UGA Football: Game Notes – Georgia Takes on Vols on Rocky Top

For the fifth straight week, Georgia is the unanimous No. 1 team in the AP and Coaches polls. This marks the first time since the 2008 preseason that the Bulldogs have carried the top ranking in both polls. During the 1982 regular season, the Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 for five straight weeks. Currently, Georgia is ranked No. 1 in the College Football Playoff poll. Before this season, the last time Georgia was No. 1 in the CFP poll was for two weeks during the 2017 season (Oct. 31, Nov. 7). The second 2021 CFP ranking will be released on Tuesday. Georgia is 4-0 versus ranked teams, including a pair of top-10 wins.

Georgia concludes an eight-game stretch of SEC contests against Tennessee. While the Bulldogs have already clinched the league’s Eastern Division, they are aiming to go a perfect 8-0 in the league for the first time in school history. Georgia has gone a perfect 6-0 in the SEC East two times (2017-18) under Kirby Smart. Since 2017, the Bulldogs are 26-2 against teams from the East.

With Georgia’s 44-21 victory in Athens last season, the Bulldogs moved ahead two games in the all-time series with UT 25-23-2. 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.

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 four seasons to take an edge in the series yet again.

Georgia leads the nation in Scoring Defense giving up just 6.6 points per game. The Bulldogs are averaging 38.4 points per game, which is ranked 14th nationally. Tennessee is averaging 38. 2 ppg, which trails only Alabama and Georgia from the SEC.

The Bulldogs have only trailed twice this year. The first time was at No. 18 Auburn when the Tigers kicked a field goal in the first quarter. Georgia trailed in that game for 5:29. Following the Tigers’ score, the Bulldogs reeled off 24 straight points. The second instance happened in the first period against Missouri following a field goal. The Bulldogs trailed for 5:08 in that contest. Georgia then went on a 40-0 run.

The defense has allowed just five touchdowns while the unit has scored three touchdowns. The defense did not allow a touchdown until the third game of the season and that came in the fourth quarter versus USC with the Bulldogs leading 40-6. The second came at No. 18 AU with Georgia leading 24-3. No. 11 Kentucky had two scores, including the final one with :04 left. Florida scored with 2:49 left in the game with Georgia leading 27-0. By the way, UAB’s touchdown came on a pick-six.

Georgia leads the country in Red Zone defense. Opponents have advanced to the Red Zone only 16 times this season resulting in four touchdowns, five field goals and seven times coming away with no points. Missouri came into its game with the Bulldogs leading the league in Red Zone offense, scoring 25 out of 26 times. The Tigers went 1-for-2 versus Georgia. Missouri called a timeout with :23 left with 1st-and-goal from the 3 yard line. After getting two yards, the Tigers ran three plays from the 1 yard line and were denied.

Georgia opponents have scored just 59 points in 2021. That nine-game tally is the lowest since 1971 when the Bulldogs had allowed 53 through nine contests. Georgia Clinches Fourth SEC Eastern Division Title In Five Years The Bulldogs clinched a spot in the 2021 SEC Championship Game with their 34-7 win over Florida. Georgia tied the record for the earliest date (Oct. 30) in league history to clinch, joining Auburn (2004) and Alabama (1993). This will mark the Bulldogs’ fourth trip to the SECCG in the last five years (2017-19) during Kirby Smart‘s sixth year as head coach. Georgia will make its ninth appearance in the SECCG where the Bulldogs are 3-5, winning titles in 2002, 2005 and 2017.

Georgia aims to post an 8-0 SEC mark for the first time in school history. Georgia has completed league play undefeated seven times with the 1959 SEC Championship registering a 7-0 mark. The 1946, 1949 and 1966 Bulldog teams went 5-0 in the SEC. The 1980-81-82 Bulldogs all finished SEC play 6-0. The SEC went to an eight-game league slate when it split into divisions in 1992.

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), @ VU (9/25/21), vs. #11 UK (10/16/21)
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 24 scores on defense or special teams. The Dogs are 21-1 when they register a non-offensive score under Smart. This season, Georgia has had five: Christopher Smith’s 74-yd INTreturn (#3 CU); Jamon Dumas-Johnson’s 20-yd INT return (UAB); Safety (SC); Zamir White 0-yd return of blocked punt (#8 ARK); Nakobe Dean’s 50-yd INT return (UF); Safety (UM). The only loss came versus #8 UF in 2020.

