
Notes: Georgia Renews Deep South's Oldest Rivalry With Auburn
November 11, 2019 | Football
The Georgia Bulldogs vs. The Auburn Tigers
Game & Broadcast Info
- Kickoff: Saturday, November 16 - 3:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium - Auburn, Ala. (87,451)
- 2019 Records: Georgia 8-1 (5-1 SEC), Auburn 7-2 (4-2 SEC)
- History: Georgia vs. Auburn All-Time Series Results
- Rankings: Georgia #5, Auburn #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: SiriusXM: 134/191/962
- Web Stats: Live Stats
- Twitter: #UGAvsAUB
- ReBroadcast: SEC Network: TBA
Georgia | 2019 Averages | Auburn |
33.7 | Scoring Offense | 32.7 |
10.1 | Scoring Defense | 17.4 |
+2 | Turnover Margin | +2 |
448.4 | Total Offense | 425.1 |
215.9 | Rushing Offense | 219.3 |
232.6 | Passing Offense | 205.8 |
11.7 | Punt Returns | 12.4 |
16.1 | Kickoff Returns | 21.0 |
Series History For Deep South's Oldest Rivalry
Georgia topped Auburn 27-10 in Athens last year and has won 14 of the last 18. The Bulldogs improved their series lead to 59-56-8 in 2018. The road team has a better record in the series as Georgia is 16-12-2 on the Plains while Auburn is 18-15 in Athens. In 2017, the No. 2 Bulldogs fell to the No. 10 Tigers 40-17 at Auburn. Then, No. 6 Georgia topped No. 2 Auburn 28-7 in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.
Saturday will mark the 124th meeting between Georgia and Auburn, making it the second most played active series in the NCAA FBS trailing only Wisconsin-Minnesota (128 entering 2019). North Carolina-Virginia and Miami (Ohio)-Cincinnati have played 123 times entering the 2019 season. The Bulldogs and Tigers first squared off in 1892 in Atlanta's Piedmont Park. The only event that interrupted the series was World War I as the teams did not play in 1917-18 and 1943.
The 2012-13 seasons saw the Bulldogs head to Auburn for consecutive years, marking the first time the game had been played at the same site for two years in a row since 1958. The game was played in Columbus during a stretch from 1930-58. The first 10 games were played in Atlanta starting in 1892.
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2018 FLASHBACK: #5 Georgia Beats #24 Auburn 27-10
Behind 303 yards on the ground and a defense that blanked Auburn in the second half, fifth-ranked Georgia defeated the 24th-ranked Tigers 27-10. For the third consecutive contest, tailback D'Andre Swift ran for over 100 yards, leading the Bulldogs (9-1, 7-1) with a career-high 186 yards on 17 carries. Swift also paced Georgia through the air, reeling in a team-high four receptions for 43 yards. Jake Fromm went 13-for-20 for 193 yards directing the offense. Monty Rice led the defense with eight tackles.
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Stingy Defense
Georgia leads the SEC in Scoring Defense at 10.1 points/game (No. 2 nationally), Rushing Defense at 74.6 yds/g (No. 4 nationally) and in Total Defense at 260.3 yds/g (No. 5 nationally). The Bulldogs have allowed just 91 points in 2019 (10 TDs, seven FGs).
UGA is the only FBS team in the nation yet to allow a rushing TD. In fact, the Bulldogs are the first FBS team in at least the past 20 seasons to not allow a rushing touchdown in its first nine games, according to ESPN. Auburn is 13th nationally with 23 rushing touchdowns this season.
Tennessee (1939) and Ole Miss (1963) are the only SEC teams in history to hold their opponents to no rushing touchdowns all year. The best mark for a team in the 2000s was Alabama in 2011 when the Tide held opponents to three touchdowns in 13 games. Alabama allowed 72.7 yards/game that year. The 2017 Bulldog squad allowed only eight in 15 games (126.0 yards/game) while Georgia's 1981 team allowed only five touchdowns in 11 regular season contests and one bowl game (bowl stats did not count until 2002).
