Georgia football

georgia football

13 SEC Titles: 1942, 1946, 1948, 1959, 1966, 1968, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 2002, 2005, 2017 Two Consensus National Championships: 1942, 1980

the matchup

UGA 32.3 20.0 -2

424.1 174.2 249.9

7.3 29.7

2020 Avg.

CU

Scoring Offense 43.5

Scoring Defense 20.2

Turnover Margin +8

Total Offense 502.3

Rushing Offense 153.8

Passing Offense 348.5

Punt Returns

9.5

Kickoff Returns

22.8

top 10 foes in smart era

Georgia is 10-6 against top-10 teams under Kirby Smart. Ten of the games have come at neutral sites, three have been true road games and three have been in Athens. Most recently, the Bulldogs ended last season with a 24-21 win over eighth-ranked and undefeated Cincinnati during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta. Georgia's highest-ranked win under Smart was over No. 2 Oklahoma (54-48, 2OT) in a CFP Semifinal at the 2018 Rose Bowl Game.

on the call

TELEVISION: ABC - Chris Fowler (PxP), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline) NATIONAL RADIO: ESPN - Sean Kelley (PxP), Barrett Jones (analyst), Ian Fitzsimmons (sideline) LOCAL RADIO: Georgia Bulldog Sports Network (IMG) - Scott Howard (PxP), Eric Zeier (analyst), D.J. Shockley (sideline) SiriusXM RADIO/Internet: 84/84/84 (Georgia broadcast); 80/80/80 (National broadcast)

sid contacts

GEORGIA - Claude Felton (706) 542-1621; cfelton@sports.uga.edu CLEMSON - Ross Taylor (864) 656-97674; rt5@clemson.edu

2021 Bulldog schedule

Sept. 4 vs. #3/#2!Clemson (ABC) 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 11 UAB (ESPN2)

3:30 p.m.

Sept. 18 *South Carolina (ESPN) 7:00 p.m.

Sept. 25 @ *Vanderbilt

TBA

Oct. 2 *Arkansas

TBA

Oct. 9 @ *Auburn

TBA

Oct. 16 *$Kentucky

TBA

Oct. 30 vs. ^*Florida (CBS)

3:30 p.m.

Nov. 6 *Missouri

TBA

Nov. 13 @ *Tennessee

TBA

Nov. 20 Charleston Southern

TBA

Nov. 27 @ Georgia Tech

TBA

*SEC games; ^TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville,

Fla.); !Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, N.C.);

$Homecoming

UGAAthletics GeorgiaBulldogs UGAAthletics

#5/#5 georgIa vs. #2/#3 Clemson

Sept. 4, 7:30 p.m. ET - ABC Bank of America Stadium (74,867)

Charlotte, N.C.



Let's Get It Started

For the 20th time in school history, Georgia will open a season against a ranked opponent as the Bulldogs battle Clemson (ranked No. 3 in Associated Press poll, No. 2 in the USA Today Coaches poll). The Bulldogs are 9-9-1 in these games. This will be Georgia's first-ever top five matchup to open a season, the previous best was in 2013 when the fifth-ranked Bulldogs were outlasted by eight-ranked Clemson 38-35 in Clemson. The highest ranked opponent in a Georgia opener has been third-ranked Alabama thrice (1961-63) with the Crimson Tide beating an unranked Bulldog team in those contests.

Georgia's last season opener to feature a pair of ranked teams came in the debut of the Kirby Smart era when the No. 18 Bulldogs beat No. 22 North Carolina 34-22 in the 2016 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic in Atlanta. The Bulldogs are 5-0 in season openers under Smart. Overall, the Bulldogs are 97-27-3 in season openers including winning their last seven dating back to a 45-21 win over Clemson in Athens in 2014, which marks the last time these programs have faced each other. The Georgia-Clemson series dates back to 1897, and the Bulldogs hold a 42-18-4 advantage.

Preseason Top Five Again

Georgia checks in at No. 5 in the AP preseason Top 25 poll as well as the Coaches poll. This marks the fourth consecutive season that the Bulldogs begin in the top five. Georgia opens up against Clemson in the Duke's Mayo Classic in Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium, and 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.

Secondary Shuffle For Addae

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). 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.

