Saturday, October 13

Baton Rouge, La.

3:30 PM

University of Georgia

LSU

Game Notes: Bulldogs Head to Death Valley, LSU

October 08, 2018 | Football

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The Georgia Bulldogs vs. The LSU Tigers

Game & Broadcast Info

Georgia Bulldogs vs. LSU Tigers
Kickoff: Saturday, October 13 - 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Tiger Stadium (102,321) - Baton Rouge, La.
2018 Records: Georgia 6-0 (4-0 SEC), LSU 5-1 (2-1 SEC)
2017 Records: Georgia 13-2 (7-1 SEC), LSU 9-4 (6-2) SEC)
Rankings: Georgia #2/#2, LSU #12/13
TV: CBS - Brad Nessler (PxP), Gary Danielson (analyst), Jamie Erdahl (sidelines)
Video Stream: CBSSports.com
Radio: WSB AM 750 - Bulldog Network | Affiliates | Scott Howard (PxP), Eric Zeier (Color), Chuck Dowdle (sideline)
Audio Stream: georgiadogs.com | TuneIn
Satellite: Sirius 103, XM 192
Web Stats: Live Stats
Twitter: #UGAvsLSU
ReBroadcast: SEC Network: TBA

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Georgia	2018 Averages	LSU
42.8	Scoring Offense	31.3
*13.0	Scoring Defense	17.0
+6	Turnover Margin	+5
485.2	Total Offense	392.5
245.2	Rushing Offense	190.0
240.0	Passing Offense	202.5
16.2	Punt Returns	10.3
24.2	Kickoff Returns	20.0

*ranks second nationally

Winning Ways

For only the 12th time in school history including the second consecutive season, Georgia has raced out to a 6-0 start. This is the first time the Bulldogs have started two seasons in a row at 6-0 after the 2017 team began the year 9-0. The 2017 team ultimately made it to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game before ending the season 13-2. Georgia will be looking to become only the 11th team in school history to start a season 7-0.

Georgia comes into the LSU game averaging 42.8 points a game, which ranks second in the SEC. On defense, Georgia is allowing just 13.0 points per game, which ranks second in the nation. The Bulldogs lead the league in Rushing Offense (245.2) and are third in Rushing Defense (113.2). In fact, the fewest number of points the Bulldogs have scored in a game this year came in a 38-12 victory over Tennessee. Georgia ranks second in the SEC in Passing Efficiency and is coming off a season high 341 yards passing in the win over Vanderbilt. Sophomore QB Jake Fromm is ranked fourth nationally in Passing Efficiency at 192.5.

Series History With LSU

LSU holds a 16-13-1 edge in the series history with Georgia that dates back to 1928. The teams last met in 2013 when ninth-ranked Georgia posted a 44-41 win over #6 LSU in Athens. Georgia's last trip to Baton Rouge came in 2008 when the ninth-ranked Bulldogs register a 52-38 victory over the 11th-ranked Tigers.

FLASHBACK: 2013 - #9 Georgia 44, #6 LSU 41

Quarterback Aaron Murray led the Bulldogs to a game-winning touchdown in the contest's final two minutes and finished 20-for-34 for 298 yards and four touchdowns. The Bulldogs led 24-17 at the half before the parity continued in the third quarter as LSU and Georgia each connected with field goals and had touchdown catches to make it 34- 27 at the end of the third quarter. The Tigers took a 41-37 lead with 4:14 remaining on an 8-yard touchdown run by Jeremy Hill. Murray managed to march the Bulldogs 75 yards down the field on six plays and completed a 25-yard touchdown to Justin Scott-Wesley with 1:47 left. Georgia flexed its muscle on defense during LSU's final possession, holding the Tigers to just 11 yards on six plays. Chris Conley hauled in five passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.

Last Time In Tiger Stadium: 2008 - #9 Georgia 52, #11 LSU 38

Linebacker Darryl Gamble tied an NCAA record by returning two interceptions for touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs the last time they were in Baton Rouge. The initial pick came on the game's first play and was returned 40 yards. The second one was returned 53 yards and clinched the victory late in the fourth quarter. Knowshon Moreno went for 163 yards and a score while A.J. Green had three catches for 89 yards and a touchdown to lead the Bulldogs.