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

The Bulldogs are averaging 38.4 points/game. Georgia has outscored its opponents this season 346-59. The Bulldog defense and special teams have combined to score five touchdowns this yea, two safeties and blocked five more potential points (one FG, two PATs).

The Bulldogs share the load at running back and have an array of targets at receiver, which is a position that has yet to be at full strength because of injuries. Still, the Bulldogs have shown an ability for explosive plays in the passing game.

Georgia has had six touchdown passes that have covered at least 38 yards: JT Daniels, 38 yds. vs. USC, WR AD Mitchell; 43 yds. vs USC, WR Jermaine Burton; Stetson Bennett, 73 yds. vs. UAB, Burton; 61 yds. vs UAB, WR Arian Smith; 89 yds. vs. UAB, TE Brock Bowers; 60 yds. vs. #18 AU, WR Ladd McConkey.

JT Daniels, an Irvine, Calif., native, served as UGA’s starting quarterback from game seven of the 2020 campaign through the 2021 opener.

Daniels did not play against UAB due to a lat injury as senior Stetson Bennett got the start in a 56-7 win. Daniels returned against South Carolina and only played in the first quarter against Vanderbilt during those Bulldog wins. He returned in the third quarter versus Missouri on Nov. 6 and was 7-for-11 for 82 yards and a touchdown with one INT.

Senior Stetson Bennett, a native of Blackshear, Ga., began his career with the Bulldogs as a walk-on in 2017 when he was redshirted. Bennett transferred to Jones College (Miss.) where he started in 2018 and then returned to the Bulldogs on scholarship in 2019. He saw action that season in five games including throwing passes in four of them. In 2020, he started five games. *In his Bulldog career, Bennett has completed 62 percent of his passes (186-for-302, 2,851 yards, 24 touchdowns, 11 picks). Also, he has 49 rushing attempts for 224 yards and three scores.

In 2021, Bennett has played in eight games (six starts) and is 80-for-120 (66.7 percent) for 1,412 yards with 14 touchdown passes and four interceptions. He has 27 carries for 193 yards. Bennett is 6-0 as a starter this year and is 9-2 in his Bulldog career. *JT Daniels started the season behind center but was sidelined versus UAB due to a lat injury. Bennett stepped in and started that game. Daniels returned against South Carolina and then left the Vanderbilt game after the first quarter with an aggravation of his injury. Bennett played most of the Vanderbilt game and then started in wins over No. 8 Arkansas, at No. 18 Auburn, No. 11 UK, Florida in Jacksonville and versus Missouri.

Against Missouri, Bennett completed 13 of 19 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns. He only played the first half plus the first series of the third quarter before UGA turned the ball over to Daniels.

In the 30-13 win over No. 11 Kentucky, Bennett was on the mark in the second half, completing 9 of 10 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns. He earned a spot on the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 list after finishing with 250 yards passing and three touchdowns.

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. *In 2020, Bennett made his first career start and led the Bulldogs to a 27-6 win over #7 Auburn in Athens.

Freshman TE Brock Bowers has a team-best 28 catches for 493 yards and seven touchdowns (six rec., one rush). He has started every game this year and has tied the school record for most TD catches for a TE in a season (Leonard Pope, 2004).

Some notables from Bowers first season include: 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; had a 12-yard rushing touchdown on his first career carry at Vanderbilt, was the leading receiver with four catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns and was named the SEC Freshman of the Week; has three touchdown receptions of 25+ yards; was the team leader with six catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns against No. 11 Kentucky and was named SEC Freshman of the Week yet again as well as John Mackey Award Tight End of the Week.

Seniors Zamir White (106 attempts, 519 yards, 9 TDs) and James Cook (66-383-4) split a majority of the carries. Most recently, Cook led the Bulldogs with 41 yards rushing against Missouri, and his one touchdown came out of the “Wild Dawg” formation.

White has led the team in rushing in five games while Cook has done it three times. White had 14 carries and went for 105 yards (7.5 per carry) and a TD in the win over Florida. His performance featured a 42-yard touchdown run, which is the longest rush for the Bulldogs this season.

Cook finished with a team-high 87 yards on 12 carries (7.2 avg.) against No. 8 Arkansas as four running backs finished with at least 48 yards rushing each in the win.

White, McIntosh and sophomore Daijun Edwards all scored rushing touchdowns at Vanderbilt, along with WR Ladd McConkey and TE Brock Bowers.

