Tuesday, January 1

New Orleans, La.

8:45 PM

University of Georgia

Texas

Notes - Dawgs and Horns Battle In Sugar Bowl

December 28, 2018 | Football

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The Georgia Bulldogs vs. The Texas Longhorns

Game & Broadcast Info

AllState Sugar Bowl - Georgia Bulldogs vs. Texas Longhorns
Kickoff: Tuesday Jan. 1, 2019, 8:45 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome (72,500) - New Orleans, La.
2018 Records: Georgia 11-2, Texas 9-4
Rankings: Georgia #5, Texas #15
TV: ESPN - Sean McDonough (PxP); Todd Blackledge (analyst); Holly Rowe (sideline)
Video Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: ESPN Radio - Bill Rosinski (PxP); David Norrie (color analyst); Ian Fitzsimmons (sideline)
WSB AM 750 - Bulldog Network | Affiliates | Scott Howard (PxP), Eric Zeier (Color), Chuck Dowdle (sideline)
Audio Stream: georgiadogs.com (in Georgia only)
Satellite: TBA
Web Stats: Live Stats
Twitter: #SugarBowl
Sugar Bowl: Official Page

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Georgia	2018 Averages	Texas
39.2	Scoring Offense	31.3
18.5	Scoring Defense	26.2
+5	Turnover Margin	+7
478.8	Total Offense	415.6
251.6	Rushing Offense	151.2
227.2	Passing Offense	264.5
16.6	Punt Returns	12.2
22.6	Kickoff Returns	20.3

Aiming for 12

Georgia looks to become only the fifth team in UGA history to come away with at least 12 wins. The 1980 national champions (12-0), the 2002 SEC champions (13-1), the 2012 team (12-2) and the 2017 SEC/Rose Bowl Game champions and national runner-up (13-2) were the others who have hit the mark.

Bulldogs Extend One Of The Nation's Longest Active Bowl Streaks

Fifth-ranked Georgia will face No. 15 Texas in the 2019 Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans at 8:45 p.m. ET on ESPN. Georgia (11-2) will represent the SEC while Texas (9-4) hails from the Big 12. Both teams won their respective divisions before falling in their conference championship games on Dec. 1. Top-ranked Alabama rallied past the Bulldogs 35-28 for the SEC title while Oklahoma avenged its only season blemish with a 39-27 win over the Longhorns to claim the Big 12 crown.

The Bulldogs have the second longest active bowl streak in the nation now at 22, trailing only Virginia Tech (26). Overall, the Bulldogs and Longhorns rank among the nation's top bowl teams as they will be making their 55th all-time appearances. Georgia owns a 31-20-3 bowl record while Texas is 28-24-2. Last season, Georgia won the Rose Bowl Game over No. 2 Oklahoma and fell to No. 4 Alabama in the National Championship Game in Atlanta to finish 13-2 in Kirby Smart's second year at the helm. Texas won the 2017 Texas Bowl over Missouri to finish 7-6 in Tom Herman's first season.

Sweet History In the Sugar Bowl

Georgia has made nine appearances in the Sugar Bowl – more than the Bulldogs have played in any other postseason game. Georgia's last appearance in the New Orleans game was Jan. 1, 2008, when the Bulldogs defeated Hawaii, 41-10. Georgia entered the game ranked No. 4 and with a 10-2 record while Hawaii was 12-0 and No. 10.

