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SEASON PREVIEW 

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 

IN THIS ISSUE 

VOLUME 22 NO. 2 

SPORTS 

UNDERSTANDING THE 12 TEAM PLAYOFF | 13 

12 REASONS THE DAWGS CAN NAVIGATE 

THE NEW ERA | 15 

12 REASONS WHY CARSON BECK CAN WIN 

THE HEISMAN TROPHY | 16 

12 DAWG PUPS THAT CAN BE ELITE | 18 

TOP 12 OFFENSIVE PLAYERS | 20 

MALAKI STARKS - THROW 

HIS WAY, IF YOU DARE! 

PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE/BI 

TOP 12 DAWGS DEFENSIVE PLAYERS | 21 

SOCIAL 

COACH JEFF WALLACE RETIREMENT CELEBRATION 

PHOTOS | 23 

GEORGIA GIRLS: CATHERINE DOLAHER | 28 

G-DAY PHOTOS | 30 

MIXTAPE: LAURA WILFONG | 35 

UGA ATHLETIC ENDOWMENT DINNER PHOTOS | 36 

WHAT’S THE WORD HAMMY? | 38 

DIAMOND DAWGS PHOTOS | 39 

PROUST Q&A: JAKE TENCH | 46 

MORE SPORTS 

JD’S GAME BY GAME PREVIEW | 47 

WHADDAYA GOT LORAN | 54 

JD’S POSITION BY POSITION PREVIEW | 56 

FROM THE FIELD | 62 

OUR TEAM 

EDITOR: Vance Leavy 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Cheri Leavy 

MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR: Greg Poole 

CHIEF SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR: Jeff Dantzler 

ART DIRECTOR: Stacey Nichols 

SALES: Caroline Kinney 

SPORTS: Jeff Dantzler, Greg Poole, Murray Poole, 

Noah Carney, Will Hearn, Matthew Herren 

MULTIMEDIA SUPPORT: Hamilton Culpepper 

PHOTOGRAPHY: Greg Poole, Rob Saye, 

Blane Marable 

COVER: Rob Saye 

COLUMNISTS: Hamilton Culpepper, Loran Smith, 

Kevin Butler, Caroline Champion 

DELIVERY: John Cook, Wright Cook, Rob 

Freeman, Anna French, Scarlett French, Flynn 

Kelly, Caroline Kinney, John Kinney, Eleanor 

Morgan, Henry Morgan, James Morgan, Jack 

Sawyer, Cullen Sewell, Henry Stokes, Champ 

Vance 

ISSUE TWO: SEASON PREVIEW 

June 27, 2024 

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 6 ISSUE TWO • SEASON PREVIEW

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EDITOR 

VANCE LEAVY 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

Let it Rip … the 2024 season, 12-team playoff era beckons 

and congrats to the Diamond Dawgs on a magnificent season! 

Ciao, it is so nice to be back with you with another 

issue of Bulldawg Illustrated. I led off with some Italian 

because most of what you are about to read was 

designed and edited while Cheri and I were in Italy 

with my mother, uncle and friends. In the last decade or so (with 

increased technology), I always joked that we could create BI 

anywhere in the world. 

Well, this issue is certainly proof. 

However, I’m glad to be back in the good ole’ USA finishing this 

note (typically one of my last duties for each issue). I tried on the 

10-hour flight yesterday, but just couldn’t get my juices flowing, 

which is hard to believe because the last few months have been 

so exciting for the Bulldog Nation. 

Can I get a … “How ’Bout them Diamond Dawgs?!?” 

Congrats to first year skipper Wes Johnson and his staff for 

creating the incredible camaraderie among the players. It was 

obvious that everyone was in sync to have fun playing the game 

of baseball while doing it the right way. 

Don’t miss Hamilton Culpepper’s column on page 38 that starts 

our Diamond Dawgs coverage. Hammy had a front row seat out 

on the Kudzu Hill all season, which included the magical triumph 

in the Athens Regional and the toughly fought Super Regional 

versus NC State. While the team fell just short of making it to the 

College World Series, their run is something they and everyone in 

the Bulldog Nation should be so proud of. 