Senior Jamaree Salyer (LT), junior Warren Ericson (LG), redshirt freshman Sedrick Van Pran (C), fifth-year senior Justin Shaffer (RG) and redshirt sophomore Warren McClendon (RT) comprised the starting lineup for a seven-game stretch until the Missouri game on Nov. 6. Then, redshirt freshman Broderick Jones filled in for Salyer versus Missouri due to a foot injury. In the season opener versus No. 3 Clemson, redshirt freshman Tate Ratledge started the opener at LG. A foot injury has kept him out since that game.

The unit was recently named to the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll.

The unit has only allowed five sacks this year. That leads the SEC and ranks third nationally.

Georgia focused on the rushing game versus No. 8 Arkansas and finished with 56 attempts for 273 yards (4.9 yards/rush) and three touchdowns. This was the most rushing attempts in a game during the Kirby Smart era.

At No. 18 Auburn, the Bulldogs rushing attack picked up steam in the second half, gaining 165 yards to finish with 201 in the 34-10 win. Jones also filled in at LT in this game after Salyer went down with an ankle injury. Salyer returned versus No. 11 Kentucky before missing the Missouri contest.

The Bulldogs are still aiming to get 100 percent healthy at receiver. Dominick Blaylock and George Pickens have not played this season as they recover from offseason injuries. Jermaine Burton, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Arian Smith looked their healthiest this year in the win over Missouri on Nov. 6. Burton led the team with three catches for 76 yards and a touchdown while Smith had a 35-yard scoring grab. Eleven different Bulldogs caught a pass versus Missouri.

Prior to the victory over the Tigers, Georgia had been leaning on junior Kearis Jackson, redshirt freshman Ladd McConkey and true freshman AD Mitchell.

Georgia’s leading receivers have been freshman TE Brock Bowers (28 rec., 493 yds., 6 TDs), McConkey (21-338-3), Mitchell (17-248-2) and dog tracks Game 10 Burton (16-300-3).

Jackson accounted for 97 all-purpose yards in the rout over Florida. He had a team-leading three catches for 59 yards and a touchdown while also taking care of return duties with a total of two returns. Jackson’s 36-yard touchdown catch (his first of the year) before halftime put the Bulldogs up 17-0.

During the victory at No. 18 Auburn, McConkey hauled in a careerhigh five catches for 135 yards and a career-long 60-yard touchdown. He became the third Bulldog this year to have a receiving and rushing touchdown in the same game during the win at Vanderbilt. Both he and Bowers accomplished the feat versus the Commodores while senior RB James Cook did it against South Carolina.

Cook has 13 catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bulldogs have five touchdown drives that consisted of just one play each. They had two versus UAB covering 61 and 89 yards. The next one came at AU for 60 yards and most recently, the Bulldogs had two against Florida (11, 36).

Georgia has had three touchdown drives that lasted 11 plays each. They came against SC (90 yds.), ARK (93 yds.) and UM (75). against

Defensive coordinator Dan Lanning is now in his fourth year and the Bulldogs feature the nation’s top Scoring Defense allowing just 6.6 points/game. Georgia stands second in Rushing Defense (80.7 yards per game).

The Georgia defense has allowed just five touchdowns this year while the Bulldog defense has scored three TDs. *Five times this season the Bulldogs have carried a shutout to the fourth quarter. *The Bulldogs posted back-to-back shutouts at Vanderbilt and versus No. 8 Arkansas.

The Bulldogs’ first two opponents did not score until the fourth quarter, and UAB’s lone touchdown came on a pick-six. Clemson managed only a field goal. All 13 of USC’s points came after three turnovers, including two field goals and a fourth quarter touchdown. *Florida avoided being shutout when it scored with 2:49 left in the contest in a 34-7 loss to the Bulldogs.

Georgia is outscoring opponents 296-26 through three quarters.

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).

Junior safety Lewis Cine is a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist and ranks second on the squad with 40 tackles. Cine had a team-high nine tackles and two pass breakups in the road win over No. 18 Auburn.

Christopher 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.

Seniors Latavious Brini and Ameer Speed along with redshirt freshman Kelee Ringo are manning the cornerback spots for the Bulldogs this season. Ringo had a career-high seven tackles against No. 11 Kentucky, including his first career sack.

Walk-on redshirt sophomore Dan Jackson got his first start versus No. 11 Kentucky while Smith was out with a shoulder injury. Jackson has been the team’s leading tackler twice this season. During the 37-0 win over No. 8 Arkansas, he blocked a punt in the first quarter that was recovered by Zamir White in the end zone for a touchdown to put Georgia up 21-0.