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First Chance To Clinch The East
At 5-1 in the SEC, Georgia has a chance to clinch its third consecutive SEC Eastern Division title with a win on Saturday in what is Kirby Smart's fourth year as head coach. The 8-1 Bulldogs are aiming to become the first Eastern Division team to win three in a row since Florida won five straight from 1992-96. Georgia has advanced to the SEC Championship Game seven times and is 3-4 in those appearances, winning titles in 2002, 2005 and 2017.
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Did You Know?
Georgia and Auburn are two of six FBS teams that have not surrendered more than 24 points in a game this season. The others are Clemson, Iowa, Ohio State and San Diego State.
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Did You Also Know?
Georgia has three shutouts this season (ASU, UK, MU) for the first time since 1981. The school record in a season which had a total of 12 games is four in 1971 and 1976.
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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 Arkansas State State '03
Coaching Experience
1999 Georgia Admin. Asst.
2000 Valdosta State Defensive Backs
2001 Valdosta State Def. Coord.
2002-03 FSU Grad. Assistant
2004 Arkansas State 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)
When Georgia looked for a 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 Dogs in 2016, Georgia extended its school record to 20 consecutive bowl appearances and had five fourth-quarter comebacks including wins over No. 8 Auburn and No. 22 UNC.
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.
The 2019 season saw the Bulldogs go 11-3 and earn a second straight trip to the SEC Championship Game and a berth to the Sugar Bowl.
He has also made an immediate impact in recruiting, posting the nation's top-ranked class in 2018, the second-ranked class in 2019 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.
Coach Smart's Record | ||||
Year | W | L | Pct. | SEC |
2016 | 8 | 5 | .615 | 4-4 |
2017 | 13 | 2 | .866 | 7-1 |
2018 | 11 | 3 | .786 | 7-1 |
2019 | 8 | 1 | .875 | 5-1 |
Total | 40 | 11 | .780 | 24-9 |
Did You Know?
Kirby Smart is one of 11 head coaches at schools from Power 5 conferences that are coaching at their alma maters.
The complete list:
Paul Chryst (Wisconsin), Barry Odom (Missouri), Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern), David Shaw (Stanford), Scott Frost (Nebraska), Kirby Smart (GEORGIA), Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State), Jonathan Smith (Oregon State), Jim Harbaugh (Michigan), Tom Allen (Indiana), Matt Luke (Ole Miss)
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 @ Missouri (9/17/16); Terry Godwin vs. Samford (9/16/17); Jeremiah Holloman vs. #9 Florida (10/27/18); Riley Ridley vs. GT (11/2518)
Longest Pass/TD Pass: 80-TD, Fromm to Mecole 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
- Clinched the 2018 SEC East title with the team's second straight 6-0 mark in the division.
- 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.
- Advanced to 2017 & 2018 SECCG.
- Went 6-0 in the division in 2017 and 2018 for the first time since the SEC 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 Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in school history, posting a 33-24 win over #22 UNC during the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic
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 AU; Isaiah McKenzie 82-yd PR for TD vs. ULL
2017: J.R. Reed 3-yd fumble recovery 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
2019: J.R. Reed 14-yd PR for TD vs. Murray St.; Tae Crowder 60-yd fumble recovery for TD @ Tennessee
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7 Victories When Tied Or Trailing Late | |||||||
Year | Opponent | Start of 4th Qtr. | Final | ||||
2016 | %#22 UNC | Trailed 24-23 | 33-24 | ||||
2016 | @ MIZZ | Trailed 27-21 | 28-27 | ||||
2016 | @ UK | Trailed 21-16 | 27-24 | ||||
2016 | #8 AUB | Tied 7-7 | 13-7 | ||||
2016 | ^TCU | Trailed 23-21 | 31-23 | ||||
2017 | #24 UND | 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
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Bulldogs Verus Top 10 Teams In the Smart Era
Georgia is 6-3 against top 10 teams in the Kirby Smart era, including 2-0 in Athens. Two of the games have been on the road and five have come at neutral sites.