On page 39, you will find the beginning of the fan photos that 

the BI camera captured during the Diamond Dawgs run. Be sure 

not to miss the images of BI’s Jeff Dantzler throwing out the first 

pitch with his longtime Diamond Dawgs play-by-play partner, 

David Johnson. These guys are in their third decade of bringing 

the games to Georgia fans, so it was such a treat to see them 

recognized for their awesome commitment to Georgia Baseball. 

Thanks guys! 

Finally on the Diamond Dawgs front, kudos to the season that 

Charlie Condon and Corey Collins had (who were just named to 

the 1st and 2nd Baseball All-America Teams). Of course, there were 

so many others. In my opinion, what made this team so special 

was that no one on the team cared about personal accolades. 

The future is bright for the program. Thanks again to everyone 

associated with Georgia Baseball for such a special season! 

Now, it’s time to move to King Football and, man oh man, is this 

2024 season going to be a different with the inaugural 12-team 

playoff and Texas and Oklahoma officially being apart of the 

Southeastern Conference. 

Ole’ JD (Jeff Dantzler) doesn’t do change well, but between his 

bride, family and friends I think we can help him survive the new 

normal of the 2024 season and beyond. We just need to make 

sure we beat Tech and don’t feed him onions since his disdain for 

both is of epic proportions. 

Seriously, this 2024 season is going to be an absolute trip, 

which is why it is so incredible to bring you this Season Preview 

issue. Since the 12-team playoff is the storyline, you will see (in 

our Sports section, pages 13-22) the BI editorial team going 

wild with the number 12. You will find the top 12 defensive 

and offensive players to the 12 reasons Carson Beck can win 

the Heisman Trophy (and several more fun snippets). However, 

definitely don’t miss page 14, so you can fully understand how 

the 12-team playoff will work. It’s not easy to fully absorb and I’ve 

had fun asking fans if they realize that Christmas and New Year’s 

will never be the same if Kirby Dawgs go deep into the playoff. 

The 2024 National Championship game will be played on January 

20, 2025 (in Atlanta). 

I rest my case. Like I just said, the new playoff is going to be a trip. 

Enjoy all our sports coverage including JD’s behemoths (Game 

by Game Preview and Position by Position Preview) in our More 

Sports section. And on page 62, Greg Poole educates our readers 

on the 2024 team’s mantra … “Assume Nothing.” 

Let’s get it on, Bulldog fans. The opener in Atlanta against 

Clemson can’t get here soon enough. Thankfully, this issue should 

help pass the time. 

In wrapping up, please enjoy all our social coverage (Georgia 

Girls, MIXTAPE and PROUST Q&A) 

Finally, I have a few Bulldog salutes … 

Don’t miss our coverage (pages 23-27) of former Georgia 

Women’s Tennis coach, Jeff Wallace’s, retirement party at 

the Georgia Theatre (in April). Like his career, the party was 

completely rock star. Thanks and congrats to Jeff and his 

awesome family. 

The Bulldog Nation, the Board of Regents and the state of 

Georgia (as a whole) lost a great contributor and supporter (this 

spring) with the passing of Donald M. Leebern Jr. Mr. Leebern’s 

personality and giving spirit is what made him the bigger than 

life man he was. Loran Smith’s column eloquently (page 54) 

touches on a lot of that sentiment. What I appreciated the most 

about Mr. Leebern was his keen ability to own a conversation 

without making it about himself. Instead, he was always inquiring 

to others about what was happening in their lives (be it family or 

business). And boy, could Mr. Leebern tell a funny joke or story. 

Rest in peace and thanks so much for your interest and support of 

Bulldawg Illustrated. 

The same goes to Gainesville’s Abit Massey, who passed right 

at this deadline. He was a great Bulldog and kind supporter of so 

many. And what wasn’t there to love about his sparkling smile 

and incredible hair? R.I.P., Mr. Massey! 