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). Kendrick has started every game with 23 stops and one pick. Due to injury, Smith only made his Bulldog debut in week six at No. 18 Auburn but is now injured again.

Preseason All-American Jordan Davis joins fifth-year Devonte Wyatt and sophomore Jalen Carter as the veterans in the center of the defensive line. This season, the three Bulldogs have tallied 14 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, one blocked FG, one blocked PAT and a fumble recovery.

The trio is joined by versatile junior Travon Walker who has started all nine games. Walker has 26 stops, five TFLs and 3.5 sacks.

Against No. 11 Kentucky, Carter posted six stops, including a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss, and blocked the final extra point attempt. That performance earned him SEC DL of the Week.

Against No. 18 Auburn, Davis had five tackles. The Tigers managed only 46 rushing yards on 29 attempts. They were averaging 238 yards on the ground coming into the game.

In the shutout of No. 8 Arkansas, Wyatt led the team with six tackles and 1.5 sacks and was named the SEC DL of the Week.

Davis, Wyatt and Carter bursts onto the national scene in the opener versus No. 3 Clemson. The trio combined for eight tackles, including three tackles for loss and two sacks, and a pass breakup. 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.

Senior ILB Channing Tindall leads the team in tackles with 45. Junior Nakobe Dean ranks fourth with 38. Dean, who was a semifinalist for the 2020 Butkus Award and has recently been selected as a 2021 semifinalist as well, is the leader of the 2021 defense. He had seven tackles and returned his second career interception 50 yards for a touchdown against Florida. The pick-six capped a flurry of big plays by the Bulldogs who scored 21 points in a span of two minutes and nine seconds to build a 24-0 halftime advantage. There were three touchdowns off three turnovers and just two offensive plays.

Senior Quay Walker ranks third on the team with 39 stops. He posted a career-high 13 stops against the Gators. A week earlier, Walker had set a career best with nine against No. 11 Kentucky.

Junior Nolan Smith is one of two linebackers on the outside. He has 32 stops and 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks to go along with a blocked punt versus Missouri.

Smith finished with four stops, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and his first career interception during the win over Florida and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week.

Georgia is the only team to hold opposing offenses out of the end zone in five games this season.

Georgia’s opponents have scored only 59 points, the next fewest allowed by an FBS team is Texas A&M with 132.

Georgia has held eight of its nine opponents to a season low in points with USC (13) the lone exception.

No. 3 Clemson’s three points were the fewest in the Dabo Swinney era and lowest since 2007 against Georgia Tech, a 13-3 loss under Tommy Bowden.

No. 11 Arkansas was shutout for the first time since 2018.

Florida’s seven points were the fewest in the Dan Mullen era and lowest since 2017 versus Georgia, a 42-7 loss under Jim McElwain.

Georgia’s defense has been very impressive, ranking No. 1 nationally in Scoring Defense (6.6 points per game). The top-ranked Bulldogs have allowed just 59 points this year including posting two shutouts in SEC action. That nine-game tally is the lowest since 1971, which allowed 53 points up through that point in the year. Georgia has finished as the NCAA leader in Scoring Defense twice. The 1968 squad allowed 9.8 ppg, going 8-1-2. The 2019 team allowed 12.6 ppg and finished 12-2 with three shutouts.

Points Allowed Through 8 Games Under Smart
59 in 2021 with a 9-0 record (7-0 SEC)
179 in 2020 with a 7-2 record (7-2 SEC)
91 in 2019 with a 8-1 record (5-1 SEC)
148 in 2018 with a 8-1 record (6-1 SEC)
91 in 2017 with a 9-0 record (6-0 SEC)
233 in 2016 with a 5-4 record (3-4 SEC)

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 was a preseason All- American at his position in 2021.

This year, Camarda is averaging 45.8 yards/punt placing 10 inside in the 20 and nine have been 50+. Camarda’s career average of 45.5 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.

For his career, junior PK Jack Podlesny is 27-for-34 on field goals and 80-for-81 on PATs. This year, he is 14-for-18 on FGs and 42-for-43 on PATs. Podlesny 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 ended with a miss versus No. 11 Kentucky at 363 and involved six kickers (Marshall Morgan, Patrick Beless, William Ham, David Marvin, Rodrigo Blankenship and Podlesny). The streak dated back to 2014.

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.

2021: #1 UGA beat Florida 34-7 on Oct. 30 in Jacksonville to go to 6-0 in SEC. *With a win over Missouri or Tennessee, the Bulldogs will clinch the East outright rather than winning in a tiebreaker. The Oct. 30 date tied the SEC mark for the earliest a team had clinched a spot in the SEC Championship Game, matching Auburn (2004) and Alabama (1993).