Nov. 12, 2016 NR Georgia d. #9 Auburn 13-7 in Athens
Nov. 11, 2017 #10 Auburn d. #2 Georgia 40-17 in Auburn
Dec. 2, 2017 #6 Georgia d. #4 Auburn 28-7 in Atlanta, SEC Championship Game
Jan. 1, 2018 #3 Georgia d. #2 Oklahoma 54-48 {2OT} in Pasadena, CFP Semifinal - Rose Bowl Game
Jan. 8, 2018 #4 Alabama d. #3 Georgia 26-23 {OT} in Atlanta, National Championship Game
Oct. 27, 2018 #7 Georgia d. #9 Florida 36-17 in Jacksonville
Nov. 3, 2018 #6 Georgia d. #9 Kentucky 34-17 in Lexington
Dec. 1, 2018 #1 Alabama d. #4 Georgia 35-28 in Atlanta, SEC Championship Game
Sep. 21, 2019 #3 Georgia d. #7 Notre Dame 23-17 in Athens
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Fromm Directs The Offense
Jake Fromm is 31-6 as a starter, including 10-5 versus Top 25 teams. He has started an FBS best 37 straight games for QBs.
The Warner Robins, Ga., native in the top five in UGA history for TD passes (67-No. 3), passing yards (7,222-No. 5) and pass completions (543-No. 5).
Pushed his career record versus UF to 3-0 by topping the #6 Gators 24-17 with a performance that included 20-for-30 for 279 yards and two scores. The team was 12-for-18 on third downs.
After going 24-for-29 (83%) for 288 yards and two touchdowns in a win at Tennessee, Fromm set career highs for attempts (51), completions (28) and interceptions (three) in a double-overtime loss to South Carolina.
Currently 156-for-233 (67%) for 1,858 yards and 13 TDs with three interceptions during Georgia's 8-1 mark.
Georgia ranks fourth in the SEC in Scoring Offense (33.7 ppg). The Bulldogs are ranked second nationally in Red Zone Offense (97.4%).
In his career, Fromm has led his team to three comeback wins when trailing at the half, including versus #7 Notre Dame in Athens this season and over #2 Oklahoma in the 2018 Rose Bowl Game/ College Football Playoff Semifinal Game.
Currently, the No. 2 QB is RSo. Stetson Bennett, who is in his second stint with the Bulldogs after re-enrolling in UGA in January. Bennett was on the 2017 Bulldog squad that went 13-2 and he was named the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year. He spent 2018 at Jones County JC in Mississippi. This season, Bennett is 18-for-23 (78.3%) for 233 yards with two TDs and one pick.
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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 AUB (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 |
@ MIZZ (W) | 23 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 260 | 0 | 185.8 |
TENN (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 | 169.1 |
UMASS (W) | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 106 | 0 | 344.1 |
GT (W) | 16 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 175 | 0 | 255.6 |
SECCG #1 BAMA (L) | 39 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 01 | 2 | 154.3 |
SUGAR - #15 TEX (L) | 34 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 212 | 2 | 134.4 |
2018 TOTAL | 306 | 206 | 30 | 6 | 2,749 | 15 | 171.2 |
2019 | Att | Cmp | TD | Int | Yds | Sk | Eff. |
@VU (W) | 23 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 156 | 0 | 136.5 |
MUR (W) | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 166 | 1 | 247.7 |
ASU (W) | 22 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 279 | 0 | 228.8 |
ND (W) | 26 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 187 | 0 | 150.0 |
UT (W) | 29 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 288 | 0 | 188.9 |
USC (L) | 51 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 295 | 3 | 98.2 |
UK (W) | 12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 99.5 |
UF (W) | 30 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 279 | 0 | 166.8 |
MU (W) | 29 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 173 | 1 | 117.7 |
2019 TOTAL | 233 | 156 | 13 | 3 | 1,858 | 5 | 149.8 |
CAREER TOTAL | 830 | 543 | 67 | 16 | 7,222 | 41 | 161.3 |
Pound The Rock
Georgia is the only FBS team to have four different players go over 1,000 yards rushing during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. One of those from 2018 returns in Jr. D'Andre Swift, a 2019 Maxwell Award semifinalist who led the team with 1,049 and 10 touchdowns in 14 games last year with five starts.