Sugar Bowl appearances by the Bulldogs (Record - 4-5):
Jan. 1, 1947, #3 Georgia defeated #9 North Carolina, 20-10
Jan. 1, 1969, #4 Georgia lost to #9 Arkansas, 16-2
Jan. 1, 1977, #5 Georgia lost to #1 Pittsburgh, 27-3
Jan. 1, 1981, #1 Georgia defeated #7 Notre Dame, 17-10 to win the national championship
Jan. 1, 1982, #2 Georgia lost to #10 Pittsburgh, 24-20
Jan. 1, 1983, #1 Georgia lost to #2 Penn State, 27-23
Jan. 1, 2003, #4 Georgia defeated #16 Florida State, 26-13
*Jan. 1, 2006, #8 Georgia lost to #11 West Virginia 38-35; *played in Atlanta due to Hurricane Katrina
Jan. 1, 2008, #4 Georgia defeated #10 Hawaii, 41-10

Georgia-Texas Series History Texas holds a 3-1 edge in the series history with Georgia with two of the games coming in bowl games. Also of note, UGA and UT have scheduled a two-game series in 2028-29. The Bulldogs will travel to Austin in 2028 while Georgia will play host to the Longhorns in 2029.

Jan. 1, 1949 Orange Bowl in Miami..........Georgia lost to Texas, 41-28
Sept. 21, 1957 in Atlanta............................Georgia lost to Texas, 26-7
Sept. 20, 1958 in Austin.............................Georgia lost to #11 Texas, 13-8
Jan. 2, 1984 Cotton Bowl in Dallas...........#7 Georgia defeated #2 Texas, 10-9

Seniors Go For 43 The 2018 senior class picked up its 42nd win after beating Georgia Tech 45-21 on Nov. 24. The 2018 seniors are 42-12, and the 42 wins is tied for third in school history with the 2004 team. The record for most wins by a class is 44 held by the 2005 contingent, which won two SEC titles. The most successful Georgia class was the 1983 group that went 43-4-1 with a national title and three SEC crowns.

Bulldogs Earn SEC Recognition Sophomore LT Andrew Thomas, senior C Lamont Gaillard and senior DB Deandre Baker were named to the Coaches All-SEC First Team and sophomore TB D'Andre Swift, senior DL Jonathan Ledbetter, junior PK Rodrigo Blankenship and junior receiver/returner Mecole Hardman were included on the Second Team. Also, offensive linemen Isaiah Wilson and Cade Mays, QB Justin Fields, DL Jordan Davis and P Jake Camarda were voted to the Freshman All-SEC Team.

Baker was also a First Team selection on the AP All-SEC squad while Thomas, Gaillard, Swift, Blankenship, Hardman (All-Purpose) and senior OLB D'Andre Walker are on the Second Team.

Head Coach Kirby Smart

Personal
Full Name: Kirby Paul Smart
Birthdate: December 23, 1975
Birthplace: Montgomery, Texas
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 Texas State '03

Coaching Experience
1999 Georgia Admin. Asst.
2000 Valdosta State Defensive Backs
2001 Valdosta State Def. Coord.
2002-03 FSU Grad. Assistant
2004 Texas Defensive Backs
2005 Georgia Running Backs
2006 Miami Dolphins Safeties
2007 Texas Asst. HC/DBs
2008-13, '15 Texas Def. Coord./ILBs
2014 Texas 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	11	2	.846	7-2
Total	32	9	.780	19-8

When Georgia looked for a new head coach after the 2015 season, the arrows pointed to Kirby Smart, longtime Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas, 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 (Texas)
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: 83-TD, D'Andre Swift @ #9 UK (11/3/18)
Passing Yards: 346, Jacob Eason vs. VU (10/15/16)
Passing TDs: 4, Jake Fromm vs. GT (11/25/18)
Receiving TDs: 2, Isaiah McKenzie @ Texas (9/17/16); Terry Godwin vs. Samford (9/16/17); Jeremiah Holloman vs. #9 Florida (10/27/18), Riley Ridley vs. GT (11/25/18)
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 Texas; Isaiah McKenzie 82-yd PR for TD
2017: J.R. Reed 3-yd fumble recover for TD vs. Texas
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	@ Texas	Trailed 27-21	28-27
2016	@ Texas	Trailed 21-16	27-24
2016	#8 Texas	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

High-Powered Offense Georgia is on pace to have one of the best scoring averages in UGA history this season. The Bulldogs have scored 40+ points in seven games this year and are averaging 39.2, which is second in the SEC and 13th nationally. The 2014 team owns the school record at 41.3 ppg.

