Georgia's Pass Rush Faces Big Question Ahead of Sugar Bowl Without Gabe Harris
As Georgia gears up for the Sugar Bowl, one of the biggest storylines heading into the matchup is the uncertain status of standout edge rusher Gabe Harris. The redshirt freshman has been dealing with turf toe, and his absence from Saturday’s practice viewing period has raised concerns about his availability for Thursday’s showdown.
Harris has quietly become one of Georgia’s most disruptive defenders down the stretch, racking up 26 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, and a sack over 13 games. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, his impact has gone beyond the stat sheet - especially in how he sets the edge and collapses the pocket. But if Harris can’t go, co-defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann isn’t panicking.
“We’ve got other guys who’ve been making progress,” Schumann said, pointing to the depth Georgia has built at defensive end and JACK linebacker. “If Gabe’s not available, it might just mean an extra seven or ten snaps for a few different guys.”
Among the players who could see increased roles are Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Quintavius Johnson, Kris Jones, JJ Hanne, and Elo Modozie. That’s a mix of redshirt freshmen and young rotational pieces - but it’s a group that’s earned the staff’s trust.
Jonah-Ajonye, in particular, is the name to watch. He’s taken meaningful steps forward this season, especially against the run, which is no small feat in the trenches of SEC football. Schumann praised his physicality and versatility, noting how Jonah-Ajonye has become more stout at the point of attack - allowing the staff to move him around the defensive front.
“He’s always been athletic, a big guy who can stunt and play in space,” Schumann said. “But where he’s grown the most is with his strength inside. That’s opened up a lot of options for us.”
Losing Harris would undoubtedly sting - especially considering Georgia’s mission in this game is to generate more pressure on Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. When the Bulldogs faced him back in October, they didn’t record a single sack. That can’t happen again if Georgia wants to control the tempo and keep Chambliss from finding a rhythm.
The good news? Georgia’s pass rush has quietly turned a corner in recent weeks.
After managing just eight sacks through the first eight games of the season, the Bulldogs have racked up 12 in their last five. A big part of that surge has come from the inside linebacker group, which has been surprisingly productive in getting after the quarterback.
Chris Cole (4.5 sacks), CJ Allen (3.5), Raylen Wilson (2.5), and Zayden Walker (2) are the team’s top sack leaders - and all four play on the second level. Johnson, the starting JACK, has also chipped in with a sack against Texas and another half-sack in the SEC title game.
“It’s definitely gotten better,” Allen said of the pass rush. “We’re getting more third-and-longs, we’re rushing together, and we’re executing the calls. That’s really what it comes down to.”
Schumann echoed that sentiment, explaining that the shift in down-and-distance situations has played a major role. Opponents have been more willing to run on third-and-short, knowing they might go for it on fourth. But when Georgia forces third-and-longs, it opens the door for their pressure packages - and for guys like Walker to get on the field.
Walker was in the game plan the first time Georgia faced Ole Miss, but the lack of third-and-long opportunities kept the freshman off the field. That could change this time around, especially if Harris is sidelined and Georgia needs a spark off the edge.
Wilson, for one, is confident the younger players are ready to step up.
“My confidence is still pretty high even if Gabe can’t play,” Wilson said. “I see how the young guys practice every day.
The ones who are going to play are ready. I feel like they can make plays out there.
It’s as simple as that.”
There’s no sugarcoating it - having Harris on the field would be a big boost for Georgia’s defense. But even if No. 0 is forced to watch from the sideline, the Bulldogs believe they have enough depth, development, and defensive flexibility to keep the pressure coming.
And against an Ole Miss team that’s proven it can keep its quarterback upright, that pressure could be the difference between a statement win and a long night in New Orleans.