Category: UGA Football

University of Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart and several Bulldog student-athletes offered the following comments on Monday.

Head Coach Kirby Smart

Opening statement … 

“It’s game week. I am excited to have game week, that is for sure. It has been a long time coming and there has been a lot of things that have happened and transpired since we were on the field last for a competitive game. I know our guys are excited. We saw a lot of excitement out Saturday and Friday when we started to work on our Arkansas prep. Our players are excited, I am excited, our coaches are excited. There are a lot of new faces that are going to get their first opportunity to compete at the SEC level. We are excited to do that, going against a very good friend of mine in Coach Sam Pittman, who did just an unbelievable job while he was here. He and his wife, Jamie, meant so much to the community here in Athens and for so many of our kids. He helped build the foundation of what we have now. I am extremely happy for him for this opportunity he has gotten. I know he always had a special place in his heart for Arkansas, and he got this opportunity to go back.

“He’s got two really good coordinators on his staff. I know Barry [Odom] obviously from the SEC meetings and the SEC experience, him being in the SEC East. Barry is a good friend and a really good football coach. He did a great job at Missouri. His defense has always created a lot of problems. Then, obviously, Coach [Kendal] Briles is a really good football coach, and you have seen what he’s been able to do historically with offensives in terms of numbers. He does a great job. He presents a lot of problems and issues because the pace at which they play and a quarterback that we all know. They have multiple guys that can play. It’s a little bit, for us, a guessing game who we will get to see at their quarterback position. With that, I’ll open it up.”

On the status of QB JT Daniels … 

“We hope JT will be cleared by Saturday, officially.”

On the quarterback situation … 

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Georgia players George Pickens and John FitzPatrick offer comments following practice Friday afternoon.

#1 George Pickens | So. | WR
On what it is like playing and practicing under offensive coordinator Todd Monken and what changed for him, as a receiver…he biggest shift has been from last season…
“The biggest thing that has changed for me as a receiver under Coach Monken was just the split adjust, me being an outside edge  or me being an inside edge. I feel like that helped me a lot, knowing he is an NFL guy…He and Coach [Cortez] Hankton are just two guys who can really help me improve.”

On how he dealt with the pressure coming in as a freshman/how his teammates D’Wan Mathis and Jermaine Burton have dealt with the expectations…
“Coming in from Alabama as a freshman and the expectations that people had for me— I was really just working hard every day. I knew that was the standard at the school I chose, and I feel like Jermaine Burton knows the standard is the same thing, and so does D’Wan [Mathis]. All three of us are just going to work hard, and I think that’s what we’re all doing.”

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Georgia defensive players Jordan Davis and Nolan Smith comment on season preparations following Wednesday’s practice.

#99 Jordan Davis | Junior | DL
On how the defense feels about the offense and if the offense can give the defense a cushion…
“We always have faith in our offense, and we’re not really looking at it that type of way. We are just looking at it as a good on good competition. We have our best guys going against their best guys—just good competition all around at practice.”

On how he compares Zamir White and James Cook to Brian Herrien and D’Andre Swift…
“There is no drop-off, no drop-off. They bring such unique, multiple things to the game. It is really fun to watch and really fun to play with them. [Zamir White and James Cook] are both fast—so it’s giving me a hard time in practice trying to catch up with them at practice. I love them boys both.”

On if he thinks he’ll have a break out year this year…
“Definitely. I know it is a lot of pressure on me. I put a lot of pressure on myself for this year, especially maintaining my weight and getting active—running a lot more, trying to run a lot faster during practice and trying to compete. I feel like everything will fall into place once the season starts rolling around.”

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