The Bulldog offense has scored 61 touchdowns in 2018 while the defense and special teams have each chipped in two scores.

Against top-ranked Alabama, Georgia tallied 454 yards of total offense and 28 points versus a unit that was ranked third nationally in scoring defense. The Tide had trailed for just 70 seconds all year before Georgia led them for 35 minutes and 23 seconds in the SEC Championship Game.

Georgia piled up 516 yards of total offense in the 27-10 victory over #24 Auburn. This was the most yards the Tigers had given up since Oklahoma had 524 in the 2016 Sugar Bowl.

Efficient Signal Callers

Jake Fromm, a 2018 Manning Award finalist, is 23-4 as a starter, including 8-4 versus Top 25 teams.

He is on pace to set the school record for Completion Percentage at 68.4. He leads the SEC and ranks 8th nationally. Georgia's school record is 67.9 by Hutson Mason in 2014.

The Warner Robins, Ga., native is ranked third nationally in Passing Efficiency at 175.81, which would be a school record. In the regular season finale versus Ga. Tech, Fromm had a career-high four TD passes. Against top-ranked Alabama, he had a streak of 10 straight completions, which tied an SEC Championship Game record.

His three TD passes versus #9 Florida all came on third downs covering 12, 16 and 24 yards. He was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week after going 17-for-24 for 240 yards and three TDs.

Georgia also has freshman QB Justin Fields. After enrolling in January, he has seen action in 12 games and is 27-for-39 with 328 yards and four scores and four rushing TDs. Fields also has 266 yards on 42 carries and is averaging 6.3 yards a carry.

Fields became the first Bulldog QB to have 100 yards rushing in 20 years when he did it versus UMass on Nov. 17 (Quincy Carter tallied 114 against UK in 1998). Fields, who was 5-for-8 for 121 yards and two touchdowns against UMass, also became the first Georgia QB to lead his team in rushing in a game since D.J. Shockley in 2005 against Boise State (85 yards).

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
@ #13 LSU (L)	34	16	1	2	209	3	96.6
vs. #9 ^UF (W)	24	17	3	0	240	1	196.1
vs. #9 UK (W)	20	14	1	0	113	0	134.0
#24 AU (W)	20	13	2	1	193	0	169.8
UMass (W)	5	5	1	0	106	0	344.1
GT (W)	16	13	4	0	175	0	255.6
SECCG UA (L)	39	25	3	0	301	2	154.3
2018 TOTAL	272	186	27	5	2,537	13	175.8
CAREER TOTAL	563	367	51	12	5,152	33	167.7

Sharing The Load In The Ground Game

Sophomore D'Andre Swift (1,037 yds.) and junior Elijah Holyfield (956 yds.) aim to become the latest Bulldog duo to each have 1,000-yard seasons. Most recently Nick Chubb (1,345) and Sony Michel (1,227) did it in 2017. Swift became the 14th Bulldog in school history to have a 1,000- yard season during the matchup versus #1 Alabama. It has now been done 20 times.

Against #24 Auburn, the Bulldogs went over 300 yards on the ground and had a 100-yard rusher for the third straight game. In the SEC East clinching road win over #9 Kentucky, both tailbacks went over 100 yards as the Bulldogs tallied 331 yards.

Swift registered a career-high 186 yards and a score on 17 carries (10.9 avg) and had four catches for 43 yards against AU and was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week.

Swift went for 156 and two scores and was named the Offensive Player of the Week while Holyfield had a career-high 115 and a score versus #9 UK.

