Category: UGA Football

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia senior lineman Jordan Davis has been included as one of five finalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, according to an announcement from the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Davis, a native of Charlotte, N.C., joins Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett, Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III and Alabama quarterback Bryce Young as finalists.

The Walter Camp Player of Year recipient, who is voted on by the 130 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced on Dec. 9 on The Home Depot College Football Awards show.

Davis has already been named a finalist for the Outland Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Senior CLASS Award and a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.

During the Bulldogs’ 12-0 start and run to this weekend’s Southeastern Conference Championship Game, Davis has registered 24 stops, including 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, and scored a rushing touchdown versus Charleston Southern.  His presence has helped Georgia rank first nationally in Scoring Defense (6.9 points/game), Total Defense (230.8 yards/game) and Red Zone Defense (54.5 percent), second in Passing Yards Allowed (151.9 y/g) and third in Rushing Defense (78.9 y/g).

A pair of Georgia players had already been named award finalists.  Junior quarterback Stetson Bennett (Burlsworth Trophy) and junior linebacker Nakobe Dean (Butkus Award) are one of three candidates still eligible to garner these individual honors.  In addition, Dean had already been named to the 2021 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

The No. 1/1/1 Bulldogs (12-0, 8-0 SEC) face No. 3/4/2 Alabama (11-1, 7-1 SEC) in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.  CBS will televise the matchup from the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

ATHENS, Ga. – University of Georgia true freshman tight end Brock Bowers and redshirt freshman defensive back Kelee Ringo have been named two of 14 semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, presented by the Maxwell Football Club to the outstanding freshman player in college football.

Georgia is one of two schools with multiple semifinalists, with Ohio State earning three.  Bowers is the only tight end to earn honors, while Ringo is one of four secondary players to be recognized.

Bowers has immediately become one of the most explosive offensive players in the country during his first season in Athens, tallying 10 receiving touchdowns, the most of any Southeastern Conference tight end.  The Napa, Calif., native has hauled in 37 receptions for 652 yards, ranking first on the team in both marks and setting a new program record for single-season receiving yards by a tight end.  After opening his career with a team-high six catches against Clemson, he racked up over 100 yards receiving against UAB, Kentucky and Georgia Tech, earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors twice.  Bowers was previously named a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award, presented to the nation’s top tight end.

Ringo has become a key contributor to the Georgia secondary after redshirting the 2020 season, playing in all 12 games this season and starting the past nine.  The Tacoma, Wash., native played every snap of the Bulldogs’ wins over Tennessee and Kentucky, posting seven tackles and a sack in the victory against the Wildcats.  Ringo also tallied five tackles against Florida and grabbed an interception against UAB.  For the season, he has amassed 22 tackles and seven pass breakups, ranking third on the team in the latter.

The Shaun Alexander Award has been presented since 2018 and is named for the former Alabama and Seattle Seahawks running back.  Three finalists for the award will be named on Dec. 21, with the winner being announced Jan. 10, 2022.  The award will be formally presented to the winner at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala on March 18, 2022, in Atlantic City, N.J.

No. 1/1/1 Georgia (12-0, 8-0 SEC) faces No. 3/4/2 Alabama (11-1, 7-1 SEC) in the SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday.  CBS will televise the matchup at 4 p.m. EST.

ATHENS, Ga. — University of Georgia players previewed Saturday’s SEC Championship game matchup against Alabama. The Bulldogs and the Tide kick off at 4 p.m. ET in Atlanta, Ga in the Mercedes Benz Stadium.

On Wednesday, redshirt freshmen Ladd McConkey and Sedrick Van Pran offered the following comments after practice…

#84|  Ladd McConkey | RFr. | WR
On George Pickens…
“He’s a phenomenal player. What he can do when he plays is special. Going out there, doing his thing, having fun – y’all know how George is when he’s out there doing his thing and making plays. He makes a huge impact on our offense.”

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ATHENS, Ga. – Defensive players Travon Walker and Quay Walker previewed Saturday’s SEC Championship match up against Alabama.

The Bulldogs are set to kick off against the Crimson Tide at 4:00p.m. ET in Atlanta, Ga., at Mercedes Benz Stadium.

#44 Travon Walker | DL | Jr.
On the responsibilities of his position…
“Basically, at the position that I play, sometimes, we can be asked to do a lot, but sometimes, it doesn’t get the recognition that it deserves. At my position, there is a lot that goes into it. Setting the edge, dropping in coverage, asked to get sacks, or asked to eat blocks, so it could be a variety of things.”

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ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart, along with several players, spent time with media on Monday to preview this week’s Southeastern Conference Championship game against Alabama.

Smart and the Bulldogs offered the following comments.