2019: #4 UGA beat #12 Auburn 21-14 on Nov. 16 in Auburn to go to 6-1 in SEC.

2018: #6 UGA beat #9 Kentucky 34-17 on Nov. 3 in Lexington to go to 6-1 in SEC. It marked the earliest that both participants (Alabama) in the SEC Championship game had been determined as the Crimson Tide beat LSU later that day.

2017: #1 UGA beat South Carolina 24-10 on Nov. 4 in Athens to go to 6-0 in SEC. It was the earliest a team had clinched since Florida (Oct. 31 in 2009).

2012: #7 UGA beat Auburn 38-0 on Nov. 10 in Auburn to go to 7-1 in SEC.

2011: #18 UGA beat Kentucky 19-10 on Nov. 19 in Athens to go to 7-1 in SEC.

2007: Shared with UT at 6-2; Vols won tiebreaker with 35-14 win in Knoxville in week six.

2005: #14 UGA beat Kentucky 45-13 on Nov. 19 in Athens to go to 6-2 in SEC.

2003: A three-way tie with UT and UF (all were 6-2 in the SEC). The tie to go to the SEC Championship Game was broken using the BCS rankings. #5 Georgia had the best ranking plus a 41-14 win over UT in Knoxville in week six who had the next best ranking. UF beat Georgia 16-13 in Jacksonville in week 9.

2002: #7 UGA beat #24 Auburn 24-21 on Nov. 16 in Auburn to go to 7-1 in SEC for their first appearance in the SEC Championship Game.

1992: Shared with Florida at 6-2; Gators won tiebreaker after 26-24 win in week 9 in Jacksonville.

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. #3 CU: Bowers, McConkey, Ratledge, Van Pran, Kendrick (1st at UGA), Speed, T. Walker
vs. UAB: none
vs. SC: Mitchell
@ VU: Ringo
vs. #8 ARK: none
@ #18 AU: Anderson
vs. #11 UK: Jackson
vs. UF: none
vs. UM: Jones

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
@ VU: Jake Camarda, John FitzPatrick, Nolan Smith
vs. 8 ARK: Cook, Salyer, Smith
@ #18 AU: Quay Walker, Warren Ericson, Devonte Wyatt
vs. #11 UK: White, Travon Walker, Dean
vs. UF: Adam Anderson, Cook, Salyer, Q. Walker
UM: Justin Shaffer, Jackson, T. Walker

Georgia is +2 in turnover margin in 2021. The Bulldogs have scored 73 points off 13 turnovers. Opponents have scored 30 points off 11 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
@ VU: (W, 62-0) UGA got 14 points off 3 turnovers; VU got no points off 1 turnover
#8 ARK: (W, 37-0) Neither team had turnovers
@ #18 AU: (W, 34-10) UGA got 3 points off 1 turnover; UGA had no turnovers
vs. #11 UK: (W, 30-13) No turnovers for either team
vs. UF: (W, 34-7) UGA got 21 points off 3 turnovers; UF got 7 points off 3 turnovers
vs. UM: (W, 43-6) UGA did not force any turnovers; UM got 3 points off 1 turnover

UGA has 39 plays that have covered 25 yards or more while opponents have 13.

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)

GAME 4: #2 Georgia @ Vanderbilt (W, 62-0)
UGA: 5 plays; 29-yd TD pass (Bennett to Bowers)
VU: 0 plays

GAME 5: #2 Georgia vs. #8 Arkansas (W, 37-0)
UGA: 1 play; 27-yd pass (Bennett to McIntosh)
#8 ARK: 0 plays

GAME 6: #2 Georgia @ #18 Auburn (W, 34-10)
UGA: 5 plays; 60-yd TD pass (Bennett to McConkey)
#18 AU: 4 plays; 31-yd pass (Nix to Newton)

GAME 7: #1 Georgia vs. 11 Kentucky (W, 30-13)
UGA: 3 plays; 35-yd rush (Milton)
#11 UK: None

GAME 8: #1 Georgia vs. Florida (W, 34-7)
UGA: 6 plays; 50-yd INT return for TD (Dean)
UF: None

GAME 9: #1 Georgia vs. Missouri (W, 43-6)
UGA: 7 plays; 47-yd pass (Bennett to Burton)
UM: 2 plays: 31-yd pass (Macon to Dove)