Name	GP/GS	Atts.	Yds.	Avg.	TDs
D'Andre Swift	13/5	155	1,037	6.7	10
Elijah Holyfield	13/8	147	956	6.5	7
TOTAL	13/13	302	1,993	6.6	17

Next Man Up On The Line

The Bulldog offensive line, coached by Broyles Award semifinalist Sam Pittman, has been named a finalist for the Joe Moore Award given to the nation's top unit. Georgia leads the SEC in Rushing Offense at 251.6 yards/game.

Georgia has started four different alignments on the OL but the same unit for the past three games. It has featured Andrew Thomas/freshman Cade Mays (LT), redshirt sophomore Solomon Kindley (LG), senior Lamont Gaillard (C), redshirt sophomore Ben Cleveland/Mays/freshman Trey Hill (RG) and redshirt freshman Isaiah Wilson (RT). Wilson is the only lineman from the group who has not missed a snap due to injury.

Spreading The Wealth

Junior Riley Ridley leads the wideouts with 39 catches for 509 yards and nine touchdowns, which is tied for second in school history. Junior Mecole Hardman checks in with 33 receptions for 529 yards and six scores.

QB Jake Fromm connected with nine different receivers versus topranked Alabama, including hitting TB D'Andre Swift for a career-high six catches for 63 yards and a score.

Versus #24 Auburn, junior WR Tyler Simmons caught his first career TD pass to give Georgia a 13-10 edge during the 27-10 win. Simmons followed that performance up with a 49-yard touchdown run and a career-long 87-yard scoring catch against UMass.

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).

Sophomore Jeremiah Holloman has 23 catches for 387 yards and five scores including two versus #9 UF

Bulldogs Setting The Tone On Defense

Georgia is 15th nationally in Scoring Defense, allowing just 18.5 points/game. The Bulldogs held #1 Alabama to only 14 points in the first half and 35 total after the Tide came into the game with the nation's top Scoring Offense averaging 49.0 points per game.

Georgia held #24 Auburn to just 10 points and 274 yards, including only 102 on the ground, and kept the Tigers to a 3-for-11 mark on third downs. Like the Austin Peay and Middle Tennessee State games, the Bulldogs shut out AU in the second half.

With the SEC East title on the line, the Bulldogs built a 14-3 halftime lead over #9 Kentucky as Georgia forced a pair of punts, a fumble and a field goal on the Wildcats' first four possessions.

Georgia kept #9 Florida to a season-low 275 total yards in its 36-17 victory over the Gators in Jacksonville. UGA forced UF into turnovers on its first two possessions.

Walker Making An Impact

Senior OLB D'Andre Walker has been this year's leader on the outside. Versus #1 Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, Walker added another sack to his total, giving him a team-leading 7.5 on the year. He had five tackles, two TFLs and a forced fumble against the Tide. Walker also recorded four tackles, including two sacks, and forced two fumbles in the win at Missouri.

Walker has a team-leading four forced fumbles to go along with 45 total tackles and a team-leading 11.0 of those are TFLs.

Georgia has senior Juwan Taylor, sophomore Monty Rice, junior Tae Crowder and senior Natrez Patrick sharing time. Rice has missed the last three games with an injury and stands second with 59 stops while Taylor is sixth with 46 tackles.

Crowder is fifth on the team with 49 stops and is coming off an eight tackle, 1.5 TFL performance against #1 Alabama. He intercepted his second ball of the season during the victory over UMass. Crowder highlighted the Missouri game with a 43-yard INT return, marking the first pick of his career. Crowder is tied with DBs Deandre Baker and J.R. Reed for the team lead with two INTs.

Rice posted a team-high eight tackles, including his first career sack, during the win at #9 Kentucky. In fact, UGA had a season-high four sacks against the Wildcats.

In the victory over #9 Florida, Rice established a career high 11 stops and forced a fumble while Crowder recovered a fumble on the Gator 1-yard line.

Taylor recovered his second fumble versus Tennessee, which is tied for the team lead. At South Carolina, he was credited with a TD after Baker dropped the ball at the 1-yard line following a 55-yard INT return.

