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East vs. West One Last Time...Blast Bama!!!

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VS.<br />

EAST VS. WEST<br />

one last time …<br />

BLAST BAMA!!!


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UGA VS. GEORGIA TECH<br />

SPORTS<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED<br />

IN THIS ISSUE<br />

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE<br />

GEORGIA VS ALABAMA<br />

PLAYERS TO WATCH | 14<br />

THE FIVE | 18<br />

FROM THE INTERN: COBY SERINA | 20<br />

A VIEW OF THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP | 22<br />

ROSTER | 24<br />

SOCIAL<br />

GEORGIA TECH GAMEDAY PHOTOS | 28<br />

PROUST Q&A: KEVIN GOOCH | 40<br />

MORE SPORTS<br />

FROM THE FIELD | 42<br />

BUTLER’S PLAYERS OF THE GAME | 44<br />

STATS THAT MATTER | 45<br />

JD’S TOP 12 | 46<br />

OUR TEAM<br />

THE ENFORCER - JAVON BULLARD<br />

WITH ANOTHER CLUTCH STOP!<br />

PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE/BI<br />

EDITOR: Vance Leavy<br />

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Cheri Leavy<br />

MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR: Greg Poole<br />

CHIEF SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR: Jeff Dantzler<br />

ART DIRECTOR: Stacey Nichols<br />

SALES: Caroline Kinney<br />

SPORTS: Jeff Dantzler, Greg Poole, Coby Serina,<br />

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Vance<br />

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE<br />

November 28, 2023<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 6 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


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FROM THE<br />

EDITOR<br />

VANCE LEAVY<br />

EDITOR IN CHIEF<br />

It is fitting that the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide<br />

are the grand finale for the last division played SEC Championship Game!<br />

It’s been a cold and rainy<br />

Sunday here in Athens,<br />

which I’m sure is just fine<br />

for everyone in the Bulldog<br />

Nation as they relax indoors<br />

celebrating a third consecutive 12-0<br />

regular season campaign. If you<br />

don’t mind, please let that soak in<br />

for a few seconds. Or even for a few<br />

minutes.<br />

What an incredible run for our<br />

men in Red and Black. However,<br />

don’t you think for one second<br />

that there is a bunch of R&R going<br />

on inside the football facility at<br />

Butts-Mehre. You can be assured<br />

that Kirby Smart and his staff are<br />

working diligently on what lies<br />

ahead.<br />

The 2023 Southeastern<br />

Conference Championship … <strong>East</strong><br />

<strong>vs</strong>. <strong>West</strong> … one last time.<br />

Not surprisingly as the SEC bids<br />

farewell to division play, the final<br />

act pits the 12-0 Georgia Bulldogs<br />

against the 11-1 Alabama Crimson<br />

Tide. And for the winner, a coveted<br />

spot in the 2023 College Football<br />

Playoff should be automatic.<br />

No pressure there, for either team.<br />

However, both Nick Saban and<br />

Kirby Smart have built their dynamic<br />

programs for moments like these.<br />

Both men adhere to and exhibit<br />

the phrase “pressure is a privilege.”<br />

And while Coach Smart currently<br />

has his program at the very highest<br />

mark in college football, Coach<br />

Saban has accumulated so much<br />

championship hardware that<br />

his Crimson Tide team is always<br />

dangerous and meticulously<br />

prepared for games like Saturday’s<br />

SEC Championship. Particularly in<br />

the city of Atlanta.<br />

So what gives? Who will win<br />

the final (division play) SEC<br />

Championship?<br />

Like in this same space last week,<br />

I’ve chosen to let photos display<br />

the faith I have in this 2023 Georgia<br />

Bulldogs team.<br />

KENDALL MILTON<br />

PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE/BI<br />

DILLON BELL<br />

PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE/BI<br />

ZION LOGUE<br />

PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE/BI<br />

KAMARI LASSITER<br />

PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE/BI<br />

Kendall Milton is running the<br />

football like an absolute beast.<br />

And most importantly, he is<br />

embracing his role as a total<br />

teammate, first and foremost.<br />

Cornerback Kamari Lassiter<br />

doesn’t get talked about that<br />

much because opposing teams<br />

often choose not to go his way.<br />

It’s no wonder that Pro Football<br />

Hall of Famer Champ Bailey has so<br />

much praise for Lassiter.<br />

And if you want to learn more<br />

about what Dillon Bell means<br />

to this 2023 Georgia team, then<br />

I encourage you to read Kevin<br />

Butler’s Players of the Game on<br />

page 44. KB is absolutely correct<br />

in saying that we need Dillon<br />

to ring the bell one more time<br />

against the Crimson Tide.<br />

Finally, big man Zion Logue<br />

has consistently given his all for<br />

multiple years for his Red and<br />

Black teammates. And having<br />

sat at a table with him this past<br />

spring, I love to report that Logue<br />

exemplifies what Kirby Smart<br />

expects of his players when<br />

they are not on the football<br />

field. Engaged, insightful and<br />

respectful.<br />

These are only four of 85+<br />

players on this special team, but<br />

in my opinion, they represent<br />

what Georgia fans can expect<br />

on Saturday afternoon. They<br />

will leave nothing on the field.<br />

They have felt the pain of losing<br />

to Alabama in Mercedes-Benz<br />

Stadium. They will be ready.<br />

Without question, the Bulldog<br />

Nation must match our team’s<br />

intensity on Saturday. I can’t wait.<br />

For now, enjoy this special SEC<br />

Championship Preview EXTRA<br />

issue to get you ready for another<br />

battle with our counterparts from<br />

the <strong>West</strong>. Together it is time for us<br />

to blast <strong>Bama</strong> in the Benz. See you<br />

there … Go Dawgs!!<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 8 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


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FROM THE<br />

booth<br />

JEFF DANTZLER<br />

@jeffdantzlerTV<br />

Kirby Smart is forever linked to the titans of college football with<br />

another chance against <strong>Bama</strong> in Atlanta to heighten the narrative<br />