Secondary coach Jahmile Addae is in his first season at Georgia after spending the last two years with the Mountaineers. He inherited a few veterans in the secondary in seniors Latavious Brini, Christopher Smith and Ameer Speed plus junior Lewis Cine. A few young Bulldogs who made strides in camp include redshirt freshmen Kelee Ringo and Jalen Kimber, early enrollee Nyland Green and freshman Kamari Lassiter.

Offensive Potential In 2021

The 2021 season will be the second under Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken. In 2020, the Bulldogs went 8-2 and employed three different signal callers. Georgia averaged 32.3 points/game, which ranked fifth in the SEC. When JT Daniels became the starter in late November, Georgia went 4-0 the rest of the season with wins over Mississippi State, South Carolina, No. 25 Missouri and No. 8 Cincinnati in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The Bulldogs did not have the benefit of a 2020 spring practice to install a new offense because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For many of Georgia's players, the 2021 spring practice was their first.

2020 Opener Flashback: No. 4 Bulldogs Down Hogs On The Road

Facing former UGA offensive line coach and current Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman in Fayetteville, Ark., the Bulldogs overcame a slow start to whip the Razorbacks 37-10. Georgia trailed 7-5 at the half, tallying only a safety and a field goal. However, WR George Pickens hauled in a 19-yard touchdown catch from Stetson Bennett in his first start at quarterback to take a 13-10 lead with six minutes left in the third quarter and the Bulldogs rolled from that point on. TE John FitzPatrick and RB Zamir White also scored for Georgia while former DB Eric Stokes returned an interception 30 yards for another score. In addition, PK Jack Podlesny made his debut and finished 2-for-2 with a pair of 38-yard field goals.

Game 1

Kirby smart

Head Football Coach

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 fin-

ished 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.

Eight Victories When Tied Or Trailing Late

Season Opponent Start of 4th Qtr.

Final

2016

%#22 UNC

Trailed 24-23

33-24

2016 @ Missouri

Trailed 27-21

28-27

2016 @ Kentucky

Trailed 21-16

27-24

2016 #8 Auburn

Tied 7-7

13-7

2016 ^TCU

Trailed 23-21

31-23

2017 @ #24 Notre Dame Trailed 17-16, trailed 19-17 with 10:21 left 20-19

2017 $ #2 Oklahoma Tied 31-31, trailed 45-38 with 0:55 left 54-48 2ot

2020 ~ #8 Cincinnati Trailed 21-10, trailed 21-19 with :03 left 24-21

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

Inside the Numbers Under Smart

Record (SEC)............................................................ .52-14 (*33-12) Home/Away/Neutral............................................... .25-4/18-4/9-6 Versus Ranked Teams (H/A/N).............................. .7-1/5-4/7-6 Versus Top 10 Teams (H/A/N)................................ .3-0/1-2/6-4 Day/Night..................................................................... .33-11/19-3 After Bye Week...........................................................^7-1 SEC East/West/Non-Conf...................................... .25-5/*8-7/19-2 Conference Record (H/A/*N)................................ .14-3/15-4/*4-5 Score First/Opp. Scores First.............................. .40-7/11-8 Leading/Trailing/Tied at Half............................... .42-4/9-9/1-1 Leading/Tr./Tied after 3rd Qtr............................. .44-5/5-9/3-0 In Overtime....................................................................1-2 Scoring < 20 Pts./20+ Pts....................................... .3-7/49-7 Allowing less than 20 Pts.......................................38-1 Allowing 20-29/30-39/40+ Pts............................ .13-5/0-4/2-4 Rushing for less than 100 yards..............................3-5 Rushing for over 100 yards.....................................49-9 Rushing for 200+ yards............................................36-2 Passing for less than 100 yards...............................3-0 Passing for 300+ yards............................................... 7-1 Totaling less than 300 yards.....................................3-5 400+ yards of Total Offense....................................35-6 Allowing less than 100 yds. rushing....................29-1 Allowing less than 300 yds. Total Off..................34-3 Allowing 400+ yds. total offense............................3-7 Having 100-yard rusher............................................26-3 Opp. have 100-yard rusher........................................3-3 No Turnovers / No Takeaways................ .................17-3/10-6 In Aug./Sept./Oct./Nov./Dec./Jan........................ .1-0/17-1/10-6/17-3/3-2/3-2 *includes 2017 SECCG win; 2018 SECCG app., 2018 CFP Natl. Champ. App., 2019 SECCG app.; ^Missouri (11/14/20) was PPD

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: 4, Jake Fromm vs. GT (x2) (11/25/18; 11/30/19); JT Daniels vs. MSU (11/21/20) 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) Longest Pass/TD Pass: 82-TD, Bennett to James Cook vs. #2 BAMA (10/17/20) 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)

18 Defense/Special Teams Scores

Under Kirby Smart, Georgia has registered 18 scores on defense or special teams. The Bulldogs are 15-1 when they register a non-offensive touchdown under Smart.