Starting Up Front

Veterans Jonathan Ledbetter and Tyler Clark anchor the line. Ledbetter is fourth on the team with 51 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and a sack, while Clark has 26 stops, including 4.0 TFL and a sack. Against #9 Kentucky, Ledbetter forced a fumble that Clark recovered. Ledbetter posted a career-high 10 stops at #13 LSU.

True freshman Jordan Davis has started four games versus #9 Florida, at #9 Kentucky, against #24 Auburn and versus #1 Alabama. In the contest at #13 LSU, Davis recorded seven tackles.

Baker, Reed Leading Defensive Backfield

Senior DB Deandre Baker, a Walter Camp First Team All-American and the Jim Thorpe Award winner, has 40 tackles on the year and is tied with two other players with two picks each. Baker also has nine pass break-ups.

Baker had six stops, two pass breakups and the team's first interception in 2018 (along with a 55-yard return) at #24 South Carolina. He was named the Athlon National Defensive Player of the Week following the contest.

Junior J.R. Reed ranks third on the team with 58 stops. Reed's had his first pick for 2018 in the end zone at South Carolina and then his second inside the 5-yard line versus #Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.

Sophomore Richard LeCounte has started 12 games this year, leads the team with 67 tackles and notched his first career interception at the goal line against top-ranked Alabama and returned it 29 yards. LeCounte had seven tackles and a 32-yard fumble return in the win over #9 Florida.

Freshman Tyson Campbell posted a career-high 11 tackles in the loss at #13 LSU, including eight solo stops.

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. With AU leading 7-6, Stokes had a key pass breakup on a 3rd-and-goal from the 4-yard line to force the Tigers to a field goal. Stokes started his first career game versus UMass on Nov. 17.

Blankenship One Of The Best

All-America candidate PK Rodrigo Blankenship enters the Sugar Bowl with an SEC-leading 119 points on the year (19 FGs, 62 PATs). He was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist for the second straight year and was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week following the 41-17 rout at #24 USC.

Honored as one of 11 players nationwide named to the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. He and the other recipients are scheduled to be honored at halftime of the Sugar Bowl.

Has connected on a school record 151 consecutive PATs, topping Blair Walsh's record of 119 (2008-11). His 151 ranks fourth in SEC history for consecutive PATs.

Second in NCAA with 79 touchbacks out of 93 KOs in 2018. This tops his own school record of 67 from last season.

Set a Rose Bowl Game record by kicking 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: 9 (UMass)
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	62x62	19-23	53	119
Total	151x151	53-64	55	310

Field Goal Breakdown

Year	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50-99
2016 (14-18)	0-0	7-7	3-4	4-6	0-1
2017 (20-23)	0-0	8-8	6-6	4-7	2-2
2018 (19-23)	2-2	7-7	2-4	7-8	1-1
Total (53-64)	2-2	22-22	11-14	15-22	3-4

Hardman Again SEC's Leading Punt Returner

Junior returner/receiver Mecole Hardman is leading the SEC in Punt Return average at 20.1 and that mark would rank among the school's best ever. He had 23 punt returns for 271 yards and an 11.8 average in 2017 (all of those led the SEC). Also, Hardman is averaging 25.0 on 113 kickoff returns this year.

Hardman has had a 70-yard PR for a touchdown versus Middle Tennessee State and a 65 yarder set up Georgia's first score at #9 Kentucky.

Hardman is on pace to set a record for punt return average in a season, which is currently 15.7 (Scott Woerner, 1980). He already ranks in the top 10 in career punt return/kickoff return yards.

Two Dogs Named To Academic All-District Team

Sophomore tailbacks D'Andre Swift and Prather Hudson have been named to the Google Cloud Academic All-District Team. Swift has a 3.42 in Journalism while Hudson has a 3.81 in Finance and Sport Management.

N.O.T. Just Scoring On Offense

The Bulldogs' 65 touchdowns this season have included 61 by the offense, two by the defense and two by special teams.

