Category: UGA Football

Georgia senior offensive lineman Justin Shaffer loves green grapes. They are, in fact, a preferred pre-practice snack. At about 4 calories per grape, Shaffer would have to eat a lot of them to get much of an energy surge, but that’s kind of the point, he explained after practice Wednesday.

A 6-foot-4 and 330-pound left guard from Ellenwood, Ga., near Atlanta, Shaffer was a three-star recruit coming out of Cedar Grove High School. He arrived at Georgia in 2017 and played in eight games as a backup during that season’s run to the College Football Playoff. The next season, he played in 12 games as a reserve.

In 2019, Shaffer came in off the bench because of an injury and played a lot in the win over Notre Dame. He then made his first collegiate start against Tennessee, playing every offensive snap. He also started against South Carolina, but then missed the rest of the season with an injury.

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The No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs continued preparation Wednesday Sept. 29, prior to Saturday’s Top-Ten Southeastern Conference matchup against No. 8 Arkansas. Head football coach Kirby Smart met with the media on the SEC’s weekly teleconference call while players offered comments after practice.

Head Coach Kirby Smart
Opening Statement…
“We are coming into the home game excited about Arkansas coming to play at our place. I have a lot of respect for Sam (Pittman) and his staff. They have done a tremendous job creating a new culture and energy there at Arkansas. I would expect nothing less from him. I’m very thankful for what he did with our organization before he left. It will be an exciting atmosphere. I can’t wait to see the atmosphere created Saturday. With our fan base and the early kick, it should be very interesting. I’m excited to see our guys get ready to go play in another big one.”

On Arkansas success with the deep ball…
“They run the ball well. When you run the ball successfully you create one-on-one opportunities and shots. They’ve done that well. I also think their quarterback does an unbelievable job of throwing the deep ball. That is probably the best throw that KJ (Jefferson) makes. Getting the timing on the deep ball. They have some really big wideouts that create matchup issues.”

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Robert Beal Jr. doesn’t spend that much time watching contact sports on television. Georgia’s 6-foot-4 and 255-pound outside linebacker would prefer to watch either bowling or tennis, he said during a Quick Chat this week.

A senior from Peachtree Ridge, Ga., Beal got into football, he said, because he was too physical for basketball when he was in fifth grade. It’s a transition that has worked out well for him. Beal has seven tackles, including a sack, and seven quarterback hurries through four games this season. In last Saturday’s 62-0 shutout of Vanderbilt, he had three solo stops, a 10-yard sack and two QB hurries,

During our Quick Chat, Beal talked about his start in football, not liking getting hit, his love of bowling, and much more. Here’s some of what he had to say:

Frierson: What do you remember about your start in football? We’re you really eager to play or did you kind of fall into it?

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The years keep rolling one after another. One minute James Cook is a freshman running back competing for carries amid a very talented backfield led by D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield, showing flashes of explosiveness when he got the chance. The next, Cook is a senior, a veteran leader trying to help lead the Georgia football team to a special season.

A senior from Miami, Cook and Zamir White have been the leaders of the Bulldogs’ talented running back group for the past couple of seasons. That depth has kept all of their totals down but it hasn’t kept them from making plenty of big plays. White led Georgia with 779 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns last season while Cook had 303 yards on the ground, averaged 6.7 yards per carry, and scored three rushing TDs. Cook also caught 16 passes for 225 yards and two TDs.

Cook’s older brother, Dalvin, is not only the Minnesota Vikings’ top running back, he’s one of the best in the NFL. Dalvin ran for more than 1,500 yards last season and caught 44 passes. Georgia doesn’t give James Cook as many carries as the Vikings do his big brother, but the Bulldogs do try to make the most of his versatility. Heading into Saturday’s big SEC game between the No. 2-ranked Bulldogs and No. 8 Arkansas, Cook has rushed 22 times for 123 yards (a 5.6-yard average) and caught eight passes for 27 yards and a score.

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ATHENS — The Saturday, Oct. 9, Southeastern Conference football game between Georgia and Auburn in Auburn will kick off at either 12:00 noon or 3:30 p.m. ET according to an announcement Monday by the SEC office.  Game time and televising network will be set following games of Oct. 2.

Georgia and Auburn will play at either 12:00 noon on ESPN or 3:30 p.m. on CBS.  Arkansas at Ole Miss is the other game under consideration.

 How the Bulldogs in the NFL fared in Week 3:

    Falcons 17, Giants 14
    Cameron Nizialek, P: Nizialek punted six times for an average of 47.3 yards, with three inside the 20-yard line, for the Falcons. He held on the 40-yard game-winning field goal as well as on two extra points and he kicked off three times.
    Lorenzo Carter, OLB: Carter had a tackle for loss and recovered a fumble for the Giants. The fumble was forced by former Bulldog Azeez Ojulari.
    Tae Crowder, ILB: Crowder led New York with 11 tackles and he defended a pass.
    Azeez Ojulari, OLB: Ojulari had three tackles, including a sack, and forced a fumble for the Giants. The fumble was recovered by former Bulldog Lorenzo Carter. Ojulari is the first Giant with a sack in each of his first three games. He stands ninth in the NFL with the three sacks.
    Andrew Thomas, OL: Thomas logged all 70 snaps at tackle and helped the Giants accumulate 346 net yards.

    Rams 34, Buccaneers 24
    Leonard Floyd, OLB: Floyd had four tackles, including a sack, for the Rams.
    Sony Michel, RB: Making his first start for Los Angeles, Michel rushed for 67 yards on 20 carries and hauled in three passes for 12 yards.
    J.R. Reed, DB: Reed was not active for the Rams.
    Matthew Stafford, QB: Stafford went 27-of-38 for 343 yards and four touchdowns, including a 75-yarder, for Los Angeles. He stands second in the NFL with nine touchdown passes and fifth with 942 passing yards.

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