Kirby Smart’s list of<br />

accomplishments the last<br />

seven seasons is one of the<br />

most impressive resumes for<br />

a head coach over such a period in the<br />

annals of collegiate football. The backto-back<br />

national championships, long<br />

winning streaks and record against arch<br />

rivals tops a sterling list of accolades<br />

for the University of Georgia football<br />

program under the watch of this favorite<br />

native son.<br />

He’s taken Georgia from blue blood to<br />

the mountaintop as a college football<br />

national powerhouse. Bulldog dreams<br />

come true.<br />

When it comes to records and<br />

milestones, there are different views<br />

and slants on how to judge just how<br />

impressive they may be. The standard<br />

that perhaps paints the grandest picture<br />

of remarkable accomplishments is the<br />

company being kept.<br />

With the back-to-back national<br />

championships, Georgia is on an elite<br />

list with college football royalty the likes<br />

of Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Alabama,<br />

Nebraska and Southern Cal. Smart is<br />

now forever linked with coaching titans<br />

including Knute Rockne, Bear Bryant,<br />

Frank Leahy, Bud Wilkinson, Howard<br />

Jones, Tom Osborne and Nick Saban.<br />

Coach King Kirby Smart, as he’s<br />

affectionately known on the airwaves to<br />

the DawgTalk and Bulldog Brunch Hilltop<br />

Grille broadcast crew, has chartered<br />

new waters, leading his beloved alma<br />

mater to the Southeastern Conference<br />

Championship Game for the sixth time in<br />

a seven year period.<br />

That is a feat that had previously never<br />

been done.<br />

NEVER BEEN DONE!<br />

Not by Steve Spurrier, not by Nick Saban,<br />

not by Phil Fulmer, not by Gene Stallings,<br />

not by Urban Meyer, not by Mark Richt.<br />

NEVER BEEN DONE!<br />

Until Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs<br />

punched the ticket this year.<br />

Spurrier led Florida to the first five SEC<br />

Championship Games, but Fulmer’s<br />

Volunteers went to the next two, and<br />

three out of four. Stallings took Alabama<br />

to four out of the first five. Meyer and<br />

Richt both had runs of three trips in<br />

a four season period. Saban guided<br />

Alabama to Atlanta five of seven years<br />

from 2012 through 2018, winning all<br />

five appearances - the bookends most<br />

painfully memorable to the Georgia<br />

faithful... Double ouch. They didn’t make<br />

it in 2017, but, well, you know the rest.<br />

All time ouch.<br />

Marking Georgia’s accomplishments<br />

under Smart’s leadership all the more<br />

astonishing is that on all six trips since<br />

2017, the Bulldogs have arrived in Atlanta<br />

sporting a regular season record of<br />

11-1 or 12-0, with a shot at the College<br />

Football Playoff on the line.<br />

Georgia beat Auburn for the 2017 SEC<br />

Championship and earned a berth in<br />

the College Football Playoff, beating<br />

Oklahoma 54-48 in the Rose Bowl for<br />

the Ages … before the heartbreak<br />

in Atlanta. The win over the Tigers at<br />

Mercedes Benz Stadium was the first of<br />

Smart’s immaculate in-season vengeance<br />

victories. Auburn had pummeled Georgia<br />

40-17 on the Plains three weeks earlier.<br />

Top-ranked Alabama rallied for a 35-28<br />

come from behind win over the No. 4<br />

Bulldogs in the 2018 SEC Championship<br />

Game, and Georgia fell to No. 5 in the<br />

final playoff poll.<br />

A year later, powerhouse, top-ranked<br />

LSU beat No. 4 Georgia 37-10 and the<br />

Bulldogs again fell to No. 5.<br />

Back-to-back years, the first team out.<br />

Georgia - and the league, at least as far<br />

as getting multiple teams in the four<br />

team playoff - would have been better<br />

off those years if there was no SEC<br />

Championship Game.<br />

No. 1 Georgia, after missing out in<br />

2020, returned to the SEC Championship<br />

Game in 2021. The Bulldogs lost to<br />

Alabama, but garnered the No. 3 seed<br />

in the College Football Playoff, beating<br />

Michigan 34-11 in the Orange Bowl<br />

and then securing that oh so precious<br />

national championship, with the second<br />

of the iconic vengeance victories, topping<br />

the Crimson Tide 33-18 in Indianapolis in<br />

the National Championship Game.<br />

<strong>Last</strong> season, the top-ranked Bulldogs,<br />

with a playoff berth virtually guaranteed,<br />

outgunned LSU 50-30, earning the top<br />

seed in the CFP. The victory over the<br />

Tigers also clinched Georgia’s 14th alltime<br />

SEC title. That’s the second most in<br />

league history. Alabama has the most<br />

SEC titles with 29. Tennessee has 13,<br />

LSU has won 12. You can do the math<br />

on that. Even though Georgia would<br />

have still made the playoff, likely as the<br />

two seed, had the Bulldogs fallen to the<br />

Bayou Bengals, then Georgia, LSU and<br />

Tennessee would all have 13 SEC crowns.<br />

That’s a nice Bulldog point of pride.<br />

An unforgettable 42-41 instant classic<br />

victory over Ohio State less than a month<br />

later in the very same Mercedes-Benz<br />

Stadium in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl,<br />

then shattered every modern margin<br />

of victory sporting record for a game of<br />

such magnitude in a 65-7 trouncing of<br />

TCU for a second consecutive national<br />

championship.<br />

When the Bulldogs bested Alabama<br />

for the 2021 national championship<br />

at the now sacred site known as Lucas<br />

Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana,<br />

Georgia slayed two dragons with one<br />

mighty sword. After 41 years, that elusive<br />

national title. And <strong>Bama</strong>.<br />

<strong>Last</strong> year, the Bulldogs went three-forthree<br />

in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, blowing<br />

away Oregon 49-3 in the season opener<br />

prior to the back to back victories over<br />

LSU and Ohio State in Atlanta. Finally,<br />

some good mojo in Atlanta.<br />

Now the chips are on the line again.<br />

Of all the accomplishments for Smart’s<br />

Bulldogs, beating Alabama in Atlanta<br />

remains on the to-do list.<br />

What Alabama has done under Saban’s<br />

watch since his second season of 2008 is<br />

incredible. What Georgia has done since<br />

Smart’s second season home in 2017 is<br />

amazing.<br />

National championships, SEC titles and<br />

major bowl victories galore.<br />

We all know what awaits the winner.<br />

And both are hungry for more.<br />

Knute Rockne and Bear Bryant are<br />

widely considered major college<br />

football’s most iconic coaches, with<br />

Saban the best of the 21st century. Smart<br />

is on the fast track of that path. And like<br />

“The Bear,” he’s doing it at home.<br />

Authenticity.<br />

A win by the Bulldogs on Saturday<br />

would mark yet another milestone on<br />

a trajectory to perhaps one day, Kirby<br />

Smart being renowned as the greatest<br />

college football coach of all time.<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 10 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


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SPORTS<br />

TOUCHDOWN DOMINIC LOVETT!<br />

PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE/BI<br />

GEORGIA VS. ALABAMA<br />

GAME TIME: 4:00 P.M. ET<br />

CHANNEL: CBS<br />

GEORGIA VS ALABAMA<br />

BY: JEFF DANTZLER<br />

<strong>One</strong> of the most significant showdowns of the 2023 college<br />

football season is set Saturday, as the Georgia Bulldogs battle<br />

the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Southeastern Conference<br />

Championship Game.<br />

The battle for the SEC Championship and a likely berth in the<br />

College Football Playoff had a jolting lead-in on Thanksgiving<br />

weekend. Georgia edged the Yellow Jackets 31-23 to win for<br />

the 45th time in the last 46 games, capping a third straight<br />

undefeated regular season. The two-time reigning national<br />

championships have now won 29 straight, a new record for<br />

the longest winning streak for an SEC team, topping a pair of<br />

Alabama runs from 1978-1980 and 1991-1993.<br />

Earlier in the day, Alabama pulled out a thrilling 27-24 comefrom-behind<br />

victory over Auburn on the Plains, with Jalen<br />

Milroe connecting with Isaiah Bond on a 31-yard touchdown<br />

on on fourth down. It was <strong>Bama</strong>’s second straight tremendous<br />

comeback at Jordan-Hare Stadium leading to the SEC<br />

Championship Game. Two years ago, Bryce Young marched<br />

Alabama 98 yards in the closing minutes to force overtime, where<br />

the Tide prevailed.<br />

Georgia is 12-0, Alabama is 11-1, each posting perfect 8-0<br />

conference records. The Crimson Tide’s lone loss was to Texas in<br />

the second week of the season in Tuscaloosa.<br />

‌Alabama and Georgia have combined to capture the last three<br />

national championships - The Crimson Tide in 2020, and the<br />

Bulldogs the last two seasons in 2021 and 2022 - and have won<br />

eight of the last nine SEC titles. Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide won in<br />

Atlanta three straight years from 2014-2016. Georgia beat Auburn<br />

to win the 2017 SEC championship, but lost to Alabama in Atlanta<br />

in the National Championship Game. The Tide topped Georgia to<br />

win the 2018 SEC title. The Bulldogs fell to national champion LSU<br />

in 2019. The Crimson Tide won back-to-back conference titles in<br />

2020 and 2021, defeating Georgia in the latter. The Bulldogs won<br />

a rematch in the National Championship Game. Georgia beat LSU<br />

last season to win the SEC title en route to a 15-0 campaign and<br />

second straight national championship.<br />

The last time neither Alabama nor Georgia was in the SEC<br />

Championship Game was in 2013, when Auburn defeated<br />

Missouri for the title.<br />

These runs by the programs headed up by legendary coaches<br />

Nick Saban and Kirby Smart are similar to Alabama’s dominance<br />

in the 1970s and Georgia’s glory days of the early 1980s. Hall<br />

of Fame icons Bear Bryant and Vince Dooley were stalking the<br />

sidelines, as the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs combined to win<br />

every SEC championship between 1971 and 1982.<br />

Alabama has the most all-time SEC championships with 29.<br />

Georgia is second with 14. Tennessee has 13, LSU 12.<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 13 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


SPORTS<br />

FOOTBALL<br />

BULLDOGS TO WATCH<br />

BY: CLAY WATKINS<br />

MIKE BOBO (OC) - Bobo has been phenomenal calling plays for the Georgia<br />

offense. The Bulldog offensive coordinator has done a terrific job centering the<br />

offense around Carson Beck’s strengths as well as getting the ball into as many<br />

of the Dawgs’ playmakers’ hands as possible, making it extraordinarily difficult to<br />

scheme the Bulldog offense. Georgia will need their best offensive gameplan of<br />

the season against a disruptive <strong>Bama</strong> defense.<br />

CARSON BECK (QB #15) - Beck has been Georgia’s safety blanket this<br />

year due to his intelligent decision-making and efficiency in throwing the ball.<br />

Against Georgia Tech, Beck threw for just 175 yards with a touchdown and an<br />

interception. While statistically, this was his worst performance of the year, the<br />

Georgia quarterback was without his two top wideouts, Bowers and McConkey.<br />

With both players returning, expect Beck to establish a rhythm against an<br />

Alabama secondary that has shown vulnerability at times. A significant factor<br />

in this game will be Beck’s ability to escape the pocket and make plays with<br />

his feet. Winning the SEC championship will lie in the hands of the Bulldog<br />

quarterback.<br />

CARSON BECK<br />

QUARTERBACK<br />

PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE/BI<br />

BROCK BOWERS (TE #19) - Bowers did not play against the Yellow Jackets<br />

this past weekend, but barring a setback in practice this week, he will be a<br />

full-go in the SEC Championship against Alabama. Despite missing three and<br />

a half games due to injury, Bowers still leads the Bulldogs in receptions, yards,<br />

and receiving touchdowns. Bowers is the X-factor in this Bulldog offense, and<br />

it should be understood that Georgia will try to utilize him every way possible<br />

with a championship on the line. In two games against the Crimson Tide, Bowers<br />

has totaled 14 receptions for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Look for the All-<br />

American to add to that total this Saturday.<br />

KENDALL MILTON (RB #2) - Milton is having an exemplary season for the<br />

Bulldogs, especially as of recent, despite battling injuries yet again. Coming off<br />

his best performance of the season having accumulated 157 yards rushing along<br />

with two touchdowns, Milton will be relied upon to run between the tackles and<br />

decimate the Crimson Tide defense. Beating Alabama starts with establishing<br />

the run, and nobody is playing better at running back in the country than<br />

Kendall Milton. Look for Georgia’s rusher to aim for a third 100+ yard game in his<br />

last four tries.<br />

KAMARI LASSITER<br />

CORNERBACK<br />

PHOTO BY: GREG POOLE/BI<br />

KAMARI LASSITER (DB #3) - Lassiter receives zero credit for being one<br />

of the top cornerbacks in the country. Statistics do not do Lassiter justice as his<br />

coverage takes away an entire side of the field against opponents. The Bulldog<br />

defensive back will have his toughest challenge to date against the Crimson<br />

Tide, likely having to hold up in coverage for extensive periods of time due to<br />

Milroe’s ability to escape and extend plays. Georgia will need to rely on Lassiter’s<br />

exemplary play to slow down an explosive Alabama passing attack.<br />

BY JEFF DANTZLER<br />

Georgia’s first ever Southeastern Conference<br />

Championship Game appearance came in 2002,<br />

as the Bulldogs beat Arkansas 30-3 to capture the<br />

program’s first league title since 1982.<br />

Roquan Smith was the Most Valuable Player of the<br />

2017 SEC Championship Game, spearheading a<br />

tremendous defensive performance in Georgia’s<br />

28-7 victory over Auburn.<br />

In Georgia’s 50-30 win over LSU in the 2022 SEC<br />

Championship Game, All-American safety Chris<br />

Smith returned a blocked field goal 96 yards for a<br />

touchdown to give the Dogs a 7-0 lead.<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 14 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


JAVON BULLARD (S #22) - Bullard will be a key factor<br />

against Alabama due to his play on the back end of Georgia’s<br />

secondary. Alabama’s offense is predicated on the explosive<br />

play, particularly the deep ball. Bullard will have the tall task<br />

of not allowing the Crimson Tide receivers to get behind him<br />

yet come down from his safety position to make tackles in the<br />

run game. Bullard is prone to playing his best game when all is<br />

on the line, having earned MVP honors in both the Peach Bowl<br />

and National Championship last season. The Dawgs will need<br />

another MVP type performance to beat the Crimson Tide.<br />

SMAEL MONDON (LB #2) - Mondon has had yet another<br />

excellent season for the Dawgs’ defense. Having totaled 60<br />

tackles on the year and three sacks, the linebacker ranks<br />

amongst the top of all Bulldogs in statistical categories.<br />

Mondon will be one of the most influential players on<br />

the field this Saturday making calls from the linebacker<br />

position and disrupting the quarterback. Georgia uses their<br />

inside linebackers to blitz frequently, and due to Mondon’s<br />

athleticism, he’ll also be relied upon to spy <strong>Bama</strong>’s elusive<br />

quarterback.<br />

SMAEL MONDON<br />

LINEBACKER<br />

PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE/BI<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 15 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