Enjoy this issue. Let it Rip! Everyone at BI looks forward to 

reconnecting the week leading into the Clemson game. Until 

then … Go Dawgs!! 


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The key to making Bulldog happiness is making today the good old days, 

and Kirby Smart’s commitment to that continues this wonderful bliss 

It is full speed ahead for the University 

of Georgia football program and, as 

the country’s premier gridiron chief is 

affectionately known on the Bulldog 

Radio Network airwaves, Coach King Kirby 

Smart. 

College football’s landscape has undergone 

sudden, radical changes in the 2020s. 

Through it all - “NIL,” the transfer portal, the 

tripling of the size of the college football 

playoff, and league reconstructions so devoid 

of geographic basis that the University of 

California is playing in the Atlantic Coast 

Conference (sponsored by BoJangles and 

Ingles, which, as of now, boast no stores in 

Berkeley … or Palo Alto for that matter) - 

Smart has steered Georgia’s powerhouse 

program full steam ahead into elite greatness. 

Since the second season as the head coach 

of his, and First Lady extraordinaire, Andy 

Landers sharpshooting No. 3 Mary Beth 

Lycett Smart, alma mater, Smart’s Bulldogs 

have accrued extraordinary success, rising to 

the mountaintop of college football. Kirby’s 

Canines have put together one of the great 

stretches of success in college football annals. 

Dating back to 2017, Georgia has: 

• Captured the national championship 

in 2021 and 2022. The Bulldogs became 

the lone team in the playoff era to win 

consecutive titles, joining programs 

like Southern Cal, Alabama, Nebraska 

and Oklahoma as back-to-back national 

champions. Smart initiated into a fraternity 

including the likes of Bear Bryant, Nick Saban, 

Bud Wilkinson, Tom Osborne, Bob Devaney 

and Pete Carroll. 

• Played in seven straight “Major Bowls.” The 

previous school record of consecutive major 

bowls was four set in the Golden days of the 

Vince Dooley era from 1980-1983. Going back 

to the Sugar Bowl win over Baylor to cap the 

2019 season, the Bulldogs have won seven 

consecutive bowl/national championship 

games. That’s a program record. 

• Finished in the top ten of the polls in seven 

successive seasons. That’s also a program 

record, topping the 1980-1983 streak when 

the Bulldogs went 43-4-1 with the 1980 

national title and three other top five finishes. 

• Posted a record of either 11-1 or 12-0 in 

six of seven regular seasons. Georgia went 

11-1 in the regular seasons of 2017, 2018 and 

2019. The Bulldogs were 8-2 in the 2020 Covid 

campaign. Over the last three years, Georgia 

became the first team in college football 

history to post three consecutive 12-0 regular 

seasons, becoming the first program ever 

to be 12-0 at some point in three straight 

campaigns. The Bulldogs became the first 

team since Georgia from 1980-1982 to post 

three straight undefeated SEC marks. 

• Are 46-2 over the last 48 games, a stretch 

that began with a 31-24 victory over 

Mississippi State in 2020. 

• Set the SEC record with a 29-game winning 

streak, breaking the mark previously held by 

Alabama, with last season’s 31-23 victory over 

the Jackets on the Flats. 

• Became the first team to ever appear in the 

SEC Championship Game six times in seven 

years. The league expanded to 12 teams and 

split into divisions in 1992, a format that came 

to an end this past season. No coach, not 

Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban or Urban Meyer, 

ever did that. Until Kirby Smart. 

• Amassed an astounding record against the 

Bulldogs arch rivals. Smart’s Bulldogs over 

the last seven seasons are 26-2 versus the 

Yellow Jackets (6-0), Florida (6-1), Auburn (7-1, 

including seven straight wins) and Tennessee 

(7-0). 

Making Georgia’s rise to greatness even 

more remarkable is that it began at the 

height of Nick Saban’s dynasty at Alabama, 

and with Dabo Swinney just up the road 

at Clemson. From 2009-2020, the Crimson 

Tide and Tigers combined to win eight 

national titles, with Georgia falling to the Red 

Elephants in a trio of heartbreakers … one in 

particular for the big prize. 