Ranked Matchups With LSU

In the series history, there have been 10 meetings where both teams are ranked in the top 25, and it is tied at 5-all. Georgia holds a 2-1 edge in Baton Rouge including in its last visit back in 2008. Meanwhile, the Tigers are 2-2 against the Bulldogs in Athens and 2-1 in Atlanta when they are playing for an SEC Championship.

1987: #7 LSU d. #16 Georgia 26-23 in Athens
1998: #12 Georgia d. #6 LSU 28-27 in Baton Rouge
2003: #11 LSU d. #7 Georgia 17-10 in Baton Rouge
2003: #3 LSU d. #5 Georgia 34-13 in Atlanta (SEC Championship Game)
2004: #3 Georgia d. #13 Georgia 45-16 in Athens
2005: #13 Georgia d. #3 LSU 34-14 in Atlanta (SEC Championship Game)
2008: #9 Georgia d. #11 LSU 52-38 in Baton Rouge
2009: #4 LSU d. #18 Georgia 20-13 in Athens
2011: #1 LSU d. #12 Georgia 42-10 in Atlanta (SEC Championship Game)
2013: #9 Georgia d. #6 LSU 44-41 in Athens

Head Coach Kirby Smart

Personal
Full Name: Kirby Paul Smart
Birthdate: December 23, 1975
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama
Family: Wife: Mary Beth; Children: twins Weston and Julia (Feb. 8, 2008), and Andrew (May 25, 2012)
High School: Bainbridge (Ga.)
College: BBA Georgia '98; MS Florida State '03

Coaching Experience
1999 Georgia Admin. Asst.
2000 Valdosta State Defensive Backs
2001 Valdosta State Def. Coord.
2002-03 FSU Grad. Assistant
2004 LSU Defensive Backs
2005 Georgia Running Backs
2006 Miami Dolphins Safeties
2007 Alabama Asst. HC/DBs
2008-13, '15 Alabama Def. Coord./ILBs
2014 Alabama Asst. HC/Safeties
2016-current Georgia Head Coach

Playing Experience
Georgia (1995-98): Four-year letterman as defensive back. First team All-SEC in '98; 13 career interceptions; four-time member of SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Bainbridge H.S. (1991-93): Three-year letterman in football, basketball, and baseball; first team Class AAAA All-State as a senior; 16 career interceptions.
High School Coach: Sonny Smart (father)

Coach Smart's Record
Year	W	L	Pct.	SEC
2016	8	5	.615	4-4
2017	13	2	.866	7-1
2018	6	0	1.000	4-0
Total	27	7	.794	16-6

When Georgia looked for a new head coach after the 2015 season, the arrows pointed to Kirby Smart, longtime Alabama defensive coordinator and former UGA player and assistant. The 2017 Associated Press SEC Coach of the Year has not disappointed.

In his first year leading the Bulldogs in 2016, Georgia extended its school record to 20 consecutive bowl appearances and posted five fourth-quarter comebacks including wins over No. 8 Auburn and No. 22 North Carolina. He led UGA to an 8-5 final record, which included a victory over TCU in the Liberty Bowl.

In 2017, Smart directed UGA to a 13-2 record, an SEC title, a win at The Rose Bowl Game during the CFP semifinal and a spot in the National Championship. He was named the Maxwell Football Club's George Munger National Coach of the Year. Before 2017, the Bulldogs last SEC title was 2005.

He has also made an immediate impact in recruiting, posting the nation's top-ranked class in 2018 and the third-ranked class in 2017. In addition to coaching, Smart oversees the Kirby Smart Family Foundation, which is focused on being champions in the community by supporting and giving back to needy children and families.

Smart officially came home to Georgia on Dec. 6, 2015. But he still had unfinished business at Alabama, which was chasing a national title. He juggled two jobs for a month until January 11, 2016, when the Tide won its fourth national championship in a seven-year span. Twelve hours later, he was at work in Athens.

