Georgia knows exactly what’s waiting in Tuscaloosa: Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell, and plenty of him.
Saturday’s matchup carries major SEC and playoff implications, but the clearest challenge for the Bulldogs is staring them right in the face. Russell has been rolling as a sophomore, and Georgia is preparing for a quarterback who looks every bit like a Heisman Trophy contender.
Defensive tackle Elijah Griffin made it plain what Georgia thinks of the Alabama star.
"Keelon Russell, he's that guy," Georgia defensive tackle Elijah Griffin said. "Really quick, kind of reminds me of Jalen Milroe a little bit, obviously. But we've got to keep him in the trap, and he's a great football player."
Russell didn’t need long to seize control of Alabama’s offense. After spending his freshman year backing up Ty Simpson, he stepped into the starting role this season and has wasted little time making it his own.
Through Week 6, Russell has completed 71.2% of his passes for 1,414 yards, 11 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He’s also added 184 rushing yards and 4 scores on the ground. Even more eye-catching is what he’s done over the last three games, when he has hit 76.0% of his throws for 970 yards with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions.
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer got a firsthand look at Russell in Week 4, and he came away impressed.
"He's special. He can make all the throws.
He can run," Beamer said on the SEC coaches teleconference. "I think what's impressive about him, he continues to get better.
I told Coach DeBoer this after the game, I mean, they've done a remarkable job with him of getting him better and improved from the beginning of the season to now."
Kirby Smart offered a similar read, calling Russell an elite athlete and pointing to how much his game has grown. Smart highlighted his arm strength, his pocket awareness and the way he moves when plays break down.
"People will make him out to be a runner. He doesn't run unless he has to.
He can," Smart said. "He scrambles to throw, he scrambles to run.
He's accurate, he's smart, he's very talented."
If Georgia wants to slow Alabama down, it starts with pressure. The Crimson Tide have given up 12 sacks in five games, which ranks 12th in the SEC. Last week at Mississippi State, Russell was taken down four times, the second time this season Alabama has allowed four sacks in a game.
Georgia understands the assignment. Russell has been explosive all season, but he has not yet seen a defense with Georgia’s talent. To have any chance of cooling him off, the Bulldogs know they’ll need their best in T-Town.
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Georgias Biggest Alabama Worry Is Getting Harder To Ignore
Georgias focus heading into Alabama has centered on the same thing it always does in this matchup: can the Bulldogs force the Crimson Tide out of rhythm before Alabama starts stacking efficient drives? Georgia brings the more experienced quarterback in Gunner Stockton and a defense that still has enough pass-rush talent to change a game, but Alabama has paired balance on the ground with an opportunistic style that can turn even a clean-looking possession into trouble.
The part that is getting harder to dismiss is the way Alabamas offense has settled in behind Keelon Russell. He has been giving the Tide a steadier week-to-week ceiling, and when that is combined with a defense that thrives on stealing momentum, Georgia is left needing answers in more than one phase. The Bulldogs can live with a long, physical game, but the margin shrinks quickly if they cannot create pressure and make Alabama uncomfortable early. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Backfield Suddenly Has A New Concern Fans Will Watch
Chauncey Bowens has given Georgia a steady presence at tailback this season, so seeing him added to the injury report after the Vanderbilt game immediately put a spotlight on the Bulldogs backfield depth. The right lower leg and ankle injury came in the middle of a contest where Bowens still found a way back onto the field in the second half, logging both carries and receptions and showing the kind of toughness Georgia has come to value in that rotation.
The bigger concern now is less about one game than the ripple effect across the room. With Bowens dealing with the injury and a cluster of other tailbacks already seeing the field, including Nate Frazier, Dwight Phillips Jr., Bo Walker, Nick Peal and Jae Lamar, Georgia has been forced to keep adjusting on the fly. The Bulldogs have options, but how healthy and settled that group can get will be worth watching closely as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Georgias New Rotation Already Gives Fans A Reason To Pay Attention
The exhibition season already offered Georgia fans a first look at how the new rotation can take shape, and the early signs were encouraging. In a lopsided 94-61 win over Georgia State, the Bulldogs had a chance to mix transfers and freshmen into the lineup and see how the pieces fit before the games start to count for real.
Around the country, other programs were using the same kind of tune-up to sort out their own depth charts, from Cincinnatis comeback over Ohio State to Xaviers win over Dayton. For Georgia, the bigger takeaway was less about the final score and more about the way the new faces blended with the holdovers, giving the staff an early glimpse at options it can keep leaning on as the season moves closer to opening night. [Read more 🡒]