Bordering powers putting the squeeze on 

Georgia. 

It’s fitting that Georgia’s breakthrough 

national championship campaign of 2021, 

the proud program’s first since 1980, opened 

with a victory over Clemson in Charlotte and 

concluded with the ultimate triumph against 

Alabama in the title tilt in Indianapolis. 

Smart’s Bulldogs flexing out. 

He is a dynamic Chief Executive Officer of 

Georgia Football. 

At the heart of Smart’s success is 

authenticity, his love, his family’s love for 

Georgia. Like so many of us, he grew up 

dreaming of being a Bulldog. That came 

true, first as a standout player, and now as 

the Bulldogs head coach. And it goes well 

beyond football. The numerous altruistic 

endeavors from Team Smart have had an 

enormous impact on Athens, the state of 

Georgia and the University. At this summer’s 

annual “Giving Day,” the Kirby Smart Family 

Foundation will eclipse the $2 Million mark 

for charitable gifts. 

Mining the fertile recruiting fields for 

blue chippers and diamonds in the rough, 

Smart and his staff have mastered roster 

management. 

And player development. 

A record 15 Bulldogs were taken in the 

2022 NFL Draft, including five defensive first 

rounders. In the 2020s, Georgia has put more 

players in the pros than any school. That 

ranges from “five stars” to Stetson Bennett. 

A former walk-on who returned to Georgia 

after a stint at junior college, the underdog 

quarterback was the Most Valuable Player of 

four College Football Playoff victories on the 

Bulldogs national championship runs and a 

Heisman finalist in 2022. 

These are amazing times for Georgia, and 

expectations will once again rightfully be sky 

high. In this era of unprecedented change, 

Smart’s leadership and loyalty stands even 

taller, a Gibraltar in turbulent seas. 

As a wise old coach once said, the key to 

happiness is making today the good old 

days. Here we are. With many more to come. 

Maybe even on January 20 in Atlanta, basking 

in confetti. 


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CFP PLAYOFF! 

A NEW ERA 

MYKEL WILLIAMS - BETTER 

DUCK OPPOSING QBs! 

PHOTO BY: GREG POOLE/BI 

SPORTS 

Understanding the 

team 

P l a y o f f 

BY: MATTHEW HERREN 

In 2014, the founding of the College Football Playoff sent 

shockwaves across the nation. For the first time in the history of 

the game, the four best teams in football were able to compete 

against each other for a spot in the national title. Ten years later, 

the College Football Playoff Committee is looking for more 

change through the creation of a 12-team playoff. 

Under the 12-team playoff format that begins this fall, the 

four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded 

one through four and each will receive a first-round bye, while 

teams seeded five through 12 will play each other in the first 

round on the home field of the higher-ranked team. (The 

team ranked #5 will host #12; team #6 will meet team #11; 

team #7 will play team #10; and team #8 will meet #9.) The 

quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in the New Year’s Six 

bowl games, the national championship game will continue 

to be at a neutral site. No conference will qualify automatically 

and there will be no limit on the number of participants from a 

conference. 

‌ 

(continued on next page) 


SPORTS 

FOOTBALL 

The Group of Five Has a Spot 

In years past, a group of five team such 

as Tulane or Liberty had undefeated 

seasons, but only got to celebrate a spot 

in a New Year’s Six Bowl instead of a spot 

in the playoff. The 12th spot in the playoff 

will be given to the sixth highest-ranked 

conference winner. 

The Matchups and Dates 

In the first round, seeds five through 

eight will host seeds nine through 12 

at their home stadiums, bringing the 

College Football Playoff to college towns 

across the nation. After these games, 

eight teams will remain and play at New 

Year’s Six Bowl sites for the quarter and 

semi final rounds, with the championship 

game remaining at a neutral site. 