This season, Swift is averaging 6.3 yards/carry on 147 attempts for 921 yards and seven TDs. He also has 15 rec. for 172 yds. and a score. Swift needs 79 yards to hit 1,000 yards this year. He would become the fifth Bulldog in history to have a pair of 1,000-yard seasons in his career and the first since Nick Chubb (2014, 2016-17).
Swift earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors after carrying the ball 21 times for 179 yards (8.5 avg.) in the win over UK. This was the highest output for Swift since he piled up a career- high 186 on 17 carries during the win over No. 24 Auburn last year.
He now has seven career games with at least 100 yards.
Along with Swift, Georgia's tailbacks who have shared the load include Sr. Brian Herrien, So. James Cook and RFr. Zamir White. Five different Bulldog tailbacks have scored this season.
Herrien shined versus #6 UF in the receiving game with career highs of four for 46 yards. He had a one-handed grab on third down that led to a field goal in the third quarter.
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A Look At The Line
Georgia's starting offensive line averages 6 feet, 5 inches and 328.6 pounds, making it the biggest unit in Bulldog history.
Georgia is ranked second nationally giving up only five sacks this year. Three of the four sacks came in a double OT loss to USC. Versus then #6 UF, the Bulldogs did not surrender any sacks to a Gator team that leads the league in the category.
Georgia is fourth in the SEC at 216.1 rushing yards/game.
The Bulldogs returned four of five starters, including All- American LT Andrew Thomas and Freshman All-American RT Isaiah Wilson and Cade Mays, who lined up at OG and OT last season and has continued that trend in 2019. The trio is also joined by junior guards Solomon Kindley and Ben Cleveland and sophomore C Trey Hill, who all had starts in 2018.
Thomas was recently named a Midseason All-American and is a two-time SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week this year.
Mays has now played every spot on the line in 2019, including C against Missouri after Hill went down with an ankle injury.
This season, Wilson, Kindley and junior Justin Shaffer have all missed time with injuries. Sophomore Jamaree Salyer has also filled in during these absences, including at C after Mays was shaken up as well during the Missouri victory.
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Top Targets
UGA's leading receivers are graduate transfer Lawrence Cager (32 rec., 470 yds., 4 TDs), freshman George Pickens (29, 389, 4) and junior Demetris Robertson (20, 229, 3).
Cager, who completed his undergraduate degree at Miami (Fla.), returned from a rib injury that kept him out versus UK. He had career highs with seven catches for 132 yards and a score (52-yd TD) during the win over #6 UF. Three of his catches were third down conversions and five of them went for first downs.
Cager left the game with a shoulder injury at halftime versus Missouri after already snagging six balls for 93 yards.
Pickens stepped up versus the Tigers with five catches for 67 yards and a career high two touchdowns.
Freshman Dominick Blaylock (12-209-3) has also shined this season. Blaylock had his first career 100-yard game in the win over Arkansas State (4-112-1) and caught his third career touchdown against the Gators. He is also serving as the team's punt returner of late, returning four for 34 against Missouri.
The Bulldogs also have a pair of veteran tight ends in senior Charlie Woerner and graduate transfer Eli Wolf (Tennessee). Wolf has 11 catches for 142 yards this season, including four for 73 against Murray State. Wolf helped clinch the win over #6 Florida with a 22-yard catch on a 3rd-and-7 with 2:12 left.