Personal

Full Name: Kirby Paul Smart Birthdate: December 23, 1975 Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama Family: Wife: Mary Beth; Children: twins Weston and Julia (2-8-08), and Andrew (5-25-12) High School: Bainbridge (Ga.)

College: BBA Georgia `98; MS Florida State `03

Coaching Experience

1999

Georgia

Admin. Asst.

2000

Valdosta State Defensive Backs

2001

Valdosta State Def. Coord.

2002-03 Florida State Grad. Assistant

2004

LSU

Defensive Backs

2005

Georgia

Running Backs

2006

Miami (NFL) Safeties

2007

Alabama

Asst. HC/DBs

2008-13, `15 Alabama Def. Coord./ILBs

2014

Alabama

Asst. HC/DC/Safeties

2016-curr. 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.

The Kirby Smart Record

Year

W

L

Pct. SEC

2016

8

5

.615 4-4

2017

13

2

.867 *8-2

2018

11

3

.786 *7-2

2019

12

2

.857 *7-2

2020

8

2

.800 7-2

TOTAL 52

14 .788 *33-12

*includes 2017-19 SECCGs, 2018 CFPNC

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.

dog tracks

Game 1

Explosive Plays In 2020

* Georgia returns eight starters on offense for a team that averaged

32.3 points/game.

* The 2020 season was the first under offensive coordinator Todd

Monken, who placed a premium on explosive plays, which are rec-

ognized as plays that are at least a 12-yard rush or a 16-yard comple-

tion.

* 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 Pick-

ens (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.

* The offense will return Dominick Blaylock and Marcus

Rosemy-Jacksaint from 2020 injuries.

Explosive Play Summary In 2020

Game

Georgia

Opponent

Final Score

@ Arkansas

8 (2R, 6P)

5 (1R, 4P) Georgia 37-10

#7 Auburn

10 (2R, 8P)

4 (4P)

Georgia 27-6

#14 Tennessee

9 (3R, 6P)

4 (4P)

Georgia 44-21

@ #2 Alabama

8 (2R, 6P)

8 (1R, 7P) Alabama 41-24

@ Kentucky

4 (2R, 2P)

1 (R)

Georgia 14-3

vs. #8 Florida

8 (5R, 3P)

10 (10P)

Florida 44-28

Mississippi State 8 (8P)

4 (4P)

Georgia 31-24

@ South Carolina 12 (8R, 4P)

5 (2R, 3P) Georgia 45-16

@ #25 Missouri

17 (8R, 9P)

3 (3P)

Georgia 49-14

vs. #8 Cincinnati 12 (2R, 10P)

3 (R, 2P) Georgia 24-21

Longest Rush by Georgia: 75-yard TD by Zamir White vs. #8 UF

Longest Rush by Opp.: 79-yard TD by UC's Jerome Ford

Longest Completion by Georgia: 82-yard TD @ #2 UA (Stetson Bennett to

James Cook)

Longest Completion by Opp.: 90-yard TD by #2 UA (Mac Jones to Jaylen

Waddle)

2020 Bulldog QB Summary

* Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman opted out in the 2020 preseason. D'Wan Mathis (now at Temple) started last season's opener against Arkansas and Stetson Bennett took over as the starter for the next five games before JT Daniels closed out the year.

* The 2020 season marked the first time since 2006 that Georgia started three different QBs in the same season (Joe Tereshinski, Matthew Stafford, Joe Cox).

* Daniels, an Irvine, Calif., native who was recovering from a torn ACL at Southern Cal in 2019, replaced Bennett in game seven and led the Bulldogs to a 4-0 finish and final record of 8-2. Daniels threw for 1,231 yards and 10TDs in that span, 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).

* Thus far with the Bulldogs, Daniels is 19-for-27 for 279 yards and six touchdowns on third down.

* 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.