SPORTS<br />

FOOTBALL<br />

CRIMSON TIDE TO WATCH<br />

BY: COBY SERINA<br />

KEVIN STEELE (DC) - It feels weird saying that Alabama’s coaching staff is<br />

probably going to have a harder time prepping for Georgia’s offense rather than<br />

its defense, but that’s just the world we live in. Admittedly, Alabama already has<br />

the second-best scoring defense in the SEC (right after first-place Georgia), so it’s<br />

not like they’re going to have to undergo any wild changes. However, with the<br />

way Mike Bobo, Carson Beck, and the rest of the offense have been performing,<br />

it should worry the Tide a little bit. Compared to the two national championshipwinning<br />

seasons prior, this year, Georgia’s focus looks like it’s not just on offense<br />

first but passing first. It’ll be interesting to see what Kevin Steele and company<br />

do to try and mitigate that part of Georgia’s game.<br />

JERMAINE BURTON<br />

WIDE RECEIVER<br />

PHOTO BY: ALABAMA ATHLETICS STAFF<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY<br />

‌JERMAINE BURTON (WR #3) - Jeremain Burton doesn’t need much<br />

introduction among the Bulldog faithful. It wasn’t too long ago that he wore<br />

the Red and Black himself, and although transferring to Alabama may not have<br />

amounted to everything he thought it would be, it’s certainly paying off now.<br />

The Tide do a good job spreading the wealth among their receivers, but Burton<br />

has managed to stand out, leading the pack with 749 yards on the season and<br />

regularly putting his explosiveness on display, averaging 22.7 yards per catch.<br />

‌JASE MCCLELLAN (RB #2) - Statistically, McClelan’s numbers closely align<br />

with Georgia’s senior tailback Daijun Edwards. Both have surpassed 150 rush<br />

attempts this season and have run for about 800 yards. Edwards may have the<br />

upper hand when it comes to breaking runs, but that’s neither here nor there.<br />

The fact is that Alabama is going to lean on their running game, and therefore<br />

McClellan is bound to see significant touches. Alabama is a team with a similar<br />

philosophy to Georgia’s when it comes to running the ball. Both sides are<br />

coming into this matchup wanting to impose their will on the ground.<br />

‌JALEN MILROE (QB #4) - Setting aside his rough start to the season,<br />

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe has proven that he is a difference-maker for<br />

the Crimson Tide. This holds especially true after the Iron Bowl, where he threw<br />

a touchdown pass to the back corner of the end zone from fourth and goal,<br />

backed up 31 yards out. Milroe is also the team’s third-leading rusher with 439<br />

yards to his name this year and 12 rushing touchdowns to add on top of that.<br />

Whether it’s through the air or on the ground, he will be a threat as the Dawgs<br />

prepare for the most talented quarterback they’ve faced all season.<br />

JALEN MILROE<br />

QUARTERBACK<br />

‌CALEB DOWNS (S #2) - A true freshman starting in the SEC is always an<br />

impressive feat, but a true freshman starting in the SEC and putting up SECleading<br />

numbers is not something you see every day. Former five-star recruit<br />

PHOTO BY: ALABAMA ATHLETICS STAFF<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY<br />

BY JEFF DANTZLER<br />

Alabama won the inaugural Southeastern Conference<br />

Championship Game in 1992, defeating Florida 28-21<br />

in Birmingham, with Antonio Lanham’s pick-six the<br />

game-winning touchdown.<br />

Alabama appeared in the first three SEC<br />

Championship Games and four of the first five under<br />

the watch of Gene Stallings, winning the 1992 title and<br />

losing to Florida in 1993, 1994 and 1996.<br />

Nick Saban’s first SEC Championship Game victory as<br />

Alabama’s head coach came in 2009, as the Crimson<br />

Tide defeated Florida 32-13 - a year after losing to the<br />

Gators in Atlanta.<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 16 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


Caleb Downs is proving to be something special in this league, having<br />

amassed 95 tackles and a pair of interceptions so far this season.<br />

Those 95 are the fourth most in the SEC and also the highest number<br />

among the Tide’s defenders (Alabama’s next leading tackler has 61).<br />

Whenever the Tide is on defense, it’s safe to bet that Downs is making<br />

the play.<br />

‌JUSTIN EBOIGBE (DL #92) - A redshirt senior and Georgia<br />

native, Justin Eboigbe is a guy who’s waited his turn — not something<br />

you see too often in the NIL era. His patience has clearly paid off,<br />

as he is now a key cog in the machine that is the Alabama defense,<br />

being a top-four tackler on the team from the defensive line position.<br />

Eboigbe has 56 stops on the season, and what’s just as impressive are<br />

the six sacks included in that total. If given a one-on-one opportunity,<br />

Eboigbe will look to use his 6-5, 300-pound frame to win with<br />

physicality.<br />

DALLAS TURNER<br />

LINEBACKER<br />

PHOTO BY: ALABAMA ATHLETICS STAFF<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY<br />

‌DALLAS TURNER (LB #15) - When it comes to Alabama edge<br />

rushers, you just have to pick your poison because both Dallas Turner<br />

and Chris Braswell have put up eight sacks this season. However,<br />

you just can’t beat the talent that Turner brings to the table. It’s not<br />

every day you see a player get significant playing time throughout<br />

his college career, but Turner is just that guy. In addition to getting to<br />

the quarterback, Turner serves as a fine option at linebacker with 46<br />

tackles on the season. His matchup against Georgia’s Amarius Mims<br />

is going to be a battle you’ll want to watch — athlete on athlete. You<br />

can’t beat that.<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 17 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


THE<br />

FIVE<br />

Georgia <strong>vs</strong>. Alabama<br />

BY: JEFF DANTZLER<br />

PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE/BI<br />

1. Jalen Milroe - In the second game of the season, Alabama fell<br />

to Texas in a hotly-contested showdown between college football<br />

blue bloods. The Tide faithful were grumbling, and a lot had to do<br />

with the quarterback position. Georgia fans are all too familiar with<br />

the lineage of Alabama quarterbacks going back - in particular - to<br />

January 8, 2018. So the next week, Emperor Nick Saban gave the<br />

internet grumblers what they wanted. Other quarterbacks. Alabama<br />

went to Tampa to play South Florida, which two weeks prior had lost<br />

to <strong>West</strong>ern Kentucky by 17. The game was 3-3 at the half. Alabama<br />

finally took a 10-3 lead late in the third quarter. The next week, it was<br />

clear that the Crimson Tide would sink or swim with Jalen Milroe<br />

at quarterback. The SEC wins piled up and in the second half of a<br />

34-20 comeback win over Tennessee, Milroe blossomed. He’s one of<br />

the most dangerous runners in the country, by design or scramble.<br />

Milroe has a cannon and can make all the throws. Slowing MIlroe<br />

down is an absolute must for a Georgia victory. Keep containment,<br />

don’t overrush, and don’t give up the super long big play. Gap<br />

integrity, the analysts say, is essential. From question mark to great<br />

player, sound familiar? Jalen Milroe is the engine of yet another<br />

Crimson Tide high powered offense.<br />

2. Dallas Turner and Tide D - Combined with one of<br />

the country’s best secondaries, Alabama’s pass rush makes<br />

for a lethal combination and arguably the top stop unit in the<br />

Southeastern Conference. Dallas Turner is the alpha at getting<br />

after the signal caller. He played Carl Banks to Will Anderson’s<br />

Lawrence Taylor the last two years, while showing he is one of<br />

the best outside linebackers in the game. This year, he may be<br />

the best. In Georgia’s national championship game victory over<br />

Alabama on January 10, 2022, Turner was a havoc wreaker. In<br />

fact, he had the sack on the play before Stetson Bennett hit A.D.<br />

Mitchell for the go-ahead touchdown. It was a recruiting battle<br />

between the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide, and it didn’t take long<br />

to see why the Sunshine State product was so coveted by the<br />

country’s two best coaches, Kirby Smart and Saban. Georgia’s<br />

offensive front, particularly the tackles depending on where<br />

Turner lines up, will have their biggest challenge of the season.<br />

3. Alabama in Atlanta - If there is one last dragon for<br />

Georgia to slay during the Kirby Smart dynastic run, it is<br />

beating the Crimson Tide inside a domed stadium in Atlanta.<br />

There were the three all-time heartbreakers and the 2021 SEC<br />

Championship Game, which served as the prelude to Georgia’s<br />

vengeance victory in Indianapolis for the national title. The<br />

stakes are once again - hot take - major. Georgia is 1-0 in the last<br />

one meeting with Alabama. Now, can the Dogs topple the Tide<br />

in Atlanta?<br />

4. Smart and Saban - They are the two best. Saban is<br />

College Football’s Coach of the 21st Century. He’s led Alabama<br />

to six national championships, plus the 2003 title he won<br />

as LSU’s head coach. Saban is in the class of the legends<br />

of legends, Knute Rockne and Bear Bryant. Smart, the best<br />

and brightest of his proteges, is on the same trajectory and<br />

already an all-time great legendary SEC coach. At age 47. The<br />

new top Dawg has made the dreams come true at his beloved<br />

alma mater, with back-to-back national championships these<br />

last two years. Both are hungry for more. These two dynasties,<br />

these two coaches, both wanting more in a battle of two<br />

powerhouses that have combined to win college football’s<br />

last three national championships, and eight of the last nine<br />

SEC titles.<br />

5. 2002 with Robby Kirk - I never will forget being 10<br />

years old, and my dad counting the paces through our living<br />

room, foyer and den. Larry Munson, begging the Dawgs to<br />

Hunker Down <strong>One</strong> More <strong>Time</strong>, pulled Georgia through. Sugar<br />

was falling from the sky. Georgia beat Auburn 19-14, clinching<br />

the 1982 SEC Championship, the Bulldogs third straight<br />

conference crown. It would be another 20 years until Georgia<br />

won another. The Bulldogs, in their first ever trip to the SEC<br />

Championship Game, beat Arkansas in the 2002 title tilt in<br />

the Georgia Dome. I got to watch the game in a box with<br />

Vince Dooley and Becky and Mike Cavan. Epic. Following the<br />

victory, I rode back to Athens with my friend Robby Kirk. We<br />

celebrated, and closed out the festivities in the wee hours -<br />

that time when you don’t know if it’s tonight or this morning<br />

- with a smuggled bottle of champagne in the Five Points<br />

Waffle House. Epic.<br />

MOVING DAWGS ACROSS GEORGIA SINCE 1972<br />

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 18 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