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Defense Leading The Way
Georgia leads the SEC in Scoring Defense at 10.1 points/ game (No. 2 nationally), Rushing Defense at 74.6 yds/g (No. 4 nationally) and in Total Defense at 260.3 yds/g (No. 5 nationally). The Bulldogs have allowed just 91 points in 2019 (10 TDs, seven FGs).
UGA is the only FBS team in the nation yet to allow a rushing TD. Georgia leads the nation in Red Zone Defense (57.1%).
The defense has posted 24 scoreless quarters, including shutouts against Arkansas State (55-0), Kentucky (21-0) and Missouri (27-0). The school record for fewest average points allowed in a 12+ game season is 14.5 in 2003. This year, Georgia is allowing just 10.1. The fewest points allowed in a 12+ game season is 198 in 2004. This year the Bulldogs have given up just 91.
In its last seven games, Georgia has surrendered just 24 points in the second half, which includes 14 from #6 UF in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs have outscored opponents in the second half 134-34, including 81-21 in the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs blanked Missouri by holding the Tigers to 198 total yards, including just 50 on 24 carries.
Georgia held the Gators to 21 yards rushing on 19 carries and just 278 total yards during a 24-17 win. UF came in averaging more than 400 yards/game on offense.
Georgia was trailing #7 Notre Dame 10-7 at the half (the touchdown allowed was on a five-play, 8-yard drive following a turnover) and held the Irish scoreless in the third quarter and just a touchdown in the final period in the 23-17 win.
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Up Front
The personnel up front this season includes primarily Jordan Davis, Michael Barnett, Tyler Clark, Malik Herring and Devonte Wyatt.
The Bulldogs had 15 hurries in their victory over UK and kept the Wildcats to only two completions.
Clark finished with three tackles, including a tackle for loss on a 3rd-and-goal from the 2 yard line in double overtime, versus USC while Barnett led all interior linemen with five stops.
Georgia held #7 Notre Dame (46) and #6 Florida (21) to a combined total of 67 yards rushing.
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Reed Leading Defensive Backfield
Graduate J.R. Reed and Jr. Richard LeCounte are starting at the safety spots along with RSo. Eric Stokes and Jr. DJ Daniel on the corners. Jr. Mark Webb and RFr. Divaad Wilson also have a combined seven starts in the backfield. Daniel has started the last six games for So. Tyson Campbell. However, Campbell returned versus Missouri on defense and special teams.
LeCounte is third on the team with 39 tackles while Reed, a 2019 Bednarik Award semifinalist, is fourth with 38 stops.
LeCounte had the second pick of the year and third of his career against Missouri. He returned it 71 yards.
With a team-leading six tackles to his name, LeCounte recovered a fumble that Reed forced in the Kentucky game.
Stokes had a sack and a forced fumble at Tennessee that turned into a touchdown along with three pass breakups.
With Campbell unavailable against #7 Notre Dame and Stokes leaving the game in the first series with a knee injury, Georgia leaned on Wilson and Daniel on the corners. Wilson had his first career interception and an 11-yard return that set up a field goal. Daniel finished with five stops, including a TFL, and had the final pass breakup at the 7-yard line on fourth down with 0:48 left.
Webb forced his first fumble of the year and Reed picked it up and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown against Murray State.
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Linebacker Leaders
Led by veteran linebackers Tae Crowder and Monty Rice, the Bulldogs have welcomed in a younger contingent of RFr. Azeez Ojulari, JUCO transfer Jermaine Johnson and Fr. Nolan Smith and Nakobe Dean along with So. Quay Walker.
Crowder, a 2019 Butkus Award semifinalist, and Rice combined for 13 stops in the 27-0 shutout of Missouri.
Rice led the Bulldogs with nine stops in the win over the Gators. He leads the team with 56 tackles while Crowder is No. 2 with 43 stops. Ojulari added a sack versus UF to hit a team leading 4.5 for the year.
Crowder led Georgia with nine stops, including a TFL, against #7 Notre Dame. At Tennessee, Crowder, a former tailback, scooped up a fumble following a sack by Stokes and returned in 60 yards for a touchdown.
