Last weekend’s opener gave Georgia exactly what you want from a date with an FCS opponent: a clean win, plenty of offense, a deep bench, and no major injury scare. Against Tennessee State, the Dawgs scored on their first five possessions and flashed the kind of explosiveness that can make a mismatch look even bigger than it already is. Everyone stayed healthy, and by the end of it, the whole thing had the feel of a job well done.
Still, the game wasn’t spotless. Georgia got a little loose late in the first half.
Ryan Puglisi’s first series at quarterback stalled out, then a bad snap on the field goal try turned into a turnover on downs. That stretch - the last four minutes of the first half and first four of the second, the middle eight - can swing a game fast against real competition.
Tennessee State never had a chance in this one, but a sequence like that could matter a whole lot more later. Kirby and Co. should have plenty to coach up.
Now comes Western Kentucky, another cupcake in Athens. If you’re of a certain age, WKU probably brings one image to mind: Big Red on those old SportsCenter commercials from the days before ESPN turned into wall-to-wall gambling advice. The Hilltoppers have had good teams before, but this year’s group did not look like one of them in a 49-14 loss to Nevada last week.
The first two games won’t tell us everything about Georgia, but they’ve already given a few things worth watching.
The offensive line looks much sturdier than it did a year ago. That’s not to say last season’s group was a liability, but injuries kept forcing changes and the unit never really settled in.
With new line coach Phil Rauscher - a man who looks uncannily like the Looney Tunes character Nasty Canasta, and yes, that’s a compliment - the front looked sharp in game one. Tennessee State wasn’t going to hold up physically for long, but Georgia still didn’t allow a sack and piled up 272 rushing yards.
Nate Frazier had four carries and three touchdowns, a stat line that feels almost fake, but the bigger takeaway was how easy he looked getting there. He ran like somebody who already knew nobody could catch him, and that starts with the blocking in front of him.
Western Kentucky will be a better test, though the Hilltoppers gave up 323 rushing yards at Nevada, so Saturday should tell us more.
There’s also a real chance the pass rush is waking back up. Georgia finished dead last in the SEC in sacks last season, so getting three sacks for 37 total yards against Tennessee State mattered.
Chris Cole got half a sack, while true freshmen Elijah Littlejohn and PJ Dean picked up the rest. When freshmen start making noise that early, it usually means there’s more disruption coming.
Tight end might be the most interesting part of the offense right now. Since Brock Bowers broke out in 2021, Georgia has leaned hard into that position, and it kept rolling last week.
Three of the team’s five passing touchdowns went to tight ends. Elyiss Williams had already shown flashes, Kaiden Prothro came in with a big recruiting reputation, and Jaden Reddell was the standout with an athletic catch-and-run touchdown plus another score that got wiped out by a penalty.
All three look like they’re going to be a lot of fun.
And then there’s the receiver group, which helped Georgia outgain Tennessee State through the air 388 to 272 on the ground. A massive chunk of that came on one gorgeous long throw from Ryan Montgomery to Jeremy Bell, but there was more to like.
Talyn Taylor, Isiah Canion, and Sacovie White-Helton all had good moments. The search is still on for who becomes Zach Branch’s favorite target with Stockton, but there are options here, and several of them can make plays.
In Other News...
Georgia May Have Found An Unexpected Answer On The Offensive Line
Georgias offensive line got a fresh look in the opener against Tennessee State, and one of the more notable developments was true freshman Zykie Helton earning the start at right guard. For Kirby Smart, it marked the third time a true freshman offensive lineman has started a season opener in his tenure, another sign that Georgia has not been afraid to trust a young player when the competition and the preparation point in that direction.
Helton got there by putting together a strong spring and arriving early to get a head start, but his path has also been shaped by far more than football. He dealt with Crohns disease and major health challenges in high school, and Smart pointed to both his toughness and his growth as reasons he has worked himself into a meaningful role up front. For Georgia, the larger question now is how quickly that early opportunity turns into something lasting along the line. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia May Be Hiding A Big Part Of Gunner Stocktons Game
Gunner Stocktons debut in Georgias opener against Tennessee State offered only a glimpse of what the Bulldogs may eventually ask of him. In a comfortable win, he never ran the ball, and there was little reason to force the issue with Georgia controlling the game so thoroughly. For now, the emphasis is on easing him into the offense and letting his passing game take center stage.
Western Kentucky should provide another chance for Georgia to keep Stockton upright and keep the plan simple. The expectation is that the Bulldogs will continue to limit his rushing attempts in the near term, using these early games to sharpen his development as a passer before the tougher SEC stretch arrives, when his full mobility is more likely to become part of the equation. [Read more 🡒]
Stetson Bennett Gives Georgia Fans A Reason To Smile Amid NIL Anger
Stetson Bennetts climb with the Los Angeles Rams keeps giving Georgia fans a familiar reminder of how far the former Bulldogs quarterback can go. The Rams named Bennett their backup for the first time in his NFL career, a notable step for a player who became a staple of Georgias championship run and remains one of the programs most recognizable success stories.
Back in Athens, the week has brought a different kind of chatter, with Kirby Smart again leaning on his message about continuous improvement as Georgia prepares for Western Kentucky. But the online noise has centered on the Bulldogs NIL collective, Glory Glory Georgia, which put week one game highlights behind a $20 monthly paywall and drew criticism from fans who were quick to voice their frustration. [Read more 🡒]