacks out of his 10 kickoffs.

Junior Jack Podlesny is 14-for-19 on field goals and 47-for-47 on PATs. This year, he is 1-for-3 on FGs and 9-for-9 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 339 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. 2 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

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

Georgia is +1 in turnover margin in 2021. The Bulldogs have scored 21 points off four turnovers. Opponents have scored 7 points off three 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

UGA has 9 plays that have covered 25 yards or more while opponents have 2.

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)