Did You Know?
Kirby Smart is one of nine head coaches at schools from Power 5 conferences that are coaching at their alma maters.

The complete list:
Paul Chryst (Wisconsin)
Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern)
Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State)
Jim Harbaugh (Michigan)
Cliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech)
Barry Odom (LSU)
Mark Richt (Miami)
David Shaw (Stanford)
Kirby Smart (GEORGIA)

Top Ind. Single-Game Performances Under Smart
Rushing Yards: 222, Nick Chubb vs. #22 UNC (9/3/16)
Rushing TDs: 3, Sony Michel vs. UK (11/18/17); vs. #2 Oklahoma (1/1/18)
Longest Rush: 75-TD, Michel vs. #2 Oklahoma (1/1/18)
Passing Yards: 346, Jacob Eason vs. VU (10/15/16)
Passing TDs: 3, Eason @ LSU (9/17/16); Jake Fromm vs. Samford (9/16/17)
Receiving TDs: 2, Isaiah McKenzie @ LSU (9/17/16); Terry Godwin vs. Samford (9/16/17)
Longest TD Pass: 80-TD, Fromm to Mecole Hardman vs. BAMA (1/8/18)
Longest Pass: 80-TD, Fromm to Hardman vs. BAMA (1/8/18)
Tackles: 13, Roquan Smith vs. GT (11/26/16); SECCG (12/2/17); CFPNC (1/1/18)
Sacks: 3, Trenton Thompson vs. TCU (12/30/16)
TFL: 3, Thompson vs. Nicholls (9/10/16)

Quick Facts

2017 Georgia Munger National Coach of the Year finalist, leading UGA to a 13-2 record, a Rose Bowl Game victory and an appearance the CFP National Championship Game.
The Bulldogs' No. 2 AP ranking in 2017 was the team's top AP ranking since week three of the 2008 season when Georgia was No. 2.
Bulldogs captured the SEC Eastern Division by going 7-1 in 2017, including a perfect 6-0 in the division for the first time since the league split into divisions in 1992.
Seven fourth-quarter comebacks, including wins over #8 AU (2016), #22 UNC in Atlanta (2016), @ #24 Notre Dame (2017), vs. #2 Oklahoma in 2018 Rose Bowl Game.
Led UGA to its first win over a ranked team in a season opener away from Sanford Stadium in school history, posting a 33-24 win over #22 UNC during the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic.

10 Defense/Special Teams Scores
2016: Safety vs. #22 UNC; Lorenzo Carter 24-yd fumble recovery for TD vs. Nicholls; Terry Godwin 43-yd KOR for TD @ SC; Maurice Smith 34-yd INT return for TD vs. #8 Auburn; Isaiah McKenzie 82-yd PR for TD
2017: J.R. Reed 3-yd fumble recover for TD vs. Florida
2018: Juwan Taylor 1-yd INT return for TD @ USC; Mecole Hardman 70-yd PR for TD vs. MTSU; Tyson Campbell 64-yd fumble recovery for TD & Eric Stokes 8-yd blocked punt for TD @ Missouri

7 Victories When Tied Or Trailing Late
Year	Opponent	Start of 4th Qtr.	Final
2016	%#22 UNC	Trailed 24-23	33-24
2016	@ LSU	Trailed 27-21	28-27
2016	@ LSU	Trailed 21-16	27-24
2016	#8 Auburn	Tied 7-7	13-7
2016	^TCU	Trailed 23-21	31-23
2017	#24 Notre Dame	17-16, trailed 19-17 with 10:21 left	20-19
2018	$ #2 Oklahoma 31-31	trailed 45-38 with 0:55 left	54-48 2ot

%Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic; ^Liberty Bowl; $Rose Bowl Game

High Octane Offense

Georgia is on pace to set a record for scoring average in a season. The Bulldogs have scored 40+ points in five of their six wins this year. Georgia is averaging 42.8 points/game. The 2012 team owns the school record at 37.8.