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Georgia is about to<br />

face the toughest<br />

opponent it’s seen<br />

all year – Alabama.<br />

Nick Saban and the Crimson<br />

Tide have been the formidable<br />

force in college football for as<br />

long as I can remember. Winning<br />

games and accumulating<br />

accolades, including six national<br />

championships, have solidified<br />

their reputation. However, over<br />

the past couple of years, Georgia<br />

has been stepping up to the plate<br />

and challenging that notion.<br />

With back-to-back national<br />

championships and a strong<br />

push for a third, Georgia has<br />

taken Alabama’s spot as the team<br />

to beat in college football. As<br />

Georgia faces Alabama in the<br />

SEC Championship, it feels as if<br />

Alabama has the opportunity<br />

to reclaim the title. Given their<br />

season, especially with a home<br />

loss against Texas, it’s hard to<br />

tell whether this Alabama team<br />

is reminiscent of the Tide of old.<br />

Still, Kirby Smart and company<br />

will not be taking any chances.<br />

The history between these two<br />

teams is rich. Rivalry week just<br />

passed, but a special kind of beef<br />

has grown between the Georgia<br />

Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson<br />

Tide. Consider Kirby’s ties to<br />

Saban, Georgia’s 2018 National<br />

Championship loss against<br />

Alabama, the regular-season loss<br />

to Alabama in 2020, and the 2021<br />

SEC Championship Game loss. It<br />

all got bottled up and poured out<br />

at the end of 2021 when Georgia<br />

defeated Alabama in the 2021<br />

National Championship, ending<br />

a 41 championship drought after<br />

losing to the Tide a little over a<br />

month earlier.<br />

Now, the two teams come<br />

together again, and this time<br />

around, it’ll be more interesting,<br />

given that both teams had less<br />

than favorable experiences<br />

during rivalry week.<br />

Alabama had their miraculous<br />

comeback victory in the last<br />

minutes of the Iron Bowl, down<br />

20-24 with Jalen Milroe throwing<br />

a prayer to Isiah Bond on a 31-<br />

yard fourth and goal that wound<br />

up being the game-winning<br />

touchdown.<br />

For Georgia, the Dawgs didn’t<br />

experience anything nearly<br />

as earth-shattering but were<br />

consistently tested through<br />

their game against a formidable<br />

Georgia Tech team. Tech versus<br />

Georgia’s final score was the<br />

closest of any of Georgia’s regularseason<br />

games, surpassing the<br />

Dawgs’ victory over Missouri by<br />

a point.<br />

Although I would like to brush<br />

that off and say that a win is a<br />

win, onto the next, with the way<br />

the players sounded after the<br />

game, it’s tough. Smael Mondon<br />

and Javon Bullard seemed a little<br />

irritated after their win against<br />

Tech, fitting given the way it went<br />

and the fact that Alabama is their<br />

upcoming opponent.<br />

Tech had its way running the ball<br />

against Georgia, and Mondon<br />

credited the fact that it was<br />

hard to account for a running<br />

quarterback on top of all the<br />

other things they ran. The ‘extra<br />

hat’ gave the defense trouble,<br />

and that’s precisely what they’re<br />

going to see when they play Jalen<br />

Milroe and Alabama.<br />

There’s plenty to fix on both sides<br />

of the ball heading into what<br />

should be an intense football<br />

game against the Alabama<br />

Crimson Tide, but don’t let<br />

Georgia’s performance against<br />

the Engineers mean much. This<br />

team is built on resilience, so we’ll<br />

see how that plays out during<br />

practice and Saturday’s 2023 SEC<br />

Championship Game.<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 20 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


Mark Schlabach is one of the top college football writers<br />

in the business. He knows his stuff. Mark is just 51 years<br />

old and has already had a Hall of Fame career. Not only is<br />

Mark a lights out college football writer, he does a great<br />

job covering golf for ESPN and is an accomplished author<br />

of over two dozen books. Mark and his wife Heather are the<br />

proud parents of three children: Caroline, Jane and Jack. As<br />

always, we greatly appreciate his insight.<br />

BY JEFF DANTZLER<br />

A VIEW OF THE ...<br />

SEC Championship<br />

EXCEPTIONAL COACHING<br />

JOBS BY KIRBY SMART AND<br />

NICK SABAN THIS YEAR,<br />

WHAT STANDS OUT TO YOU<br />

ABOUT THEM AND THEIR<br />

TEAMS THIS YEAR?<br />

I think Kirby Smart and his staff<br />

continue to do a tremendous job in<br />

recruiting and developing players.<br />

After losing another boatload of<br />

players to the NFL draft, Georgia once<br />

again plugged in replacements with<br />

younger players and didn’t miss a beat.<br />

I think the Bulldogs improved week to<br />

week after some so-so performances<br />

early in the season, especially on<br />

defense. Alabama struggled on<br />

offense early, but new offensive<br />

coordinator Tommy Rees built his<br />

game plan around quarterback Jalen<br />

Milroe’s strength, which is running<br />

the football. Nick Saban continues to<br />

replace key assistant coaches and this<br />

season was no different. I don’t think<br />

this is Alabama’s most talented team,<br />

but Saban and his staff figured out the<br />

best way to utilize what they have.<br />

‌DO YOU THINK THE SEC<br />

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME<br />

SHOULD CONTINUE IN THE<br />

12-TEAM PLAYOFF ERA?<br />

I worry about the college football<br />

schedule becoming more like an<br />

NFL slate with teams playing 16 or 17<br />

games. I don’t think the SEC is ever<br />

going to give up the millions of dollars<br />

in revenue it generates from staging a<br />

conference championship game. But<br />

there’s no question that the two teams<br />

that qualify for the championship<br />

game might be at a disadvantage<br />

by playing an extra game. Hopefully,<br />

the honor that comes with winning<br />

an SEC title still carries weight in the<br />

expanded playoff era. The winner–and<br />

perhaps the loser-will at least be in<br />

the hunt for a first-round bye in the<br />

12-team playoff.<br />

‌WHAT DOES ALABAMA<br />

NEED TO DO TO BEAT<br />

GEORGIA?<br />

The Crimson Tide need to protect<br />

the quarterback, which hasn’t been<br />

easy the past couple of seasons with<br />

a mediocre offensive line. Running<br />

quarterbacks have given Georgia’s<br />

defense some problems the past few<br />

seasons, and sealing the edge against<br />

Milroe is going to be paramount.<br />

Going into last week’s Iron Bowl,<br />

Alabama had surrendered 38 sacks,<br />

which ranked 12th in the SEC and<br />

was 28 more than the Bulldogs had<br />

allowed. On defense, the Tide need<br />

to generate pressure on quarterback<br />

Carson Beck and slow down the<br />

running game. Dallas Turner and<br />

Chris Braswell are as disruptive as any<br />

linebackers in the FBS.<br />

HOW MUCH LONGER DO<br />

YOU THINK NICK SABAN<br />

COACHES AT ALABAMA?<br />

Saban turned 72 years old on<br />

Halloween. Bear Bryant was 69 years<br />

old when he finally walked away.<br />

Legendary Florida State coach Bobby<br />

Bowden was 80 before he was forced<br />

out. Saban hasn’t been quiet about<br />

his dislike for the recent changes in<br />

college football–the transfer portal,<br />

Name, Image and Likeness, and<br />

conference realignment. I think the<br />

12- and 14-hour days are starting to<br />

weigh on him more than they have<br />

in the past. If Alabama beats Georgia<br />

and goes on to win another national<br />

championship, I could see him<br />

hanging it up while he was on top. But<br />

I also think he likes the talent level at<br />

Alabama and still has a couple of years<br />

left in him.<br />

‌WHAT DOES GEORGIA NEED<br />

TO DO TO BEAT ALABAMA?<br />

Georgia needs to slow down Milroe<br />

in the running game and force him<br />

to make some difficult throws. I think<br />

when you look at the teams’ rosters,<br />

Georgia has an advantage on the<br />

offensive line, running back, receiver,<br />

tight end and possibly quarterback.<br />

Alabama’s probably better at<br />

linebacker and on the defensive line.<br />

The secondary might be a toss-up,<br />

although Alabama cornerbacks Kool-<br />

Aid McKinstry and Malachi Moore are<br />

considered potential NFL first-round<br />

picks. Georgia can’t turn the ball over<br />

and can’t make dumb penalties, which<br />

it has largely avoided this season.<br />

The Bulldogs can’t fall behind again;<br />

it’s going to be more difficult to<br />

come back against the Crimson<br />

Tide.<br />

‌HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO<br />

SEE THE SEC SCHEDULE<br />

SET UP WHEN THE NEW<br />

CONTRACT AND SLATE<br />

COMES INTO PLAY IN 2025?<br />

I want to see more variety in teams’<br />

schedules to where fans aren’t waiting<br />

eight or nine years to make a trip to<br />

Austin, Texas, or Oxford, Mississippi. I’m<br />

all for keeping the longtime rivals like<br />

Georgia-Auburn, Tennessee-Alabama<br />

and Texas-Oklahoma. But I’d like to see<br />

some variety year to year. It’s definitely<br />

going to get more difficult for College<br />

Football Playoff contenders. Georgia’s<br />

2024 schedule, which includes road<br />

trips to Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas, is<br />

clear evidence.<br />

‌WHAT IS YOUR SCORE<br />

PREDICTION?<br />

Georgia 27, Alabama 20<br />

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A small sampling of menu items ...<br />

Oysters Rockefeller<br />

Baked with a topping of spinach, celery, and onion<br />

WHERE SMART DAWGS<br />

EAT AND DRINK AFTER<br />

BEATING THE TIDE!<br />

Classic Crawfish Etouffee<br />

Rich Creole stew of crawfish tails served over rice<br />

Crab Cakes<br />

Lump crab sautéed and served over stewed corn<br />

with remoulade<br />

Stuffed Filet<br />

Stuffed with bleu cheese and port wine sauce.<br />

Served with potatoes and chef’s vegetables.<br />

Carpetbagger<br />

Topped with fried oysters and bernaise sauce.<br />

Served with potatoes and chef’s vegetables.<br />

Seafood Jambalaya<br />

Redfish, oysters, shrimp and crawfish over a<br />

chicken and andouille jambalaya<br />

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 22 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


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2023 georgia bulldogs numerical roster<br />

Provided By UGA Athletics - Subject To Change<br />

No. Name Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt. Exp. Hometown (Previous School) No. Name Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt. Exp. Hometown (Previous School)<br />