First Round (On-Campus) 

Friday, December 20, 2024: One Game 

(evening) 

Saturday, December 21, 2024: Three 

Games (early afternoon, late afternoon 

and evening) 

Quarterfinals 

Tuesday, December 31, 2024: Vrbo Fiesta 

Bowl (evening) 

Wednesday, January 1, 2025: Chick-fil-A 

Peach Bowl (early afternoon), Rose Bowl 

Game (late afternoon) and Allstate Sugar 

Bowl (evening) 

Semifinals 

Thursday, January 9, 2025: Capital One 

Orange Bowl (evening) 

Friday, January 10, 2025: Goodyear 

Cotton Bowl Classic (evening) 

CFP National Championship 

Monday, January 20, 2025: Mercedes- 

Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia 

Exact kickoff times for each game will be 

announced later. 

‌If the Expansion was implemented 

Last Year 

Here’s what the first round would have 

looked like last year, along with the 

automatic byes….. 

(12) Liberty @ (5) Florida State 

(11) Ole Miss @ (6) Georgia 

(10) Penn State @ (7) Ohio State 

(9) Missouri @ (8) Oregon 

Byes (1-4): Michigan, Washington, Texas, 

Alabama 

‌What This Means for the Bulldogs 

The Bulldog Nation knows more than 

anyone what it feels like to be left out. 

Aside from the national title seasons, fans 

have often been left with uncertainty 

after a loss in the SEC Championship, not 

knowing if the Bulldogs will be given a 

coveted spot in the four-team bracket. 

We have seen Coach Smart sit in front 

of a podium arguing that his team is 

among the top four, but ultimately is 

ruled otherwise by the Committee on 

Selection Sunday. With this expanded 

playoff, it seems as if Georgia will not 

have too much to worry about, as Smart’s 

teams have been inside the top ten every 

year since 2017. As long as the Bulldogs 

maintain a strong record in the toughest 

conference in the land, Georgia fans will 

be seeing their team in the playoffs for 

years to come. 

CFP PLAYOFF! 

A NEW ERA 

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12 College 

1 

reasons the Dawgs can 

navigate the new era of 

Football 

BY: GREG POOLE/BI 

Roster Depth 

Despite the roster turmoil across 

the country caused by the Name, 

Image, and Likeness (NIL) and transfer 

rules changes, Kirby Smart has managed 

to maintain his roster better than most 

programs. Smart’s ability to retain key 

players has ensured that Georgia’s roster 

remains deep and competitive. Depth is a 

vaccination against injuries, transfers, alien 

abduction or any occurrence that prevents 

players from taking the field. 

2 

Offensive line 

The Dawgs’ most significant 

advantage in 2024 is their offensive 

line. Quarterback is the most critical position 

on the field, but even the best skill players 

will spend the game staring up from the dirt 

without protection, and Georgia will field 

another of the country’s best lines in 2024. The 

most significant question mark is at center 

with the loss of Sedrick Van Pran to the NFL. 

However, redshirt junior Jared Wilson, who 

played in every game last season, is ready to 

step into the fray and fill this important role. 

3 

Georgia’s schedule 

Holy moly, it is tough. Alabama, 

Ole Miss, Texas and Clemson (ATL) 

on the road, added to Auburn, Mississippi 

State, Tennessee and Tech in Athens, is a 

gauntlet requiring strong player leadership 

to weather. 

4 

Defensive front 

This group will be a stalwart for 

Georgia in 2024. Christen Miller, 

Nazir Stackhouse, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, 

and Warren Brinson return to lead the group 

that includes sophomore talents like Damon 

Wilson, Gabe Harris and Jordan Hall. 