The Bulldog offense has scored 29 touchdowns in 2018 while the defense and special teams have each chipped in two scores.

Efficient Signal Callers

Sophomore QB Jake Fromm is on pace to shatter the school record for Completion Percentage in 2018. He is ranked fifth in the nation at 72.8 percent. Georgia's school record is 67.9 by Hutson Mason in 2014. The SEC record is 72.3 percent held by Tim Couch (UK, 1998).

Fromm is 18-2 as a starter, including 5-2 versus Top 25 teams.

The Warner Robins, Ga., native is the national active leader in Passing Efficiency at 169.20.

During the Bulldogs' 6-0 start, Fromm has completed 83-of- 114 for 1,200 yards, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Georgia also has true freshman QB Justin Fields, who was one of the nation's top recruits. After enrolling in January, he has seen action in all six games and is 18-for-25 with 200 yards and two scores and three rushing touchdowns. He averages 7.8 yards a carry.

Fields scampered for a career-high 45 yards on five carries during the win over the Vols and finished with two scoring runs.

In his career, Fromm has led his team to two comebacks when trailing at the half. One of Georgia's signature wins came with his 2018 Rose Bowl Game performance after the Bulldogs trailed #2 Oklahoma 31-17 at the half and rallied to a 54-48 win in double overtime. Georgia trailed 45-38 with 3:22 remaining in the game before Fromm directed a game-tying drive.

Fromm's first career start came last year at #24 Notre Dame. Trailing 19-17 with 6:47 left in the contest, Fromm directed a nine play, 63-yard drive to set up the go-ahead field goal. He was 3-for-4 for 45 yards during the drive.

Jake Fromm (UGA Career)
2017	Att	Cmp	TD	Int	Yds	Sk	Eff.
ASU (W)	15	10	1	0	143	0	168.7
@ #24 ND (W)	29	16	1	1	141	2	100.5
SU (W)	13	8	3	0	165	0	244.3
#17 MSU (W)	12	9	2	0	201	0	270.7
@ UT (W)	15	7	1	1	84	2	102.4
@ VU (W)	11	7	2	0	102	1	201.5
MU (W)	26	18	2	1	326	1	192.2
vs. UF (W)	4	7	1	1	101	0	196.9
USC (W)	22	16	2	0	196	1	177.6
@ #10 Auburn (L)	28	13	1	0	184	4	113.4
UK (W)	14	9	1	1	123	1	147.4
@ GT (W)	16	12	2	0	224	0	233.8
SECCG -#2 AU (W)	22	16	2	0	183	2	172.6
ROSE - #2 OU (W)	29	20	2	0	210	2	152.6
CFP NC - #4 UA (L)	32	16	1	2	232	4	108.7
2017 TOTAL	291	181	24	7	2,615	20	160.1
2018	Att	Cmp	TD	Int	Yds	Sk	Eff.
APSU (W)	16	12	2	0	157	0	198.7
@ #24 USC (W)	18	15	1	1	194	2	181.1
MTSU (W)	12	10	3	0	128	2	255.4
@ MISSOURI (W)	23	13	3	1	260	0	185.8
TENNESSEE (W)	22	16	0	0	185	3	143.3
VU (W)	23	17	3	0	276	0	217.8
2018 TOTAL	114	83	12	2	1,200	7	192.5
TOTAL	406	264	36	9	3,815	27	169.2

Sharing The Load

This year, Georgia is utilizing four backs to share the work load: sophomore D'Andre Swift, juniors Elijah Holyfield and Brian Herrien and freshman James Cook.

Name	Atts.	Yds.	Avg.	TDs
Elijah Holyfield	58	432	7.4	3
D'Andre Swift	59	290	4.9	4
Brian Herrien	28	175	6.3	2
James Cook	30	165	5.5	0
TOTAL	175	1,062	6.1	9

Next Man Up On The Line

The Bulldogs returned four of five starters on the offensive line, including Freshman All-American tackle Andrew Thomas. However, Georgia could start its fourth different offensive line versus LSU due to injuries. Thomas went down with a left ankle injury against #24 South Carolina, and freshman Cade Mays filled in. Mays then started at LT versus Middle Tennessee State as Thomas continued his recovery. Thomas started and played briefly in the road win over Missouri and was back in his normal role against Tennessee.