The last N.O.T.s (Non-Offensive TDs) came in the 43-29 road win over Missouri. Georgia had a 20-7 lead at halftime and the offense did not have a TD The Bulldogs' first score came on a forced fumble/64-yard return for a TD 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 TD and a defensive TD in the same game. That year, current Chicago linebacker Leonard Floyd had a 96-yard FR-TD and Reggie Davis had a 70-yard PR-TD.

Dynamic Duo

Schools with two RBs with 950+ yards: 1. Memphis: 2,921 yards on 392 attempts (Darrell Henderson and Patrick Taylor) 7.5 yards per carry
2. Pittsburgh: 2,211 yards on 326 attempts (Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall) 6.8 ypc
3. Louisiana: 2,092 yards on 336 attempts (Trey Ragas and Elijah Mitchell) 6.2 ypc
4. Georgia: 1,993 yards on 302 attempts (D'Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield) 6.6 ypc

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

Junior PK Rodrigo Blankenship has set two all-time school career records this year and has two more on the horizon.

He now has 151 consecutive PATs, which topped Blair Walsh's 119 from 2008-10. Blankenship has 62 PATs on the year and is closing in on Marshall Morgan's 67 in 2014.

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 167.

Last year, Blankenship set the season touchback record with 67 breaking the mark held by Butler who had 51. Against UMass on Nov. 17, Blankenship topped his own record with 69. Currently, he ranks second nationally in touchbacks with 79 in 93 kickoffs with Oklahoma's Austin Seibert leading with 87 in 104 kickoffs.

Bulldog Graduates

Georgia began the 2018 season with three players who had already earned their undergraduate degrees. Those players included: 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.

Fall semester commencement exercises took place on the UGA campus on Friday, Dec. 14. An additional six current players were scheduled to receive their undergraduate degrees. They are: Kendall Baker, Sociology Rodrigo Blankenship, Journalism Lamont Gaillard, Sociology J.R. Reed, Communication Studies Keyon Richardson, Sociology Steven Van Tiflin, Real Estate and Finance

All of the SEC players who have achieved undergraduate degrees wear the SEC Graduate patch on their uniforms.

Additionally, three former UGA football players were also slated to receive their degrees this December: DeAngelo Tyson (2008-11), Housing Management & Policy; Nick Williams (2008-10), Communication Studies; and Shakenneth Williams (2017), Sociology.

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 ^Texas
Oct. 26 Open Date
Nov. 2 vs. ^Texas (Jacksonville)
Nov. 9 ^MISSOURI
Nov. 16 at ^Texas
Nov. 23 ^TEXAS A&M
Nov. 30 at Texas
^SEC game

First-Time Starters In 2018

The Bulldogs had seven first-time starters in their 2018 season opener versus Austin Peay. All first-time starters this season, listed by game, include:

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)
UF: Jordan Davis (DL), Jeremiah Holloman (WR)
UK: Tae Crowder (ILB)
AU: Otis Reese (DB)
UMASS: Eric Stokes (DB), Trey Hill (RG)
GT: Malik Herring (DT), Michael Barnett (N)

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.

Bulldog Captains In 2018

APSU: Crumpton, Holyfield, Taylor
@USC: Reed, Gaillard, Ledbetter
MTSU: Baker, Ridley, Blankenship
@MIZZ: Nauta, Clark, Cleveland
UT: Fromm, Reed, Ledbetter
VU: Thomas, David Marshall, Holyfield
@LSU: Natrez Patrick, Terry Godwin, D'Andre Walker
@UF: Ridley, Ledbetter, Gaillard
@ #11 UK: Gaillard, Ledbetter, Walker
#24 AU: Thomas, Reed, Holyfield
UMASS: D'Andre Swift, Monty Rice, Godwin
GT: Ledbetter, Reed, Thomas
#1 UA: Holyfield, Gaillard, Ledbetter