Ojulari was the first freshman captain in the Kirby Smart era at UT and responded with a pair of sacks. He was limited to three games in 2018, including the 2019 Sugar Bowl, after recovering from a knee injury during his Sr. year at Marietta HS.
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Blankenship One Of The Best
2019 Midseason All-American PK Rodrigo Blankenship has tallied 89 points this year. His 9.9 pts/ game leads the SEC. He is 19-for-22 on FGs and 32-for-32 on PATs.
He has made three 50 yarders this year (@ VU, @ UT, SC).
He has been named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week four times in 2019 (@ VU, vs. #7 ND, @ UT, MU). *Named finalist of the 2019 William V. Campbell Trophy for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
Has connected on a school record 186 consecutive PATs, which ranks second in SEC history. The SEC record is 198 (Daniel Carlson, Auburn, 2014-17). The NCAA record is 233 (Alex Trlica, Texas Tech, 2004-07).
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. In the 2018 National Championship Game, he drilled a 51 yarder in overtime to give Georgia a 23-20 lead over #4 Alabama.
Career Highs For Blankenship
Points: 17 (MU17; 4FG, 5PAT)
PATs: 9 (2x, MUR19, UMASS18)
FG Att: 5 (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 | 65x65 | 19-23 | 53 | 122 |
2019 | 32x32 | 19-22 | 50 | 89 |
Total | 186x186 | 72-86 | 55 | 402 |
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 | 2-2 | 7-7 | 2-4 | 7-8 | 1-1 |
2019 | 1-1 | 4-4 | 6-6 | 5-7 | 3-4 |
Total | 3-3 | 26-26 | 17-20 | 20-29 | 6-8 |
Camarda, Nixon, Walker Round Out Specialists
Sophomore P Jake Camarda has averaged 46.8 yards/ punt this season, which ranks fourth in the SEC. However, he is second in SEC games at 48.7. Overall, he has punted 29 times on the year, including a career long of 66 versus USC.
For his career, he has eight punts of 60 or more yds., including a 65 yarder at VU and two in the rain versus UK in 2019.
The Bulldogs are using two snappers. Graduate transfer Steven Nixon (punts) and RFr. Payne Walker (FGs/PATs) are sharing duties during their first year of action.
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First-Time Starters In 2019
The Bulldogs have had 12 first-time starters through their first three games.
@VU: 4 (Azeez Ojulari, Kearis Jackson, John FitzPatrick, Brian Herrien)
MUR: 4 (Jamaree Salyer, Matt Landers, James Cook, Jermaine Johnson)
ASU: 1 (Lawrence Cager)
#7 ND: 3 (Demetris Robertson, DJ Daniel, Divaad Wilson)
@ UT: 1 (Justin Shaffer)
UK: 1 (George Pickens)
#6 UF: 1 (Dominick Blaylock)
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The True Freshman Experience
During the opener, six true freshmen played for the Bulldogs. In the home opener, another 13 true freshmen got their first snaps versus Murray State.
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Bulldog Captains In 2019
@VU: Solomon Kindley, Jake Fromm, J.R. Reed
MUR: Andrew Thomas, Charlie Woerner, Monty Rice
ASU: Michael Barnett, Tyler Simmons, Walter Grant
#7 ND: Fromm, Reed, D'Andre Swift
@ UT: Azeez Ojulari, Tyrique McGhee, Thomas
SC: Lawrence Cager, Brian Herrien, Reed
UK: Swift, Fromm, Rice
vs. #6 UF: Swift, Fromm, Reed
MU: Kindley, Swift, Tae Crowder
Players Mentioned
Georgia Football - Post Tennessee Player Press Conferences
Sunday, September 14
Georgia Football - Coach Kirby Smart Tennessee Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, September 13
Georgia Football vs. Tennessee - TV Highlights
Saturday, September 13
Georgia Football Game Trailer vs Tennessee - Hunker Down
Friday, September 12