This season, Georgia's starting line has featured Thomas/ Mays (LT), redshirt sophomore Solomon Kindley (LG), senior Lamont Gaillard (C), redshirt sophomore Ben Cleveland (RG) and redshirt freshman Isaiah Wilson (RT). In the second half of the road win at Missouri, Cleveland went down with a leg injury and missed the Vanderbilt game. Sophomore Justin Shaffer and Mays have filled in that spot. Kindley left the Vanderbilt game with a knee injury and freshman Trey Hill played in his spot.

Georgia leads the SEC in Rushing Offense at 245.2 yards/ game. In their latest victory, the Bulldogs piled up 560 total yards, including 219 on the ground versus the Commodores.

Spreading The Wealth

Georgia's quarterbacks have done a good job of spreading the ball around to receivers. Junior Mecole Hardman leads the group with 22 catches for 335 yards and four touchdowns.

Hardman had a career day at #24 South Carolina, hauling in six catches for 103 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown. This was Georgia's first 100-yard receiver since the 2016 Liberty Bowl versus TCU (Isaiah McKenzie, 4-103). He had a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown versus MTSU and a 54-yard touchdown catch at Missouri.

Junior Riley Ridley is tied for the team lead with 22 catches and four touchdowns and has 262 yards. Senior Terry Godwin came up with a career-long 75-yard touchdown catch in the win over Vanderbilt.

Sophomore Jeremiah Holloman has emerged into another target for the Bulldogs. He has eight catches for 208 yards and two scores.

Junior Tyler Simmons joins senior Jayson Stanley as two of the top contributors on special teams and blockers on offense. Against MTSU, Simmons did not have a catch, but took his only carry 56 yards for a touchdown. He sustained a shoulder injury at Missouri, then missed the Tennessee game and returned against the Commodores.

The Bulldog tight ends have shown the ability to block and be options in the passing game. For example, junior Isaac Nauta had a team-high four catches for 47 yards against MTSU. Versus the Vols, Nauta collected a Fromm fumble and advanced it 31 yards for a touchdown and added a 17-yard catch.

Two of the Bulldogs' three longest runs this season have come from the receivers with Simmons' TD carry and redshirt sophomore newcomer Demetris Robertson's 72-yard TD run versus APSU.

Robertson, a native of Savannah, Ga., and graduate of Savannah Christian, arrived in Athens during preseason camp and was cleared to play for Georgia this fall after spending the last two years at the University of California.

Points At A Premium When Facing Georgia

Georgia is second nationally in Scoring Defense, allowing just 13.0 points/game. Georgia has held opponents scoreless in 12 of 24 quarters this season.

The Bulldogs held Tennessee scoreless in the first half, making it the second time they have held an opponent scoreless in the first two quarters in 2018 (Austin Peay). With the Vols coming in averaging 205 yards rushing a game, the Bulldogs held them to 66 on the ground and only 209 total yards.

In the first half of the Bulldogs' win at Missouri, the Tigers ran 38 plays for 159 yards and were held to a single touchdown. Missouri entered the contest averaging 43.7 points. In the second half, the Tigers tallied 22 points and finished the game with 393 total yards on 85 plays.

Georgia's defense held #24 South Carolina to just 17 points, had a Red Zone stop and an INT in the SEC opener on the road.

In the Bulldogs' latest 41-13 win over Vanderbilt, the Commodores were held to a pair of field goals until they scored their first touchdown with :02 left.

Walker Making An Impact

Senior OLB D'Andre Walker is emerging as the leader on the outside. In the win over Tennessee, Walker registered five stops, including a sack and a forced fumble. He recorded four tackles, including two sacks, and forced two fumbles in the win at Missouri.

Walker's three forced fumbles through six games is tied for fourth nationally. Also of note, he has 15 tackles and five of those are TFLs, including a team-leading four sacks for loss of 23 yards.