Head Coach Kirby Smart

Opening Statement …
“We are looking forward to the SEC Championship game. Always a great venue, a great event. I spoke on this yesterday. I feel like I’m saying the same thing twice, but it’s just an incredible atmosphere to play in. I never had a chance to play in it as a player, but have coached in it a lot of times, and it’s just a special atmosphere. And the fan bases of both teams regardless of who’s in it, are always so passionate, and excited for our players to get an opportunity to play in it. I guess it’s the first time since we’ve been here that we’ve got less of a portion of guys that have played in it. Our upperclassman have. Some have played in two of them, some in one, and some in zero. Very important to keep your composure and have a good plan of attack and then execute.”

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ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia Fain & Billy Slaughter Defensive Coordinator/outside linebackers coach Dan Lanning has been named one of five finalists for the 2021 Broyles Award, making him a finalist for the second time in three years.

The four other finalists for the Broyles Award, which is presented to college football’s assistant coach of the year, are Baylor offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Jeff Grimes, Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, Michigan offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Josh Gattis and Wake Forest offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Warren Ruggiero.

Lanning was also a finalist in 2019.  Bulldog head coach Kirby Smart won the 2009 honor and was a finalist in 2015 while at Alabama.

The five finalists are invited to travel to Little Rock, Ark., on Dec. 6-7 where the 2021 Broyles Award winner will be announced.

In his third year as defensive coordinator and fourth overall with the Bulldogs, Lanning has established Georgia’s defense as one of the nation’s best year in and year out.  The Bulldogs lead the country in Scoring Defense (6.9 points/game), Total Defense (230.6 yards/game) and Red Zone Defense (54.5 percent), are second in Passing Yards Allowed (151.6 y/g) and are third in Rushing Defense (79.0 y/g).  The Bulldogs have allowed an FBS best 83 points in 2021.

Georgia is on the verge of setting several all-time UGA marks.  The school record for fewest average points allowed in a season with 12 or more games is 12.6 in 2019.  The fewest points allowed in a season with 12 or more games is 176 also in 2019.  The defense has posted three shutouts this year, including two in Southeastern Conference play.

The No. 1 Bulldogs (12-0, 8-0 SEC) face No. 4 Alabama (11-1, 7-1 SEC) in the SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday.  CBS will televise the matchup at 4 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Fans attending the 2021 SEC Football Championship Game in Atlanta on December 4 are encouraged to become familiar with policies related to fan enjoyment and security for the game.

The 2021 SEC Football Championship game will kick off at 4 pm ET / 3 pm CT on December 4 in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium and will be televised by CBS. The game is sold out.

• Mobile Tickets – All tickets will be digital for the game. Fans should familiarize themselves with the mobile ticketing process at http://www.secsports.com/mobile.
• Gates of Mercedes-Benz Stadium will open at 1:30 p.m. ET for early-arriving fans.
• SEC Clear Bag Policy – For security purposes, only clear bags are permitted in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Bags will be inspected before entry.
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium Cashless Policy – By accepting only credit cards, debit cards and mobile payments, transactions take place faster and allows concessions and merchandise vendors to operate more efficiently for customers.
• SEC Ticket Exchange – Fans should be aware of counterfeit tickets and should use the SEC Ticket Exchange at http://www.secticketoffice.com/ to purchase verified tickets.
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium Pom-Pom Policy – Pom-poms or shakers must have paddle handles to be admitted into the stadium. Pom-poms or shakers with stick handles are prohibited for safety reasons.
• Tailgating will be allowed in The Home Depot Backyard West Lawn and M Lot.

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By John Frierson
Staff Writer

ATLANTA — We didn’t know what we knew back on Sept. 4, when Christopher Smith returned an interception for a touchdown and the defense led Georgia to a 10-3 grind-it-out win over then-No. 2 Clemson in the Duke’s Mayo Classic in Charlotte, N.C.

OK, we knew that this might be a really good Bulldog defense. But the rest — the offense, special teams, injuries, the schedule, this bounce and that deflection, the million unknowns that are slowly revealed from the start of September through the end of November — we had to wait and wonder and watch.

We know a lot more now, including how crazy good this defense actually is.

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By John Frierson
Staff Writer

You can have the turkey on Thursday, but bring Warren McClendon the ham.

McClendon, a 6-foot-4 and 300-pound Georgia offensive lineman from Brunswick, Ga., is all about the ham on Thanksgiving. His fellow big lineman with a big appetite, Xavier Truss, feels the same way.

Though he’s the nephew of former All-SEC tailback Willie McClendon, who starred in the late 1970s, McClendon, a redshirt sophomore, has forged his own path and made his own name for himself. He’s been the top-ranked Bulldogs’ starter at right tackle all season after starting nine times in 2020.

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