0 ^Troy Bowles ILB Fr. 6-0 220 HS Tampa, Fla. (Jesuit HS)<br />

0 #Roderick Robinson II RB Fr. 6-0 240 HS Imperial, Calif. (Lincoln HS)<br />

1 Nyland Green DB RSo. 6-1 185 1VL Covington, Ga. (Newton HS)<br />

1 Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint WR Sr. 6-2 195 3VL Pompano Beach, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas HS)<br />

2 Kendall Milton RB Sr. 6-1 220 3VL Fresno, Calif. (Buchanan HS)<br />

2 Smael Mondon ILB Jr. 6-3 225 2VL Dallas, Ga. (Paulding County HS)<br />

3 Kamari Lassiter DB Jr. 6-0 180 2VL Savannah, Ga. (American Christian Acad.)<br />

3 Andrew Paul RB RFr. 5-11 218 SQ Dallas, Texas (Parish Episcopal School)<br />

4 Oscar Delp TE So. 6-5 245 1VL Cumming, Ga. (<strong>West</strong> Forsyth HS)<br />

4 #AJ Harris DB Fr. 6-1 190 HS Phenix City, Ala. (Central HS)<br />

5 #Rara Thomas WR Jr. 6-2 200 TR Eufaula, Ala. (Miss. State/Eufaula HS)<br />

5 #Raylen Wilson ILB Fr. 6-1 225 HS Tallahassee, Fla. (Lincoln HS)<br />

6 Daylen Everette DB So. 6-1 190 1VL Norfolk, Va. (IMG Academy)<br />

6 #Dominic Lovett WR Jr. 5-10 187 TR Belleville, Ill. (Missouri/<strong>East</strong> St. Louis HS)<br />

7 Marvin Jones Jr. OLB So. 6-5 250 1VL Sunrise, Fla. (American Heritage HS)<br />

7 #Lawson Luckie TE Fr. 6-3 240 HS Norcross, Ga. (Norcross HS)<br />

8 #Joenel Aguero DB Fr. 5-11 205 HS Lynn, Mass. (St. John’s Prep)<br />

9 Jackson Meeks WR Jr. 6-2 205 2VL henix City, Ala. (Central HS)<br />

9 #Justyn Rhett DB Fr. 6-0 190 HS Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman HS)<br />

10 Jamon Dumas-Johnson ILB Jr. 6-1 245 2VL Hyattsville, Md. (St. Francis Academy)<br />

10 #Tyler Williams WR Fr. 6-3 205 HS Lakeland, Fla. (Lakeland HS)<br />

11 Arian Smith WR Jr. 6-0 185 3VL Bradley, Fla. (Lakeland HS)<br />

11 Jalon Walker ILB So. 6-2 245 1VL Salisbury, N.C. (Salisbury HS)<br />

12 Julian Humphrey DB RFr. 6-0 190 1VL Webster, Texas (Clear Lake HS)<br />

12 Brock Vandagriff QB RSo. 6-3 210 SQ Bogart, Ga. (Prince Ave. Christian School)<br />

13 #Zeed Haynes WR Fr. 6-1 170 HS Philadelphia, Pa. (North Penn HS)<br />

13 Mykel Williams DL So. 6-5 265 1VL Columbus, Ga. (Hardaway HS)<br />

14 David Daniel-Sisavanh DB Jr. 6-2 185 2VL Woodstock, Ga. (Woodstock HS)<br />

14 Gunner Stockton QB RFr. 6-1 215 SQ Tiger, Ga. (Rabun County HS)<br />

15 Carson Beck QB Jr. 6-4 220 2VL Jacksonville, Fla. (Mandarin HS)<br />

15 ^Daniel Harris DB Fr. 6-2 175 HS Miami, Fla. (Gulliver Prep HS)<br />

16 C.J. Madden OLB RFr. 6-4 240 SQ Ellenwood, Ga. (Cedar Grove HS)<br />

16 Jackson Muschamp QB Jr. 6-2 190 SQ Columbia, S.C. (Hammond School)<br />

17 #Anthony Evans III WR Fr. 5-11 165 HS Converse, Texas (Judson HS)<br />

17 Dan Jackson DB Sr. 6-1 200 2VL Gainesville, Ga. (North Hall HS)<br />

18 C.J. Smith WR RFr. 6-3 190 SQ Apopka, Fla. (Mount Dora HS)<br />

18 Xavian Sorey ILB RSo. 6-3 220 2VL Campbellton, Fla. (IMG Academy)<br />

19 Brock Bowers TE Jr. 6-4 240 2VL Napa, Calif. (Napa HS)<br />

19 Darris Smith OLB So. 6-5 240 1VL Baxley, Ga. (Appling Co. HS)<br />

20 Sevaughn Clark RB Sr. 6-1 215 2VL Dawsonville, Ga. (Dawson County HS)<br />

20 JaCorey Thomas DB So. 6-0 200 1VL Orlando, Fla. (Boone HS)<br />

22 Javon Bullard DB Jr. 5-11 195 2VL Milledgeville, Ga. (Baldwin HS)<br />

22 Branson Robinson RB So. 5-10 220 1VL Canton, Miss. (Germantown HS)<br />

23 De’Nylon Morrissette WR So. 6-1 200 1VL Stone Mountain, Ga. (North Cobb HS)<br />

23 Tykee Smith DB Sr. 5-10 205 1VL Philadelphia, Pa. (WVU / Imhotep Inst.)<br />

24 Malaki Starks DB So. 6-1 205 1VL Jefferson, Ga. (Jefferson HS)<br />

25 E.J. Lightsey ILB RFr. 6-2 223 IVL Fitzgerald, Ga. (Fitzgerald HS)<br />

26 Collin Drake QB RSo. 6-1 195 SQ Ennis, Texas (Ennis HS)<br />

26 #Sam M’Pemba OLB Fr. 6-3 2 45 HS Olivette, Mo. (IMG Academy)<br />

27 Sam Bush QB Fr. 5-11 185 HS Athens, Ga. (Athens Academy)<br />

27 ^Chris Peal DB Fr. 6-1 190 HS Charlotte, N.C. (Providence Day School)<br />

28 Walter Blanchard WR Fr. 6-1 195 HS Columbus, Ga. (Brookstone)<br />

29 Luke Bennett WR RFr. 5-11 175 SQ Blackshear, Ga. (Pierce County HS)<br />

29 #Gabe Harris Jr. OLB Fr. 6-4 245 HS Thomasville, Ga. (IMG Aacdemy)<br />

30 Daijun Edwards RB Sr. 5-10 201 3VL Norman Park, Ga. (Colquitt County HS)<br />

30 Terrell Foster ILB RFr. 6-1 220 SQ Kennesaw, Ga. (IMG Academy)<br />

31 Grant Briscoe WR RFr. 6-3 190 SQ Carrollton, Ga. (Carrollton HS)<br />

31 ^Kyron Jones ATH Fr. 6-0 200 HS Charlotte, N.C. (Charlotte Christian HS)<br />

32 Chaz Chambliss OLB Jr. 6-2 250 2VL Carrollton, Ga. (Carrollton HS)<br />

32 Cash Jones RB RSo. 6-0 182 1VL Brock, Texas (Brock HS)<br />

33 #C.J. Allen ILB Fr. 6-1 235 HS Barnesville, Ga. (Lamar County HS)<br />

35 Jacob Fleming DB RFr. 5-11 190 SQ Atlanta, Ga. (<strong>West</strong>minster Academy)<br />

35 #Damon Wilson II OLB Fr. 6-4 235 HS Nokomis, Fla. (Venice HS)<br />

36 Colby Smith DB Sr. 5-10 175 SQ Danielsville, Ga. (Pres. College/Madison Co. HS)<br />

37 Izayah Reeves WR RSo. 5-11 175 TR Long Island, N.Y. (Charleston/Monocan HS)<br />

38 Patrick Taylor DB Jr. 6-0 175 SQ Johns Creek, Ga. (Johns Creek HS)<br />

39 Parker Jones DB RFr. 5-11 165 SQ Albany, Ga. (Deerfield-Windsor School)<br />

39 Collin Lark DB Jr. 6-0 198 HS Dallas, Texas (Dallas Jesuit HS)<br />

39 Miles Thornton RB RFr. 6-0 195 SQ Tyrone, Ga. (Sandy Creek HS)<br />

41 Denton Shamburger DB RFr. 6-0 185 SQ Atlanta, Ga. (<strong>West</strong>minster School)<br />

41 ^Len’Neth Whitehead RB Jr. 6-2 220 TR Athens, Ga. (Tennessee/Athens Academy)<br />

42 Graham Collins ILB Jr. 6-2 215 SQ Atlanta, Ga. (Holy Innocents Episcopal School)<br />

43 Marek Briley WR Fr. 6-3 205 HS Buford, Ga. (North Gwinnett HS)<br />

43 Ali Hall DB RFr. 6-1 201 TR Jacksonville, Fla. (GMC/<strong>West</strong>side HS)<br />

44 Cade Brock TE Jr. 6-0 250 SQ Subligna, Ga. (Darlington HS)<br />

44 #Jordan Hall DL Fr. 6-4 320 HS Jacksonville, Fla. (<strong>West</strong>side HS)<br />

45 Jacob Hardie RB RFr. 5-9 180 SQ Olney, Md. (Our Lady of Good Counsel)<br />

46 George Vining WR Sr. 6-0 205 SQ Macon, Ga. (Tattnall Square Academy)<br />

47 Sam Shurtleff OLB Jr. 6-4 230 TR Watkinsville, Ga. (Nebraska/Oconee County HS)<br />

47 Will Taylor WR Fr. 6-3 190 HS Milton, Ga. (Cambridge HS)<br />

48 Joseph Daniels RB Gr. 5-10 188 SQ John’s Creek, Ga. (Indiana/Roswell HS)<br />

48 Cooper Johnson TE RFr. 6-4 220 SQ Cumming, Ga. (<strong>West</strong> Forsyth HS)<br />

49 Luke Collins OLB RSo. 6-2 245 SQ Birmingham, Ala. (Birmingham Prep)<br />

51 Will Snellings SN Fr. 6-2 220 HS Fayetteville, Ga. (Whitewater HS)<br />

52 Christen Miller DL RFr. 6-4 305 IVL Ellenwood, Ga. (Cedar Grove HS)<br />

53 Dylan Fairchild OL RSo. 6-5 315 1VL Cumming, Ga. (<strong>West</strong> Forsyth HS)<br />

54 ^Kelton SmithJr. OL Fr. 6-4 330 HS Columbus, Ga. (Carver HS)<br />

55 #Jamaal Jarrett DL Fr. 6-5 350 HS Greensboro, N.C. (Grimsley HS)<br />

55 Jared Wilson OL RSo. 6-3 310 2VL Winston-Salem, N.C. (<strong>West</strong> Forsyth HS)<br />

56 Micah Morris OL RSo. 6-6 330 1VL Kingsland, Ga. (Camden County HS)<br />

56 William Mote SN Sr. 6-2 230 3VL Hoover, Ala. (Spain Park HS)<br />

57 #Monroe Freeling OL Fr. 6-7 310 HS Isle of Palms, S.C. (Oceanside Collegiate Acad)<br />