Georgia has senior Juwan Taylor, sophomore Monty Rice, junior Tae Crowder and senior Natrez Patrick splitting time at ILB. Rice is second on the team with 26 stops in only five games while Taylor is fourth with 22.

Rice and Patrick each had five tackles in the victory over Tennessee and Taylor recovered his team-leading second fumble.

Crowder highlighted the Missouri game with a 43-yard interception return, marking the first pick of his career.

Rice had a career-high eight tackles versus USC while Taylor was credited with a touchdown after DB Deandre Baker dropped the ball at the 1 yard line following a 55-yard INT return.

Starting Up Front

Veterans Tyler Clark and Jonathan Ledbetter anchor the defensive line. Clark leads the interior linemen with 14 stops, including 2.5 TFL, while Ledbetter has 11 tackles and one tackle for loss. Most recently on a 3rd-and-1 situation from the Georgia 5-yard line, Clark shot behind the line and picked a tackle for loss to force Vanderbilt into a field goal.

Behind Clark, Ledbetter and junior Julian Rochester, Georgia is rotating in juniors Michael Barnett, Michail Carter, sophomore Devonte Wyatt, senior DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle and graduate transfer Jay Hayes. Hayes arrived in Athens during the summer after graduating from Notre Dame. He had seven tackles during the Bulldogs' win over the Irish in 2017.

True freshman Jordan Davis played significant action in the win over Vanderbilt. In just his fourth game, he came up with a key stop on 4th-and-1 on the Bulldog 14-yard line with the score 7-3. Davis stalled a drive that had gone 81 yards and Georgia then responded by going 86 yards on eight plays to go up 14-3. Davis finished with two stops.

The Bulldogs held Missouri QB Drew Lock to no touchdown passes in their trip to Columbia.

Baker, Reed Leading Defensive Backfield

Senior DB Deandre Baker, who was named a preseason All-American by several outlets, has 21 tackles on the year and a team-best two interceptions and six pass break-ups. Baker is tied for the SEC lead in passes defended with eight.

He had six stops, two pass breakups and the team's first interception in 2018 (along with a 55-yard return) at #24 South Carolina. Baker was named the Athlon National Defensive Player of the Week following the contest. He followed that performance up with another pick and a fumble recovery in the win over MTSU.

Junior safety J.R. Reed ranks third on the team with 24 tackles. He has been the leading tackler three times in 2018. Reed's lone pick on the year came in the end zone at South Carolina.

Sophomore Richard LeCounte has started every game this year and leads the squad with 33 tackles. He has been the leading tackler twice this year, including six stops and a forced fumble versus Vanderbilt.

Freshman Tyson Campbell and redshirt freshman Eric Stokes had career highlights in the win at Missouri. Campbell started the game by forcing a fumble, recovering it and scampering 64 yards for a touchdown. Stokes blocked a punt and returned it eight yards for another of the Dogs' scores.

Blankenship One Of The Best

Preseason All-American candidate PK Rodrigo Blankenship ranks 12th nationally with 59 points in the year (nine FGs, 32 PATs). He was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week following the 41-17 rout at #24 South Carolina.

In the latest win over Vanderbilt, he drilled a 53 yarder to complement a 28 yarder.

Honored as one of 11 players nationwide named to the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his dedication to the community combined with his on the field performance.

Has connected on a school record 121 consecutive PATs, topping Blair Walsh's record of 119 (2008-11).

Leads the nation with 44 touchbacks out of 47 KOs this year.

Last year, 67 of his kickoffs were touchbacks, which was a new school record. The old mark was by Kevin Butler (51 in 1981).

Set a Rose Bowl Game record by drilling a career-long 55- yard field goal during the 2OT win over #2 Oklahoma. His performance included a 38-yard FG in overtime.

