Kirby Smart didn’t wait long to let the praise fly for Craig Dandridge.
After Georgia rolled past Tennessee State 63-3 in its season opener, the Bulldogs’ head coach singled out the freshman receiver as one of the early bright spots in Athens. And based on Dandridge’s first college game, it’s easy to see why.
The in-state wideout from Alpharetta arrived at Georgia with momentum after the Bulldogs offered him in January of 2025 and then landed his commitment six months later in June. He showed up ready to contribute, and on Saturday he did exactly that. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound receiver got work with the first-team offense in his debut, then turned that opportunity into production with two catches for 36 yards.
One of those grabs stood out immediately: a low reception that Dandridge hauled in for 20 yards, showing the kind of twitch, quickness and strong hands Georgia wants in its passing game. He also chipped in on special teams, returning one punt for 30 yards.
Georgia has been looking for more explosive playmakers at receiver, and Dandridge gave them a little of that in his first appearance.
Smart said the freshman’s development took a hit when he missed part of camp, but the coach also made it clear the trajectory is still upward.
“Yeah he missed a window of camp, probably four to five days,” Smart told reporters on Saturday. “That really stunted his growth. But his growth was on a high trajectory and it continues to be.”
Smart had even more to say after that.
“He's smart”, Smart added. “He can play multiple positions.
He has a little bit of something that we don't have in that room with his acceleration and his ability to get open quickly. He's very intelligent.
He's very conscientious. He's tough.
He's what you want in a wideout. He's been a pleasant surprise that has to continue to get better as the competition goes up.”
Dandridge wasn’t the only Georgia receiver who made noise in the opener. Tayln Taylor finished with three catches for 28 yards and a touchdown, Sacovie White-Helton added three receptions for 34 yards, and Tyler Williams came up with what may have been the best catch of the game, a 27-yard grab in tight coverage.
Still, Dandridge’s debut was hard to miss. If Saturday was the first look, the Bulldogs may have found a freshman who’s ready for more. More passes could be headed his way this weekend against Western Kentucky.
In Other News...
Georgia Just Turned A Routine Hype Video Into A Fan Debate
Georgia footballs week-one hype video has become a lot more than a simple cut-up of highlights. What used to be a free social-media perk is now being kept behind a paywall on the schools Glory Glory Georgia platform, where fans have to subscribe and also help the NIL collective to get access. For a program that has built one of the loudest online followings in the sport, the move was always going to get noticed.
The reaction has already spilled onto social media, where some Georgia fans have pushed back on the idea of charging a minimum monthly payment just to watch a video that used to be shared openly. It is a small piece of content in the grand scheme of a season, but it also reflects how quickly the business of college football keeps creeping into the everyday fan experience, even for something as routine as a hype video. [Read more 🡒]
SEC Pushes LSU Toward Punishment That Could Shake The Entire League
The SEC has escalated its case against LSU in a way that could send ripples well beyond Baton Rouge, filing an amended complaint that seeks to expel the school from the league over what it says is a lack of institutional control. The dispute stems from comments made by Lane Kiffin about former NFL players returning to college football, and the conference's filing leans heavily on the idea that LSU's leadership has offered no response while Kiffin has been public on the matter.
For Georgia and the rest of the SEC, the next step matters because expulsion would require a two-thirds vote from league presidents, with that meeting expected soon. Even before any vote, the complaint has turned a coaching-side issue into a conference governance test, and the silence from LSU is now part of the broader argument hanging over one of college football's most powerful leagues. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smarts First Injury Update Leaves Georgia With Early Questions
Kirby Smarts first injury update after Georgias season-opening win offered a clearer picture of the Bulldogs health, even if it did not answer every question. Center Drew Bobo was back from a foot injury and took part in the first five series, giving Georgia a familiar presence in the middle of the line as the team moved through the opener and into the grind of a new season.
Elsewhere, the early concern centered on linebacker Linton, who is expected to be week-to-week, while running back Dante Dowdell remains sidelined after a serious offseason ATV accident. Smart said the medical staff is staying in close contact with Dowdell, but his timeline remains one of the lingering unknowns as Georgia sorts through its first real injury test of the year. [Read more 🡒]