@ UCLA (L) #3 ND (L) 2018 TOTAL

34 51 363

20 2

2

37 1

0

216 14 10

2019 (@ USC) Att

Cmp TD Int

*FRESNO ST (W) 34

25 1

1

*knee injury, missed remainder of season

2020 (@ UGA) Att

MSU (W)

38

@ SC (W)

16

@ MU (W)

27

vs. #8 UC (W)

38

2020 TOTAL

119

Career highs in italics

CAREER TOTAL 516

Cmp TD Int

28 4

0

10

2

1

16 3

0

26 1

1

80 10 2

321 25 13

337 1 349 2 2,672 25

Yds Sk 215 1

149.7 136.5 128.6

Eff. 130.5

Yds Sk 401 3 139 2 299 2 392 3 1,231 10

Eff. 197.1 164.2 152.3 158.5 178.5

4,118 36 140.2

Running Game Part Of Balanced Attack

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

* Georgia tallied a season-high 332 rushing yards and four rushing TDs in the win at South Carolina. It was the most yards on the ground since piling up 426 against UMass in 2018. Cook led the attack at USC with a career-high 102 yards and two TDs.

A Look At The Offensive Line

* There will be plenty of competition for playing time on the offensive line for second-year Offensive Line coach Matt Luke.

* Georgia had to debut a new front in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl game after a couple longtime starters in C Trey Hill and OG Ben Cleveland made the decision to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft. Cleveland was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round while Hill went to the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round.

* Senior Jamaree Salyer continues to show his versatility by lining up at both tackle and guard along with junior Warren Ericson, who started games at both C and OG in 2020. Salyer (LG), along with fifth-year senior Justin Shaffer (RG), started the bowl game with first-time starter Xavier Truss (LT) and redshirt sophomore Warren McClendon (RT).

* McClendon was a 2020 Freshman All-American after starting the last nine games in 2021. Salyer and Shaffer have each started 12 career games while Ericson has started three games.

* Sophomore Sedrick Van Pran emerged as an option at C after Ericson sustained an injury during preseason camp. Redshirt freshman Tate Ratledge has also battled into a position to earn playing time at one of the guard spots.

Tight End Battle

* At times during fall camp, junior starter John FitzPatrick and sophomore Darnell Washington were sidelined with injuries that provided more reps for sophomores Ryland Goede and Brett Seither along with versatile freshman early enrollee Brock Bowers.

JT Daniels Passing (USC/UGA Career)

2018 (@ USC) Att

UNLV (W)

35

@ #10 STAN (L) 34

@ TEXAS (L)

48

WSU (W)

26

@ ARIZ (W)

24

#19 CU (W)

35

@ UTAH (L)

16

@ ORE ST (W) 26

CAL (L)

34

Cmp TD Int

21 1

0

16 0

2

30 0

1

17 3

0

16 0

0

18 3

2

6 1

2

14 1

0

21 2

1

Yds Sk 282 2 215 4 322 3 241 2 197 2 283 1

89 2 177 2 180 4

Eff. 137.1

88.4 114.7 181.3 135.6 136.2

79.9 123.7 119.8

Evolving Receivers Corps

*The Bulldogs have a variety of weapons at receiver with new targets emerging and existing receivers returning from injuries.

* Dominick Blaylock, George Pickens (currently injured), Jermaine Burton and Kearis Jackson are all expected to be returning to the lineup after sustaining injuries either during the 2020 season or leading up to his year's campaign.

* Sophomore Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and redshirt freshmen Arian Smith and Justin Robinson will be in the mix at receiver while freshmen Adonai Mitchell, Jackson Meeks and Ladd McConkey are also battling for snaps following a productive preseason. * Jackson (36 rec., 514 yds., 3TDs) and Pickens (36-513-6) were Georgia's co-leaders from the corps last year.

Game 1

dog tracks

Creating Havoc

* The Bulldogs return only four starters on defense - DLs Jordan

Davis and Devonte Wyatt, ILB Nakobe Dean, DB Lewis Cine.

* Georgia does return its two top leading tacklers with Dean and

Cine, but will miss the veteran presence of Monty Rice, the third-lead-

ing tackler last year who was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the

Third Round, and Azeez Ojulari, who led the team in sacks (8.5) and

forced fumbles (four) before being taken by the New York Giants in

the Second Round.

* Georgia's secondary accounted for nine interceptions last year.