Career Highs For Blankenship
Points: 17 (MU17; 4FG, 5PAT)
PATs: 7 (MT18)
FG Att: 6 (MU18)
FG Made: 4 (UK16, MU17)
FG Long: 55 (OU18)
KO: 10 (MU17)
KO Yards: 635 (MU17)

Blankenship Kicking Stats

Year	PAT	FG	LG	TP
2016	26x26	14-18	49	68
2017	63x63	20-23	55	123
2018	32-32	9-11	53	59
Total	121x121	43-52	55	250

Field Goal Breakdown

Year	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50-99
2016	0-0	7-7	3-4	4-6	0-1
2017	0-0	8-8	6-6	4-7	2-2
2018	0-0	2-2	1-2	5-6	1-1
Total	0-0	17-17	10-12	13-19	3-4

True freshman Jake Camarda started his career versus APSU with three punts for a 55 yard average (fifth best in UGA history), including a long of 63. He is averaging 44.1 this year.

SEC's Leading Punt Returner Back

Junior returner/receiver Mecole Hardman is leading the SEC in Punt Return average at 21.3. He is back in the lineup after having 23 punt returns for 271 yards and an 11.8 average in 2017 (all of those led the SEC). Also, Hardman was second in the SEC in kickoff returns with a 25.2 average (20 returns for 505 yards).

Had a 70-yard PR for a touchdown versus MTSU. Hardman had his first kickoff returns of the season at Missouri (3 for 91).

Tailback By Committee

While Georgia counted on a record-setting tandem in the backfield over the last couple of years, the Bulldogs are calling on a variety of tailbacks to lead the attack in 2018, including sophomore D'Andre Swift, juniors Elijah Holyfield and Brian Herrien and freshman James Cook.

Swift started the first four games, has a team-leading 59 carries for 259 yards and a team-leading four touchdowns.

In the past four games, Holyfield has the following highlights: Had his first career 100-yard rushing performance (8 for 100) versus MTSU; collected 90 yards on 14 carries versus at Missouri; registered 78 yards on 16 carries against the Vols; and led the team with six carries for 64 yards and a touchdown versus Vanderbilt. He leads the team with 432 yards on 48 carries for 7.4 average.

Herrien now stands third on the team with 28 carries for 175 yards, including 56 yards in the win over the Vols with 30 coming during one of Georgia's fourth quarter scoring drives.

Georgia is replacing tailbacks Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. They completed their Bulldog career in 2017 as the top pair in college football history, amassing 8,407 rushing yards and 77 rushing touchdowns.

N.O.T. Just Scoring On Offense

The Bulldogs' 28 touchdowns this season have included 24 by the offense, two by the defense and two by special teams.

The latest N.O.T.s (Non-Offensive Touchdowns) came in the 43-29 road win over Missouri. Georgia had a 20-7 lead at halftime and the offense did not have a touchdown.

The Bulldogs' first score came on a forced fumble/64-yard return for a touchdown by freshman Tyson Campbell.

In the second quarter, redshirt freshman Eric Stokes blocked his first career punt and returned it eight yards for a score. This marked the 10th defensive/special teams score in the Kirby Smart era. In fact, Georgia's first TD in both of the first two SEC games this year were scored by the defense.

Also, it was the first time since 2015 at Tennessee that Georgia had registered a special teams touchdown and a defensive score in the same game. That year, current Chicago Bears linebacker Leonard Floyd had a 96-yard fumble return and Reggie Davis had a 70-yard punt return.

Blankenship Latest Good Works Team Rep

When junior PK Rodrigo Blankenship was named to the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his dedication to the community, he joined a long list of Bulldogs who have garnered this honor.

In fact, Georgia leads the nation with 19 recipients since the award's inception in 1992.

Here is a look at all of the Bulldogs who have been named to the Good Works Team:

Alec Millen - 1992	Quentin Moses - 2006
Travis Jones - 1993	Kelin Johnson - 2007
Brian Smith - 1993	Jeff Owens - 2009
Matt Stinchcomb - 1997	Aaron White - 2011
Matt Stinchcomb - 1998	Aaron Murray - 2012
Brett Millican - 2000	Chris Conley - 2014
Jon Stinchcomb - 2001	Malcolm Mitchell - 2015
David Greene - 2003	Jeb Blazevich - 2016
D.J. Shockley - 2005	Aaron Davis - 2017

Youth Movement

The Bulldogs returned 51 lettermen from their 2018 squad, including 13 starters. However, Georgia is still the SEC's youngest team and the nation's 15th youngest team with 68.2 percent being either freshmen or sophomores.

