ATHENS - Georgia’s opener did what a season opener is supposed to do for a team with bigger goals: it gave the Bulldogs room to breathe.
In a 63-3 rout, Georgia was able to spread snaps around without leaning too heavily on anyone, and that mattered as much as the scoreboard. Center Drew Bobo was back in the starting lineup for the first time since the foot injury he suffered against Georgia Tech last season, and he handled the first five series before Georgia pulled him and quarterback Gunner Stockton once the Bulldogs had built a 35-0 lead.
Kirby Smart liked what he saw from Bobo.
“Thought he did a good job,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said of Bobo. “Did what was asked of him.
He makes good checks, and he commands the huddle. He’s a high-effort guy.
He didn’t play a ton of snaps.So, . e did a good job.”
Georgia’s defense, meanwhile, had a couple of notable absences. Linton did not play, and Smart said Tuesday that he is expected to be week-to-week while recovering from the injury. The Bulldogs were also without Amaris Williams, who tore his ACL in April.
That opened the door for younger players, and freshman Khamari Brooks and PJ Dean took advantage of the extra work. Dean finished with 1.5 sacks.
There was also no appearance from Ja’Marley Riddle against Tennessee State, though Smart made it clear the issue was not health-related. Riddle was limited this spring because of a groin injury he had dating back to his East Carolina days. He was arrested in May on two counts of possession of a controlled substance, both felonies, and a misdemeanor speeding offense, but those charges were later dropped by the Brunswick, Ga., District Attorney’s office.
Smart also offered an update on running back Dante Dowdell, who has been away from the team since serious injuries in an offseason ATV accident.
“I think our medical staff, they do a tremendous job,” Smart said. “Connor (Norman) and Ryan (Madaleno) have been unbelievable with communication, talking to his family, talking to Shepherd Center in different places.
And they’ve been with him every step of the way, along with Coach (Josh) Crawford in the running back room. They got to go over and visit him and see him in Atlanta, and reached out and have talked to him a lot.
“He’s been around the team some, and he knows what his priorities are right now, and that’s trying to get healthy.”
Now Georgia turns to Western Kentucky, a matchup that again puts the Bulldogs in heavy-favorite territory. The Hilltoppers opened their season with a 49-14 loss to Nevada.
Smart said the game should give his team another chance to sharpen itself.
“It should be a great opportunity for us to continue to get better,” Smart said. “And we have a saying around here, ‘You don’t have to be sick to get better.’ And that’s been the motto of last weekend and this week.”
Saturday’s kickoff is set for 12:45 p.m. ET.
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 Smart Is Already Raving About One Georgia Freshman Receiver
Craig Dandridge wasted little time making an impression in his first college game for Georgia, popping up in multiple spots during the Bulldogs season opener against Tennessee State. The freshman wide receiver finished with two catches for 36 yards and also handled a 30-yard punt return, a small but noteworthy glimpse of the versatility that has already made him stand out in the receiver room.
Kirby Smart has been quick to notice more than just the box-score production. The Georgia coach praised Dandridges intelligence, versatility and quickness, even while noting the freshman had missed part of camp. With other receivers also contributing in the opener, Dandridges debut did not have to carry the entire passing game, but it did offer an early sign that he may have a larger role ahead. [Read more 🡒]