However, all four Bulldogs who tallied those picks are all now on NFL

rosters. OLB Adam Anderson, a 6-6, 230-pound senior, also returns

after being the team's second-leading sack master (6.5) and finishing

with 24 pressures.

* Defensive coordinator Dan Lanning is starting his fourth year and

guided his unit to a national leading mark in Rushing Defense (72.3

yards/game) last season.

* 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.

Havoc Summary In 2020

Game

Georgia

Final Score

@ Arkansas 3 INTs (1TD), 1 FF, 4TFLs, 2 Sacks, Safety Georgia 37-10

#7 Auburn

1 INT, 1 FF, 6 TFL, 3 Sacks

Georgia 27-6

#14 Tennessee 1 INT, 3 FF (1 for a TD), 6 TFL, 5 Sacks Georgia 44-21

@ #2 Alabama 1 INT, 4 TFL, 3 Sacks

Alabama 41-24

@ Kentucky 1 FF, 4TFL, 4 Sacks

Georgia 14-3

vs. #8 Florida 1 INT, 4 TFL, 1 Sack

Florida 44-28

Mississippi State 4 TFL, 2 Sacks

Georgia 31-24

@ South Carolina 10 TFL, 1 FF, 1 INT, 3 Sacks

Georgia 45-16

@ #25 Missouri 1 INT, 1 Sack, 7 TFL

Georgia 49-14

vs. #8 UC

12 TFL, 8 Sacks, 3 FF, Safety

Georgia 24-21

Making Impact Up Front * Preseason All-American and Charlotte, N.C., native Jordan Davis

joins fifth-year Devonte Wyatt as the veterans on the center of the defensive line.

* Davis anchored his group with 16 tackles, including a sack, in only seven games last year. He added a key field goal block versus No. 8 Cincinnati in the 2021 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Wyatt started all 10 games in 2020 and had 25 stops, including two tackles for loss.

*The duo is joined by junior Travon Walker and sophomore Jalen Carter along with junior Tramel Walthour, redshirt sophomore Zion Logue and sophomore Nazir Stackhouse who comprise the rotation of the Bulldog front.

Bulldog Backers * 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 will be joined by senior Channing Tindall and junior Quay Walker in the middle.

* A pair of redshirt freshmen in Rian Davis and Trezmen Marshall will also be aiming to contribute alongside early enrollee freshman Smael Mondon.

* Senior Adam Anderson and junior Nolan Smith will be filling the spot vacated by NFL Second Round pick Azeez Ojulari, who finished 2020 with a team-leading 8.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. Ojulari capped his collegiate career by being named Defensive MVP at the 2021 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

* Anderson played in all 10 games (no starts) and finished with 14 tackles, including 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

* Smith started one game and played in all 10, finishing with 22 stops, including 2.5 tackles for loss.

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

One Of Country's Top Punting Units Returns

* 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 punted 36 times and placed 18 inside the 20 and had 17 that have traveled 50+ in 2021. Opponents had four punt returns for 29 yards with 17 coming on a blocked punt versus No. 25 Missouri. Camarda also kicked off (36 of 41 touchbacks) and Georgia led the SEC and was eighth nationally in coverage (16.8 yds/ret).

* Now beginning his fourth season, 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.

Jack-Pod

* Junior Jack Podlesny was 13-for-16 on field goals and 38-for38 on PATs in 2020. He 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 field goal with three seconds remaining.

* Georgia enters the 2021 season with the NCAA record for Consecutive PATs Made. The streak stands at 330 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.

Back Deep For The Dogs

* In the KOR game, junior Kearis Jackson averaged 27.1 yards on 11 returns (298 yards), which ranked fourth in the SEC. The team was fifth nationally at 29.7 last year.

* Because WR/PR Dominick Blaylock missed the year with a knee injury, Jackson also handled the punt returns. Jackson had an SEC-high 15 returns and had a career-long 52 yarder against South Carolina. Blaylock is expected to be back in the mix on offense and special teams this season.

* During the first part of the 2020 season, junior Kenny McIntosh played a key part in the return game before sustaining an injury during the fourth game of the year at #2 Alabama. He finished with six returns for 218 yards (SEC-best 36.3 average). McIntosh's longest of the year was a 48 yarder at Arkansas.