5 

Coaching staff 

Championship contenders have 

staff turnover, and the Dawgs are 

no exception. Success on the field leads to 

advancement opportunities for assistant 

coaches as other teams attempt to find the 

secrets of Kirby’s success. For 2023, UGA will 

take the field with four new coaches. Josh 

Crawford takes over the running backs. James 

Coley, who previously served as Georgia’s 

offensive coordinator, returns to shepherd 

the wide receivers. Travaris Robinson, a highly 

respected coach, moves from Alabama to 

co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach 

at UGA. And Donte Williams, a talented 

coach with a wealth of experience, joins 

from Southern Cal to lead the defensive 

Massive changes have come to college football, one of the most 

important of which is the expanded playoff. The playoff, which 

previously included only four teams, will now triple in size to 12 

participants. While making a 12-team playoff may be easier for top 

teams like UGA, it will still require careful planning and strategy from 

both players and coaches to weather the accompanying stresses. 

backs. These new additions bring fresh 

perspectives and strategies to the team, and 

their contributions will be crucial to Georgia’s 

success in the upcoming season. 

6 

Recruiting success 

Recruiting success is about 

identifying and attracting the best 

talent, and it’s a key factor in the team’s 

performance. Kirby Smart’s college football 

philosophy is solidly grounded in recruiting, 

and talent acquisition is the most crucial 

variable if coaching is a relative constant. 

After all, coaches can only train and improve 

player performance to the limits of a player’s 

talent. Talent depth will be even more crucial 

as the 12-team playoff (following league 

championship games) grinds toward the 

championship game. Injuries happen, and 

depth overcomes them. Kirby’s ability to 

recruit top talent has been a major factor in 

the team’s success, and it will continue to be 

a key strategy for the team in the upcoming 

season. 

7 

Player leadership 

is a cornerstone of Georgia’s success. 

While top-down leadership is 

necessary in most organizations, the impact is 

more significant when those, being led from 

the top, grasp the opportunity to provide 

leadership at the peer level. Coach Smart’s 

insistence on developing leadership through 

training and allowing his players to share their 

vision of the program’s direction has been a 

game-changer. 

8 

A winning culture 

Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs don’t 

hope to win; they plan and train 

to win. Winning culture is a 

mindset that permeates every aspect of 

the team’s operations. It’s about setting 

high standards, working hard, and never 

accepting mediocrity. Losses will happen, 

but in a winning culture, losing is a 

learning experience, not a failure. Neither 

wins nor losses are accidents, and they 

belong to the team. Kirby’s culture put the 

team at the top, and players unwilling to 

buy in are welcome to look elsewhere: “I 

try to coach the same way. There are too 

many other players on your team that will 

spot that and see it. And they’ll say ‘wait, 

he’s creating a different culture for him 

whether it’s his NIL or he might jump in 

the portal or just leave.’ I’m kind of okay if 

they don’t buy into it and the culture and 

the environment we create. It’s like okay, if 

they don’t want to be here, I’d rather them 

go ahead and leave.” 

9 

FOOTBALL 

SPORTS 

A Proven Path 

This is the easy one; Georgia has been 

there and done that. A rich history of 

success and the experience of the coaching 

staff are key factors that contribute to the 

team’s confidence and potential for future 

championships. Additionally, Coach Smart 

had years of experience under Nick Saban 

before charting his course to championships 

at UGA. The expanded playoff changes 

nothing; the path to national championships 

is the same; there are just a couple of extra 

games before the trophy presentation. 

10 

Carson Beck 

Having an experienced 

quarterback like Carson Beck 

will be a considerable advantage as the 

team slogs through the murderous schedule 

handed it by the SEC. Beck brings a wealth 

of experience and a calm, steady presence 

to the field. His experience and leadership 

will be invaluable, especially in the first half 

of the season when the team will be facing 

some of its toughest opponents with new 

faces sprinkled through the lineup. Freshmen 

and others with limited experience will be 

required to provide solid snaps early, and 

Beck’s mature presence will help them 

incorporate into the offense more quickly. 

11 

Kirby Smart 

At its base, every point above is 

about Kirby Smart. The simple 

fact is that Smart has planted, tended and 

matured the nation’s top college football 

program at his alma mater. Saban is gone, 

Smart is ready to assume his mantle. 