58 Austin Blaske OL Jr. 6-5 310 2VL Faulkville, Ga. (South Effingham HS)<br />

59 ^Bo Hughley OL Fr. 6-7 280 HS Fairburn, Ga. (Langston Hughes HS)<br />

60 Henry Peagler OL Fr. 6-3 290 HS Blackshear, Ga. (Pierce County HS)<br />

63 Sedrick Van Pran OL Jr. 6-4 310 3VL New Orleans, La. (Warren <strong>East</strong>on HS)<br />

65 Amarius Mims OL Jr. 6-7 340 2VL Cochran, Ga. (Bleckley County HS)<br />

66 Aliou Bah OL RFr. 6-5 320 SQ Memphis, Tenn. (IMG Academy)<br />

66 Jonathan Washburn SN RSo. 6-2 230 SQ Ringgold, Ga. (Heritage HS)<br />

67 Clinton Barlow DL Fr. 6-5 310 HS Charlotte, N.C. (Charlotte Catholic)<br />

68 Chris Brown OL Jr. 6-5 300 SQ Savannah, Ga. (Islands HS)<br />

69 Tate Ratledge OL RSo. 6-6 310 1VL Rome, Ga. (Darlington School)<br />

70 #Joshua Miller OL Fr. 6-4 300 HS Chesterfield, Va. (Life Christian Academy)<br />

71 EARNEST GREENE III OL RFR. 6-4 320 SQ LOS ANG, CA (ST. JOHN BOSCO HS)<br />

72 ^JAMAL MERIWEATHER OL FR. 6-6 287 HS BRUNSWICK, GA. (BRUNSWICK HS)<br />

73 XAVIER TRUSS OL SR. 6-7 320 3VL W. WARWICK, R.I. (BISHOP HENDRICKEN HS)<br />

74 DREW BOBO OL RFR. 6-5 305 SQ AUBURN, ALA. (AUBURN HS)<br />

76 MILES JOHNSON OL JR. 6-5 320 SQ BLUE RIDGE, GA. (FANNIN CO. HS)<br />

78 CHAD LINDBERG OL JR. 6-6 325 2VL LEAGUE CITY, TEXAS (CLEAR CREEK HS)<br />

78 NAZIR STACKHOUSE DL SR. 6-3 320 3VL STONE MOUNTAIN, GA. (COLUMBIA HS)<br />

79 GUS GAMMAGE OL FR. 6-5 306 HS CEDARTOWN, GA. (DARLINGTON SCHOOL)<br />

80 BRANDON MOODY WR JR. 5-7 1 65 TR MONROE, GA. (BERRY COL./MONROE AREA HS)<br />

81 DAVID LALAIAN TE FR. 6-4 225 HS MONROE, GA. (MONROE AREA HS)<br />

82 LOGAN JOHNSON WR RSO. 5-6 155 SQ B OGART, GA. (PRINCE AVE. CHRISTIAN)<br />

83 COLE SPEER WR SO. 5-11 185 1VL CALHOUN, GA. (CALHOUN HS)<br />

84 LADD MCCONKEY WR JR. 6-0 185 2 VL CHATSWORTH, GA. (NORTH MURRAY HS)<br />

85 DREW SHEEHAN TE SR. 6-2 240 SQ WOODSTOCK, GA. (KENN ST. / WOODSTOCK HS)<br />

86 DILLON BELL WR SO. 6-1 210 1VL HOUSTON, TEXAS (THE KINKAID SCHOOL)<br />

87 MEKHI MEWS WR RSO. 5-8 185 1VL GRAYSON, GA. (CENTRAL GWINNETT HS)<br />

88 #PEARCE SPURLIN III TE FR. 6-7 2 30 HS ROSEMARY BEACH, FLA. (S. WALTON HS)<br />

89 BRAXTON HICKS WR JR. 6-2 195 SQ TIGER, GA. (RABUN COUNTY HS)<br />

90 TRAMEL WALTHOUR DL SR. 6-3 270 3VL HINESVILLE, GA. (HUTCHINSON CC/<br />

LIBERTY CO. HS)<br />

91 ^PEYTON WOODRING PK FR. 5-10 175 HS LAFAYETTE, LA. (ASCENSION EPISCOPAL HS)<br />

92 LIAM BADGER PK RSO. 6-0 170 TR CUMMING, GA. (KENNESAW STATE/<br />

WEST FORSYTH)<br />

92 BRETT THORSON P SO. 6-2 220 1VL MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA<br />

(PROKICK AUSTRALIA)<br />

93 WILL HATTAWAY PK FR. 6-0 185 HS EVANS, GA. (LAKESIDE HS)<br />

93 TYRION INGRAM-DAWKINS DL RSO. 6-5 280 2VL GAFFNEY, S.C. (GAFFNEY HS)<br />

94 HENRY BATES PK RFR. 5-11 170 SQ WAYCROSS, GA. (WARE COUNTY HS)<br />

94 JONATHAN JEFFERSON DL RSO. 6-3 295 2VL DOUGLASVILLE, GA. (DOUGLAS COUNTY HS)<br />

96 ZION LOGUE DL SR. 6-5 310 3VL LEBANON, TENN. (LEBANON HS)<br />

97 WARREN BRINSON DL SR. 6-4 305 3VL SAVANNAH, GA. (IMG ACADEMY)<br />

98 NOAH JONES P RSO. 6-0 165 SQ CAIRO, GA. (CAIRO HS)<br />

99 JARED ZIRKEL PK JR. 6-3 185 1VL KERRVILLE, TEXAS (TIVY HS)<br />

#2023 EARLY ENROLLEE; ^JUNE 2023 ARRIVAL<br />

PRONUNCIATIONS<br />

ALIOU BAH............................... UH-LOO BAH<br />

AUSTIN BLASKE............................... BLAS-KEE<br />

TROY BOWLES.........................................BOWLS<br />

JAVON BULLARD...............................JUH-VAHN<br />

CHAZ CHAMBLISS...........................CHAM-BLISS<br />

SEVAUGHN CLARK..........................SUH-VAUGHN<br />

DAVID DANIEL-SISAVANH............. SIS-UH-VAHN<br />

JAMON DUMAS JOHNSON.....JUH-MAHN DO-MAS<br />

DAIJUN EDWARDS...........................DAY-ZYAHN<br />

DAYLEN EVERETTE.............................. DAY-LYNN<br />

TERRELL FOSTER.................................TUH-RELL<br />

NYLAND GREEN...................................NY-LUND<br />

ZEED HAYNES..............ZEED RHYMES WITH SEED<br />

BO HUGHLEY..................................... HUGH-LEE<br />

TYRION INGRAM-DAWKINS..............TY-REE-AHN<br />

JAMAAL JARRETT...................................JUH-MALL<br />

KYRON JONES.........................................KYRUN<br />

DAVID LALAIAN...........................LUH-LAY-LEE-IN<br />

KAMARI LASSITER........................KUH-MARH-EE<br />

E.J. SIGHTSEY................................... LIGHT-SEE<br />

ZION LOGUE............................... ZI-ON LOWGUH<br />

MEKHI MEWS......MUH-KAI LIKE “NEWS” WITH AN “M”<br />

AMARIUS MIMS...................... UH-MARE-EE-US<br />

SMAEL MONDON................RHYMES WITH SMILE,<br />

.....................................RHYMES WITH LONDON<br />

DE’NYLON MORRISSEETTE...............DE-NYE-LUN<br />

SAM M’PEMBA...........................EM-PEM-BUH<br />

IZAYAH REEVES..............................EYE-ZAY-UH<br />

RODERICK ROBINSON......................ROD-ER-RICK<br />

MARCUS ROSEMY-JACKSAINT.....ROSE-UH-MEE<br />

DENTON SHAMBURGER.................. SHAM-BURGER<br />

SAM SHURTLEFF....................................SHIRTLUFF<br />

XAVIAN SOREY........ EGG-ZAY-VEE-AHN SORE-EE<br />

NAZIR STACKHOUSE......................... NAH-ZEER<br />

MALAKI STARKS..........................MAL-UH-KAI<br />

JACOREY THOMAS.............................JUH-COREY<br />

RARA THOMAS......................................RAH-RAH<br />

BROCK VANDAGRIFF......................VAN-DUH-GRIFF<br />

JALON WALKER..................................... JAY-LUN<br />

TRAMEL WALTHOUR........................... TRUH-MEL<br />

..........................WALL-THOUR (SOUNDS LIKE ‘OUR’)<br />

LEN’NETH WHITEHEAD.......................... LEN-NEETH<br />

MYKEL WILLIAMS.................................MY-KELL<br />

DAMON WILSON..................................DAY-MUHN<br />

RAYLEN WILSON.................................... RAY-LYNN<br />

JARED ZIRKEL..................................... ZER-KUL<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 24 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


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PHOTO BY: VANCE LEAVY/BI<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 27 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


SOCIAL<br />

FAN SHOTS<br />

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 28 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 29 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 30 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 31 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 32 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


FAN SHOTS<br />

SOCIAL<br />

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GEORGIA - 31, GA TECH - 23<br />

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 33 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


SOCIAL<br />

FAN SHOTS<br />

Jack Shelton, Carter Tilashalski, Johnie “The Charger” Wells,<br />

Wendi Wells, Kern Carlton, Brant Wells, Thomas Paris,<br />

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GEORGIA - 31, GA TECH - 23<br />

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 34 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 35 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


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GEORGIA - 31, GA TECH - 23<br />

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 38 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


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Q&A<br />

PROUST<br />

COMPILED BY: CAROLINE CHAMPION<br />

NAME: Kevin Gooch​<br />

HOMETOWN: Covington, Georgia (born in Los Angeles, CA and moved<br />

at 7 years old)<br />

CURRENT TOWN: Atlanta, Georgia<br />

WHAT YEARS AT UGA: 2001 - 2004<br />

SCHOOL/DEGREE: School of Law, J.D.<br />

PROFESSION: Attorney in Financial Services Group at Holland & Knight LLP<br />

ACCOLADES: Kevin has received the National Bar Association Young<br />

Lawyers’ Division Advocacy and Leadership Award, which recognized<br />

one lawyer in the country for their work in the profession and the<br />

community, as well as the Alston & Bird LLP Diversity Leadership Award<br />

for his exemplary commitment to the firm’s diversity and inclusion efforts.<br />