Total	Fr. (True/RS)	Soph.	Team	Size	Pct.
Georgia	88	58 (39/20)	30	129	68.2

Record Watch

The Bulldogs are now six games into their 2018 slate and junior PK Rodrigo Blankenship has set one all-time school career record and has another on the horizon. He now has 121 consecutive PATs, which topped Blair Walsh's 119 from 2008-10. The next record to keep an eye on is career touchbacks. The record is held by Kevin Butler (1981-94) who had 169 during his career. Currently, Blankenship has 132. Last year, Blankenship set the season touchback record with 67 breaking the mark held by Butler who had 51. Incidentally, Blankenship already has a national leading 44 this year.

Bulldog Graduates

Georgia has three players on this year's roster who have already earned their undergraduate degrees.

The players who received their undergraduate degrees include: DL Jay Hayes (Notre Dame-Film, Television, Theater), P Landon Stratton (Murray State-Occupational and Health Safety) and OL Sean Fogarty (UGA-History). Hayes is pursuing a Master's degree in Financial Planning while Stratton is enrolled in the Master's program for Learning, Leadership and Organizational Development. Fogarty is taking a full load of undergraduate courses.

All of the SEC players who have achieved an undergraduate degree will be sporting the SEC Graduate patch on their uniforms.

UGA 13th In US News & World Report rankings

UGA jumped three spots to No. 13 in the U.S. News & World Report 2019 ranking of best public national universities, the highest ranking in UGA's history. This is the third consecutive year the university has risen in the U.S. News ranking.

Notre Dame, Texas A&M Coming To Athens In '19

Games with Notre Dame and Texas A&M highlight the 2019 home schedule announced recently by the SEC.

Notre Dame will be visiting Athens for the first time in history while the Aggies will be making their first appearance between the hedges since 1980 (Georgia won 42-0). Georgia posted a 21-19 win in South Bend last year, which marked the first meeting since the 1981 Sugar Bowl (Georgia 17-10).

The Bulldogs have yet to face the Aggies in an SEC contest as the last time they squared off came in the 2009 Independence Bowl (Georgia won 44-20).

Georgia will open at Vanderbilt for the first time since 1956 in Nashville and open a season with an SEC contest for the first time since 1995 (versus South Carolina in Athens).

2019 Schedule
Aug. 31 at ^Vanderbilt
Sept. 7 MURRAY STATE
Sept. 14 ARKANSAS STATE
Sept. 21 NOTRE DAME
Sept. 28 Open Date
Oct. 5 at ^Tennessee
Oct. 12 ^SOUTH CAROLINA
Oct. 19 ^KENTUCKY
Oct. 26 Open Date
Nov. 2 vs. ^Florida (Jacksonville)
Nov. 9 ^MISSOURI
Nov. 16 at ^Auburn
Nov. 23 ^TEXAS A&M
Nov. 30 at Georgia Tech
^SEC game

First-Time Starters In 2018

The Bulldogs had seven first-time starters in their 2018 season opener versus APSU.
APSU: Isaiah Wilson (RT), Tyler Simmons (WR), Ahkil Crumpton(WR), D'Andre Walker (LB), Tyson Campbell (DB), Walter Grant (LB), Jake Camarda (P).
MTSU: Cade Mays (LT), Mark Webb (DB), William Poole (DB)

The True Freshman Experience

During the opener, 18 true freshmen played for the Bulldogs while 36 newcomers made their debut. Tyson Campbell started the season opener at DB in his first collegiate contest. Against Middle Tennessee, true freshman LT Cade Mays made his first collegiate start in place of Andrew Thomas. In 2017, 16 true freshmen played. AndrewThomas started at RT, becoming the first true freshman OL to start a season opener since John Theus in 2012.

Bulldog Captains In 2018