12 

Dawg Fans 

Putting aside the fact that 

Kirby is a Georgia graduate, 

he chose Athens to begin his 

head coaching career for sound programbuilding 

reasons. Recruiting territory, 

program history, and other factors were 

indeed involved in his decision, but the 

large and growing fan base had to be at 

the top or very near. The dedication of 

Dawg fans is a testament to the team’s 

success. Years of frustration following the 

1980 championship may have subdued the 

base, but signs of the fan awakening were 

evident even in Kirby’s first year. The road 

game in South Bend was a turning point. 

The Bulldog Nation’s takeover of Notre 

Dame Stadium changed the perception of 

Georgia’s program on national television. 

Since then, across the SEC and from LA to 

Indy to Miami, Georgia fans have laughed 

and cried with, but most importantly, been 

there for their Dawgs, strengthening the 

sense of belonging and pride that has 

been building for generations. 


SPORTS 

FOOTBALL 

12 

Reasons why Carson Beck 

can win the Heisman Trophy 

BY: Will Hearn/BI 

Georgia’s own Carson Beck is the 

Heisman favorite heading into the 2024 

season. A wide range of factors led to this 

consensus from the nation’s pundits. 

1 

Experience 

Carson Beck is entering his 

second year as a starter and 

fourth season with the Dawgs. 

He has a mindset that fewer 

and fewer college players tend 

to possess these days. Beck was willing to sit 

and learn. Never did anything release about 

him thinking about entering the transfer 

portal. He learned from both JT Daniels and 

Stetson Bennett IV. Daniels is said to have 

an incredible mind as a quarterback, and 

Bulldog Nation knows what Stetson did for 

Georgia. In Beck’s first year as the starter, he 

commanded Georgia to a 13-1 season. 

2Offensive Weapons 

Although Georgia lost a few 

stars to the NFL, the Bulldogs 

have a variety of offensive 

talent garnered through 

recruiting and the transfer 

portal. The list goes on, but a few key 

returning playmakers include Dominic 

Lovett, Rara Thomas, Dillon Bell, Oscar Delp, 

and Lawson Luckie. Some new additions 

that are expected to make a big impact 

are Colbie Young, Sacovie White, NiTareon 

Tuggle, London Humphreys, Michael 

Jackson III, and Benjamin Yurosek. 

3Schedule 

Georgia’s 2024 schedule is 

ranked among one of the 

hardest schedules in the 

country. With road games in 

Lexington, Tuscaloosa, Austin, 

and Oxford, Carson Beck is provided with 

a rare opportunity. He will have chances to 

show off his talents in some of the toughest 

environments. Expect Beck to have his 

“Heisman Moment” at one of these locations. 

4Less-talented 

Heisman Competition 

Not to say this class does not 

have talent, but previous 

years have been even more 

loaded with competition. Specifically, the 

quarterback position was stacked during 

the 2023 season. Other top contenders this 

year include Texas’s Quinn Ewers, Alabama’s 

Jalen Milroe, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, and 

Missouri’s Luther Burden III. 

5Team-hype 

There is no doubt that being 

on a top team in the nation 

helps with national coverage 

and overall hype. Georgia is 

the favorite to win the 2024 

National Championship. No matter the 

game, all eyes will be on the Dawgs. 

6Pure-passing 

talent 

Carson Beck is an elite 

pocket-passer. There is a 

reason NFL analysts project 

him to go early in the first round of the 

2025 NFL Draft. Beck ranks first in success 

rate among returning quarterbacks in 

both play-action and non-play-action 

drop back situations. 

7Offensive scheme 

Georgia’s offensive 

coordinator, Mike Bobo, runs 

an effective offense. In the 

2023 season, Georgia scored 

an average of 40.14 points 

per game. This season’s new weapons 

provide Mike Bobo with the ability to 

again create a versatile playstyle. 

8Offensive Line 

The offensive line consists 

underappreciated players 

on the team. This year, a few 

major starters make their 

return. Tate Ratledge, Dylan Fairchild, and 

Earnest Greene III will be vital leaders in 

the offensive line group. Surrounded by 

other experienced linemen such as Xavier 

Truss and an athletic new starting center 

in Jared Wilson, Beck should have no 

problem navigating the pocket. 