Over the course of three years, Kevin received a total of seven “40 Under<br />

40” Awards from such prestigious institutions and organizations as: (i)<br />

American Bar Association, (ii) University of Georgia, (iii) Emory University,<br />

(iv) Atlanta Business Chronicle, (v) National Bar Association, (vi) Fulton<br />

County Daily Report, and (vii) Georgia Trend Magazine. He has been<br />

named to the List of “Most Influential Atlantans” by Atlanta Magazine on<br />

multiple occasions. He was named to the inaugural Georgia Trend List of<br />

“Most Influential Georgians”. He has received the Rick Palmore Award from<br />

the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity for outstanding alums of the<br />

organization of more than 3,000 acclaimed attorneys. He has participated<br />

in LEAD Atlanta, Leadership Atlanta and Leadership Georgia. He serves<br />

on the Board of Directors of the UGA Alumni Association, the Law School<br />

Alumni Council and UGA Board of Visitors. He currently serves on the<br />

Board of Directors of the Woodruff Arts Center. He was recently named as<br />

the General Counsel of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. after serving as<br />

the youngest Chairman of the Board of Directors in the 35+ year history of<br />

the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc.<br />

WHAT LIFE LESSONS DID YOU LEARN WHILE AT UGA?<br />

I learned to be intentional about getting outside of your comfort zone<br />

to make friends and explore new experiences as well as being aware of<br />

brand that you are building through every interaction with people. Some<br />

of my best friendships were developed during my time at UGA. I also had<br />

incredible experiences at UGA Law, including serving as 1L Class President<br />

and Student Bar Association President because I was intentional about<br />

taking the risk and putting myself out there for service to the institution.<br />

WHAT PROFESSOR DID YOU MOST ADMIRE?<br />

I had several incredible professors. Several. Each one contributed<br />

different things to my development as an attorney and professional.<br />

In law school, I participated in an early start program a couple weeks<br />

prior to law school. Dean Rebecca White taught that early start<br />

program. Her passion and intensity was infectious and set the tone for<br />

the next three years in law school. Professor Dan Coenen taught me<br />

to always think ahead and fully understand your opponent’s position.<br />

Professor Anne Dupre, God rest her soul, taught me to dissect complex<br />

issues into digestible pieces and think like a lawyer.<br />

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?<br />

My greatest achievement to date is the success of my mentees that I<br />

worked with during my time leading the 100 Black Men of Atlanta as<br />

the youngest Chairman of the Board in the organization’s 35+ year<br />

history. Those mentees that have graduated from UGA Law, Stanford<br />

University, Morehouse College and started successful businesses are<br />

the return on my investment. The accolades and accomplishments are<br />

great. To make partner at Alston & Bird LLP and become a partner at<br />

one of the largest firm’s in the world were days that I’ll never forget in<br />

life. However, leveraging those moments and successes to benefit the<br />

next generation and watch them flourish is my greatest achievement.<br />

WHICH HISTORICAL FIGURE DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?<br />

I admire two historical figures a great deal. <strong>One</strong> is Thurgood Marshall.<br />

Of course, he was an attorney. He leveraged the law to change the<br />

trajectory of an entire race of people through his advocacy and<br />

strategically selecting and winning cases across the country to prove<br />

that separate was not equal in education, which ended segregation in<br />

education. It was against all odds, but he was unphased in his approach<br />

and I truly admire that approach and boldness. The other person that<br />

I admire is Bryan Stevenson. He is an attorney that founded the Equal<br />

Justice Initiative with the mission to end mass incarceration, excessive<br />

KEVIN GOOCH​<br />

punishment and racial inequality. He has truly highlighted compassion<br />

and leveraged it as a means to address critical issues around race and<br />

punishment. We cannot move forward freely as a nation without<br />

addressing some of these wrongs of the past. Mr. Stevenson has been<br />

working tirelessly to ensure that we, as a nation and people, atone for<br />

the ills of our past in the justice system and related to race relations.<br />

The movie “Just Mercy” was based on his story as a Harvard-educated<br />

criminal defense attorney focused on Capital Punishment cases and<br />

juvenile defendants facing harsh sentences.<br />

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE?<br />

My parents are definitely heroes of mine and instilled in me the<br />

drive and character that has led to my success. My grandmother,<br />

Hazel Hendrix, raised me. She taught me the power of work ethic<br />

and the value in always keeping perspective through issues that<br />

come up in life. Finally, Judge Horace Johnson, Jr. was a hero in real<br />

life. He integrated the school system in Newton County, Georgia. He<br />

later became an attorney and judge in the same county where he<br />

integrated the schools. He never lost touch in the community and<br />

became a personal mentor and sponsor of mine that truly helped me<br />

navigate my educational and professional journey. Thomas W. Dortch,<br />

Jr., Curley Dossman, Milton Jones and the other leaders of the 100<br />

Black Men of America have been heroes as well. There’s no easy task<br />

in leading several generations of successful African American men and<br />

being able to watch these men do it successfully, while learning from<br />

them has definitely taught me a ton about leadership and life.<br />

QUOTE TO LIVE BY: “Success is leased, not owned, and rent is due<br />

every single day.”<br />

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS?<br />

Happiness to me is taking in new experiences like a concert, travel or<br />

a UGA National Championship Game with a group of friends building<br />

lifelong memories.<br />

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MARKED CHARACTERISTIC?<br />

Boldness. I don’t usually see limits on what I, or others, can<br />

accomplish. If you prepare well and work hard enough, you can<br />

accomplish darn near anything. The other is a commitment to<br />

community. I have been a tireless community servant and advocate<br />

for the vulnerable in our community through my work with the 100<br />

Black Men and other organizations.<br />

WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN YOUR FRIENDS?<br />

Loyalty and a willingness to put up with my shenanigans. I also value<br />

ambition in my friends and a sense of humor and adventure.<br />

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF,<br />

WHAT WOULD IT BE?<br />

My willingness to say no more often to new commitments and be<br />

more disciplined in certain areas of life like healthy habits.<br />

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE WRITERS?<br />

James Clear. His book “Atomic Habits” has been very helpful in<br />

learning how to develop productive habits to benefit my professional<br />

life. Keith Ferrazzi. His book “Never Eat Alone” is one that I assign to<br />

my law school students at Emory University School of Law. The book<br />

is very helpful in helping my students develop the skills necessary to<br />

develop their practices.<br />

FAVE SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHO TO FOLLOW?<br />

Instagram. Adam Grant. His posts are very insightful for professionals.<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 40 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


BUTLER’S PLAYERS OF THE GAME PG. 44 | STATS THAT MATTER PG. 45 | JD’S TOP 12 PG. 46<br />

MR TRUE - PEYTON WOODRING<br />

NAILS ANOTHER CLUTCH FG!<br />

PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE/BI<br />

MORE<br />

SPORTS<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 41 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


FROM THE<br />

field<br />

BY GREG POOLE<br />

GEORGIA - 31, GA TECH - 23<br />

It was a record-setting night in Atlanta as Kirby Smart and his team<br />

set the all-time SEC mark for consecutive wins at 29. Saturday’s win<br />

also tied the record that the Dawgs set in 2022 for the most wins (49)<br />

by a senior class, and did so without the services of several injured<br />

stars - Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey, Rara Thomas and Tate Ratledge.<br />

From the kickoff and throughout the contest, I never feared Tech<br />

would win the game, but Tech coach Brent Key has put together a<br />

solid team (compared to Tech’s recent history) and instilled in them<br />

the belief that they could engineer the upset. The Jackets made a<br />

valiant effort, playing beyond their overall talent level, but Georgia<br />

still etched another “L” in the Tech record book.<br />

Coach Smart believed his team could run on Tech, and with three<br />

talented receivers and an offensive line starter nursing injuries, the<br />

Dawgs did precisely that. Kendall Milton surged for 156 yards on 18<br />

carries and two TDs, running with purpose and punishing tacklers.<br />

Now fully healthy, Milton ran like the back observers had expected<br />

since his arrival in Athens.<br />

The Bulldogs will return to Atlanta next Saturday for the SEC<br />

Championship game, where they will face Nick Saban’s Alabama<br />

squad. Like Georgia, <strong>Bama</strong> played its traditional rival (Auburn) in the<br />

season finale. If one can say that Tech pushed the Dogs, then it is<br />

fair to say the Auburn shoved the Tide to the ground. <strong>Bama</strong> needed<br />

a muffed punt to have a chance at the win, but even that was not<br />

enough. It took a Hail Mary in the corner of the end zone with<br />

32 seconds on the clock to secure the win. Georgia fans should<br />

not read those results as an indictment of Alabama’s talent or<br />

coaching. In-state rivalries often defy the odds maker’s talents;<br />

last night’s game in Atlanta is an excellent example. <strong>Bama</strong> will<br />

be ready for the SEC Championship game.<br />

Saturday evening at the Benz, Coach Smart will face his<br />

mentor (again) for the SEC Championship. It is time for the team<br />

to shift to laser focus and prepare for the onslaught that the<br />

Alabama staff will dial up for Georgia. The Tide will rely on their<br />

outstanding quarterback (Jalen Milroe) to turn Bulldog pressure<br />

into scrambling, skillful evasions that give receivers time to get<br />

open and create big plays.<br />

The SEC Championship game will be Georgia’s most<br />

challenging trial of 2023, but we should consider Alabama as<br />

something other than invincible. Georgia and Alabama have<br />

comparable talent, but the Dawgs are the undefeated SEC and<br />

national champs. The Bulldogs will need all hands on deck and<br />

should get, at least, some of the walking wounded healthy.<br />

We will argue and speculate about the SEC Championship<br />

game, the rosters, and the coaches all week, but Georgia will<br />

settle the arguments on Saturday in Atlanta.<br />

The Tide is ebbing. The Dawgs are hunting.<br />

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 42 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