Trio Of Preseason All-Americans * Senior punter Jake Camarda (1stTeam) along with senior offensive

lineman Jamaree Salyer (2nd Team) and senior defensive lineman Jordan Davis (2ndTeam) 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

starters

Starting Streaks

OFFENSE

`20 `19 `18 `17

Stetson Bennett, QB 5 - JC -

Dominick Blaylock, WR inj. 3 n/a n/a

Jermaine Burton, WR 7 n/a n/a n/a

Owen Condon, OT

1 - RS n/a

James Cook, TB

- 3

- n/a

JT Daniels, QB

4 1/inj 11 n/a

Warren Ericson, C/OG 2 1 RS n/a

John FitzPatrick, TE

5 1 RS n/a

Kearis Jackson, WR

2 7

4 n/a

Warren McClendon, OT 9 RS n/a n/a

Kendall Milton, RB

1 n/a n/a n/a

George Pickens, WR 8 2 n/a n/a

M. Rosemy-Jacksaint, WR 1/inj n/a n/a

Jamaree Salyer, OT 10 2

- n/a

Justin Shaffer, OG

10 2

- -

Xavier Truss, OT

1 RS n/a n/a

Darnell Washington, TE 7 n/a n/a n/a

Zamir White, TB

10 1 RS n/a

#Daniels @ USC 2018-19

`16 Total Cons.

n/a 5

-

n/a 3

-

n/a 7

-

n/a 1

-

n/a 3

-

n/a 16

4

n/a 3

2

n/a 6

1

n/a 13

-

n/a 9

9

n/a 1

-

n/a 10

4

n/a n/a

1 -

n/a 12 11

n/a 12 10

n/a 1

1

n/a 7

3

n/a 11 11

DEFENSE

`20 `19 `18 `17 `16 Total Cons.

Latavious Brini, DB

1 -

- RS n/a 1

1

Jalen Carter, DL

2 n/a n/a n/a n/a 2

-

Lewis Cine, S

10 2 n/a n/a n/a 12 12

Jordan Davis, DL

7 8 4 n/a n/a 19

2

Nakobe Dean, ILB

10 - n/a n/a n/a 10 10

William Poole, DB

- -

1 0 n/a 1

-

Julian Rochester, DL 2/inj - 12 1 6 21

-

Nolan Smith, OLB

1 - n/a n/a n/a 1

-

Christopher Smith, S 5 -

- n/a n/a 5

5

Quay Walker, ILB

2 0 n/a n/a n/a 2

1

Devonte Wyatt, DL

10 1

0 JC n/a 11

11

Note: RS=Redshirted; n/a=not at UGA yet; inj=injured

Game 1

First-Time Starters

The Bulldogs had 19 first-time starters in 2020, including seven in the opener. @ ARK: 7 (Darnell Washington, William Mote, Jake Podlesny, Nakobe Dean, Jermaine Burton, D'Wan Mathis, Owen Condon) #7 AU: 2 (Stetson Bennett, Warren McClendon) #14 UT: 2 (Tre' McKitty, Nolan Smith) @ #2 UA: none @ UK: 2 (Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Quay Walker) vs. #8 UF: 3 (Jalen Carter, Christopher Smith, Kendall Milton) @ MU: ppd MSU: 1 (JT Daniels) @ SC: none @ #25 MU: none vs. #8 UC: 2 (Latavious Brini, Xavier Truss)

The True Freshman Experience

During the 2020 season opener, 10 true freshmen played for the Bulldogs. Last season, 16 true freshmen took the field for Georgia.

Bulldog Captains

@ ARK: Malik Herring, Richard LeCounte, Jamaree Salyer #7 AU: Tyson Campbell, Monty Rice, Zamir White #14 UT: Mark Webb, Kearis Jackson, Jordan Davis @ #2 UA: Azeez Ojulari, Rice, Salyer @ UK: Herring, Trey Hill, Eric Stokes vs. #8 UF: James Cook, Rice, Campbell MSU: Salyer, Ojulari, Jackson @ SC: Ojulari, Channing Tindall, White @ #25 MU: Herring, Rice, Ben Cleveland vs. #8 UC: 2020 Seniors