KEVIN BUTLER’S<br />

PLAYERS OF THE GAME<br />

COMPILED BY HAMILTON CULPEPPER<br />

Each week, College Football Hall of Fame Bulldog legend Kevin<br />

Butler picks his Players of the Week. And this season, he will also<br />

name an Unsung Dawg of the Week. Kevin is one of the most<br />

decorated players in Georgia and Chicago Bears history, and each<br />

week co-hosts The Bulldog Brunch from The Hilltop Grille in Athens.<br />

OFFENSIVE PLAYER<br />

Kendall Milton - The Bulldog senior from California, keeps out<br />

doing his previous best performances. Against Tech, he topped<br />

his career high yet again at unhistoric Hyundai Field. He finished<br />

the night with 18 carries for 157 yards in a performance that the<br />

Yellow Jackets could not stop. Kendall is a strong, bruising running<br />

back, and he proved that characteristic Saturday night, running<br />

over, around, and through the Georgia Tech defense. He had some<br />

terrific quick moves that enabled him to gain valuable yardage as<br />

Georgia took on their quest for a third straight undefeated regular<br />

season. The Dawgs went into the fourth quarter riding Kendall’s<br />

success like a great big Bulldog. It’s pretty incredible for Georgia to<br />

go undefeated once more, and this year, Kendall Milton played his<br />

biggest role yet in the Bulldogs’ 12-0 season.<br />

DEFENSIVE PLAYER<br />

Smael Mondon, Jr. - The 6-3, 235-pound linebacker from Dallas,<br />

Texas showed us his cowboy strings as he played through injury<br />

and helped lead and control a defense that was not at the top of their<br />

game against Georgia Tech. Mondon is a true leader, and he has two<br />

freshman linebackers that he is coaching while he is playing at the<br />

same time. Smael had eight solo tackles against Georgia Tech, and<br />

they were all very important. As Georgia gets ready for Alabama,<br />

the freshmen need to step up their play and try to match Smael’s<br />

intensity and focus. Georgia must get better on defense this week,<br />

and the leader must step up as he commands his team into battle<br />

against the Crimson Tide.<br />

SPECIAL TEAM PLAYER<br />

Jared Zirkel - The senior specialist has done an unbelievable job<br />

supporting the overall play of the special teams for the University<br />

of Georgia. Zirkel’s kickoff skills were unmatched Saturday. His<br />

strength showed as he sailed every kickoff into the end zone with<br />

no return yards. This was so very important in a game where Tech<br />

was looking for any and all opportunities to gain extra yards on the<br />

Bulldogs. Jared has been taken for granted, but not by this guy. This<br />

week will be extra important as he sends the kickoffs out of the end<br />

zone and makes <strong>Bama</strong> start at the 25 every time Georgia scores.<br />

Great job JZ!<br />

THE UNSUNG HERO OF THE WEEK<br />

Dillon Bell - Well, ring my bell. Dillon’s bell was ringing in three<br />

different categories Saturday night against the Yellow Jackets.<br />

Dillon’s combination of running, receiving and special team returns<br />

enabled him to contribute to the Dawgs’ success Saturday. He has<br />

shown over the last four games his versatility to attack a defense<br />

in several different ways. As our unsung hero this week, Dillon will<br />

be a main force in our quest for a third straight playoff appearance.<br />

If we are going to beat <strong>Bama</strong>, Dillon is gonna have to ring the bell<br />

more than once. Dillon is the man.<br />

GO DAWGS!<br />

2022 National Champions<br />

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 44 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


STATS THAT<br />

MATTER<br />

GEORGIA - 31, GA TECH - 23<br />

BY: CLAY WATKINS<br />

A look back at what decided the game between Georgia and GA Tech.<br />

156<br />

Kendall Milton’s 156 rushing yards were the most by a Georgia running<br />

back since D’Andre Swift ran for 179 yards against Kentucky in 2019. Milton<br />

scored two touchdowns and had a third score wiped off the board due to a<br />

questionable holding penalty. Even without that 36-yard touchdown run,<br />

Milton has now had two 100-yard rushing games in the past three games.<br />

He had just one 100-yard rushing performance in his previous 49 games<br />

at Georgia. “Really physical. He’s getting his pads down, running through<br />

contact,” Smart<br />

53<br />

said. “He breaks a lot of arm tackles. You know, I saw two<br />

or three of their guys have to go out from having to tackle him ‘cause he’s<br />

really physical and downhill.” Milton is more focused on team success than<br />

his individual output. “It feels great, but the winning feels even better,”<br />

Milton said of his performance. “I feel like Coach Smart, he’s really put it<br />

into perspective. I feel like I’ve really seen this throughout my past years at<br />

Georgia that individual success is all good, but team success is what’s going<br />

to take you the furthest. I feel like everybody put that into perspective that<br />

it doesn’t really matter who gets the credit, which I feel like week in and<br />

week out that’s been shown.”<br />

60<br />

Georgia, the least penalized team in the SEC, accumulated six penalties for<br />

a total of 60 yards. Many of the penalties wiped out significant plays for the<br />

Bulldogs. The ACC officiating crew only flagged the home team three times<br />

for 15 yards. “I don’t ever talk about officiating, but it’s one of those where<br />

we go to a different conference and they have different standards,” noted<br />

Smart. “I guess they call it closer, more holdings, more personal fouls. They<br />

just have more fouls in their games than we average in the SEC. It just so<br />

happened that a lot of them went against us at inopportune times, but I<br />

don’t question officiating. I think those guys do a great job.”<br />

175<br />

Carson Beck threw for a season-low 175 yards, completing only 13<br />

passes. His 20 attempts were also the fewest passes he has thrown in<br />

a game this year. Beck’s previous low in passing yards came against<br />

Missouri, where Beck threw for 254 yards. With the running game<br />

churning out 262 yards (6.7 per carry), the plan was clearly a run-heavy<br />

one, especially with Georgia missing three of its most effective pass<br />

catchers in Brock Bowers, Rara Thomas and Ladd McConkey.<br />

16<br />

Smael Mondon, Jr. and C.J. Allen combined for 16 total tackles, with<br />

each linebacker notching eight tackles. Allen has been thrust into a<br />

starting role with the injury to stalwart Jamon Dumas-Johnson. Georgia<br />

Tech ran complicated option-type run schemes out of the shotgun.<br />

The fits were not always perfect, but Mondon and Allen’s effort and<br />

production were needed to slow Tech’s tricky ground game.<br />

254<br />

converted every field goal attempt since the South Carolina game. His<br />

87<br />

Peyton Woodring is converting on 87 percent of his field goal attempts<br />

this year and hit an important 39 yarder against Georgia Tech. Woodring,<br />

a true freshman, has made 20 of 23 attempts on the season. Woodring<br />

started the season slowly, converting only 4 of his first 7 attempts.<br />

However, the No. 1 rated kicker coming out of high school in 2023 has<br />

accuracy will be needed as Georgia looks to extend its 29-game winning<br />

streak against Alabama.<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 45 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


MORE SPORTS<br />

FOOTBALL<br />

TOP 12<br />

JD’S<br />

BY: JEFF DANTZLER<br />

The regular season has flown by once again and we are all set for<br />

the conference championship games with all kinds of scenarios.<br />

This past weekend, the in-state rivalry games delivered in big-time<br />

fashion. There were a slew of thrillers. The SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Big<br />

XII and PAC-12 all have teams with a shot at one of those four<br />

spots in the College Football Playoff. That’s unprecedented in the<br />

playoff era at this point in the season.<br />

1. GEORGIA - The Bulldogs edged their arch-rival in<br />

state foe Tech 31-23 last Saturday to finish off a third<br />

straight undefeated regular season. Georgia battles<br />

Alabama this weekend at Mercedes Benz Stadium for the SEC<br />

crown and a CFP berth.<br />

2. MICHIGAN - Despite the controversy around Jim<br />

Harbaugh, Michigan has continued to find ways to win.<br />

The 30-24 triumph over Ohio State is their third straight<br />

over the Buckeyes and Michigan is 12-0. Up next is the Big Ten<br />

Championship Game and Iowa.<br />

3. WASHINGTON - It was scary for the Huskies, but<br />

they survived and captured the Apple Cup 24-21 over<br />

Washington State. Now the stage is set for what should<br />

be a tremendous PAC-12 Championship Game between the<br />

Huskies and revenge seeking Oregon.<br />

4. FLORIDA STATE - The Seminoles fought their way<br />

back and took care of Florida 24-15 to finish the regular<br />

season 12-0 and hand their rival Gators a third straight<br />

losing season. Now the Seminoles tangle with Louisville in the ACC<br />

Championship Game.<br />

5. TEXAS - What an exit for the Longhorns final Big<br />

XII regular season game, as they absolutely bashed<br />

Texas Tech 57-7. Now comes one of the biggest games<br />

the ‘Horns have played, the Big XII Championship is on the line and<br />

maybe a playoff berth.<br />

6. ALABAMA - The Crimson Tide had the magic<br />

working on fourth and forever, pulling out a thrilling<br />

27-24 victory over Auburn on the Plains. A shot at the<br />

College Football Playoff and the conference title is on the line with<br />

Georgia in Atlanta Saturday afternoon.<br />

7. OHIO STATE - The Buckeyes are once again<br />

outstanding, but heartbroken with a third straight loss<br />

to Michigan. That means no trip to Indianapolis. They<br />

are hopeful for some help and a berth in the CFP like last season,<br />

when OSU fell to Georgia in Atlanta.<br />

8. OREGON - The Ducks came out hot and put away<br />

Oregon State, which had the wind taken out of its sails<br />

against Washington a week earlier. The 31-7 victory<br />

sends Oregon to the PAC-12 Championship Game and a battle<br />

with the Huskies, aiming for a spot in the CFP.<br />

9. OLE MISS - The Rebels had a terrific 17-7<br />

comeback victory over arch-rival Mississippi State<br />

to capture the Egg Bowl and cap a fantastic 10-2<br />

campaign. Lane Kiffen’s Rebels are aiming for a New Year’s Six<br />

Bowl, harkening to the glory days of Johnny Vaught.<br />

10. MISSOURI - The Tigers topped off the regular<br />

season with a dominating 48-14 victory over Arkansas<br />

in Fayetteville. It’s 10-2 for Missouri, the Tigers best<br />

team since they went 11-1 and played for the 2013 SEC title. They<br />

are in the hunt for a New Year’s Six Bowl.<br />

11. PENN STATE - The Nittany Lions put the<br />

finishing touches on a 10-2 season with a rout of<br />

Michigan State in Detroit. Penn State once again<br />

rolled past the rest of the conference, but couldn’t find a way to<br />

defeat either Michigan or Ohio State.<br />

12. TULANE - The Green Wave are in the mix for a<br />

second straight New Year’s Six Bowl game. Tulane<br />

closed out the regular season with a 29-16 over the<br />

RoadRunners of UTSA. The only loss is to Ole Miss. The Green Wave<br />

will host the American title game<br />

BEAT BAMA!!!<br />

athens • watkinsville • auburn • lawrenceville<br />

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 46 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE


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