2021 Assistant Coaches

*Todd Monken, 2nd season...................Offensive Coord./Quarterbacks Dan Lanning, 4th season........... Defensive Coord./Outside Linebackers Matt Luke, 2nd season................Associate Head Coach/Offensive Line Scott Cochran, 2nd season..........................Special Teams Coordinator Cortez Hankton, 4th season............ Pass Game Coord./Wide Receivers Dell McGee, 6th season..................... Run Game Coord./Running Backs *Glenn Schumann, 6th season.............Co-Defensive Coord./Inside LBs Tray Scott, 5th season....................................................... Defensive Line *Todd Hartley, 3rd season.......................................................Tight Ends Jahmile Addae, 1st season......................................................Secondary Scott Sinclair, 6th season...............Director of Strength & Conditioning *in press box during games

Game

@ ARK (W) #7 AU (W) #14 UT (W) @ #2 UA (L) @ UK (W) vs. #8 UF (L) MSU (W) @ SC (W) @ #25 MU (W) vs. #8 !UC (W) Consecutive Career

WR

LT

Pickens Salyer

Pickens Salyer

Pickens Salyer

Pickens Salyer

Blount

Salyer

D. Washington (TE) Salyer

Pickens Sayler

Pickens Sayler

Pickens Sayler

Pickens Truss

4

1

10

1

LG

Shaffer Shaffer Shaffer Shaffer Shaffer Shaffer Shaffer Shaffer Shaffer Salyer 11 12

Game

DE

DT

JACK

@ ARK (W)

Herring Wyatt

Ojulari

#7 AU (W)

Herring Wyatt

Ojulari

#14 UT (W)

Herring Wyatt

Ojulari

@ #2 UA (L)

Rochester Wyatt

Ojulari

@ UK (W)

Rochester Wyatt

Ojulari

vs. #8 UF (L)

Herring Wyatt

Ojulari

MSU (W)

Herring Wyatt

Ojulari

@ SC (W)

Herring Wyatt

Ojulari

@ #25 MU (W)

Herring Wyatt

Ojulari

vs. #8 !UC (W)

Herring Wyatt

Ojulari

Consecutive

5

11

11

Career

18

11

23

&Jacksonville, Fla. (TIAA Bank Field)

Game-by-Game Starters In 2020

C

Hill Hill Hill Hill Hill Hill Hill Hill Ericson Ericson 2 3

RG

Cleveland Cleveland Cleveland Cleveland Cleveland Cleveland Cleveland Cleveland Cleveland Shaffer 10 12

RT

Condon McClendon McClendon McClendon McClendon McClendon McClendon McClendon McClendon McClendon 9 9

TE

FitzPatrick FitzPatrick FitzPatrick Washington McKitty McKitty McKitty McKitty McKitty FitzPatrick 1 6

WR

QB

Burton Mathis

Burton Bennett

Burton Bennett

Burton Bennett

Rosemy-Jacksaint Bennett

FitzPatrick (TE) Bennett

Burton Daniels

Burton Daniels

Burton Daniels

Robertson Daniels

1

4

18

*16

TB

White White White White White White White White White White 11 11

Multiple

Washington (TE) Washington (TE) McKitty (TE) McKitty (TE) Jackson (WR) Milton (TB) Jackson (WR) Washington (TE) Washington (TE) Washington (TE) 3 7

MONEY MAC STAR

CB

Rice

Dean

Stevenson Campbell

Rice

Dean

Stevenson Campbell

Rice

Dean

N. Smith (SLB) Campbell

Rice

Dean

J. Johnson (SLB) Campbell

Walker

Dean

J. Johnson (SLB) Campbell

Rice

Dean

Webb

Campbell

Rice

Dean

Webb

Campbell

Rice

Dean

J. Johnson (SLB) Campbell

Rice

Dean

Webb

Campbell

Walker

Dean

Stevenson Campbell

1

10

1

10

2

10

5

24

*Daniels started 12 games at USC in 2018-19

FS

SS CB

Cine

LeCounte Stokes

Cine

LeCounte Stokes

Cine

LeCounte Stokes

Cine

LeCounte Stokes

Cine

LeCounte Stokes

Cine

C. Smith Stokes

Cine

C. Smith Stokes

Cine

C. Smith Stokes

Cine

C. Smith Stokes

Cine

C. Smith Brini

12

5

1

12

5

1

!Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Atlanta

Multiple

Davis (N) Davis (N) Davis (N) Davis (N) Davis (N) Carter (N) Stevenson (STAR) Carter (N) Davis (N) Davis (N) 2 19

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