CFP of some of the PLAYOFF! 

most 

9Sneaky 

Athleticism 

Don’t let Carson Beck’s 

identity as a pocket passer 

fool you. Beck has sneaky 

size and athleticism to make him a 

legitimate threat on the ground. He has 

no fear working his way to the second 

level and lowering his shoulder. 

A NEW ERA 

10 

Versatile 

RB Group 

(Passcatchers) 

Georgia’s running back group is 

made up of almost entirely new 

faces. Roderick Robinson II, Branson 

Robinson, and Cash Jones are familiar 

faces to Georgia fans, but new guys like 

Trevor Etienne, Nate Frazier, Chauncey 

Bowens, and Dwight Phillips Jr. help 

provide a unique aspect to the Georgia 

offense. Many of these backs are 

extremely versatile with their speed. 

Freshmen backs Bowens and Phillips 

Jr. were both star track athletes. Both 

clocked sub-10.9 second 100M dashes 

(Bowens 10.88 and Phillips Jr. 10.29). 

Needless to say, Beck will have some 

backfield pass-catching options during 

the 2024 season. 

11 

yards. Among those yards were 24 

passing touchdowns and four rushing 

touchdowns. Beck was ranked first in 

EPA among returning quarterbacks. 

EPA relates to expected points added, 

which is adjusted based on the type 

Last season’s 

stats 

Last season, Carson 

Beck recorded 

4,057 all-purpose 

of pass, depth of pass, and if he was 

pressured or not. 

12 

Competitiveness 

Along with the rest of the team, last 

season’s loss in the SEC Championship 

left a chip on the shoulder of Carson 

Beck. He wants to win a championship 

behind the wheel. If the team wins 

a championship, he would go 

down as one of the most decorated 

Georgia players of all time. Beck’s 

competitiveness will take both himself 

and the team far. The Heisman Trophy 

voters love a great player on a great 

team. 


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SPORTS 

FOOTBALL 

12 

1 

Dawg Pups that 

can be Elite 

BY: NOAH CARNEY 

Ellis Robinson IV (#1, DB) 

The No. 2 player in the country has it 

all. He has been playing at the varsity 

level since the eighth grade. He became 

a sensation early in his high school career, 

and transferred to IMG in his final two years. 

Although he didn’t play many games at IMG, 

the potential caught eyes around the entire 

college football world. 

2 

Justin Williams 

(#19, ILB) 

The 5-star out of Texas is a beast at the 

linebacker position that UGA desperately 

needs. His lean figure gives him the mobility 

to pursue the ball carrier from sideline to 

sideline. At 6’2, 205-pound, Williams runs a 

sub-11 second 100 meter dash. 

3 

KJ Bolden (#4, DB) 

Bolden came out of this year’s 

high school class as the No. 1 safety 

for a reason. The 5-star out of Buford High 

School is simply a pure athlete. Although 

he is listed as a safety, Bolden was still able 

to have 1793 All purpose yards throughout 

his high school career. He also had six career 

interceptions in 18 games. 

4 

Chris Cole (#18, ILB) 

Chris Cole is another up and coming 

beast at the linebacker position. The 5-star 

out of Salem, Virginia has an even bigger 

frame than teammate Justin Williams. Cole 

has the new-age linebacker style and is 

going to be a great fit for the Dawgs defense 

in the years to come. 

5 

Nate Frazier (RB) 

Nate Frazier is a 4-star running back 

coming all the way from California. 

Although his height may be a concerning 

issue. His strength makes up for it. Coming 

in at 210 pounds, Frazier is only going to get 

stronger and faster. It may be a while before 

he sees substantial playing time, but he will 

be a key asset to the Dawgs run game in a 

few years. 

6 

The Kirby Smart era of the Georgia football program is known for 

three things: winning seasons, championships and the best recruiting 

classes in the nation. This year, Kirby Smart had his fourth, No. 1 

recruiting class. Bringing in the best players across the country, these 

Dawg Pups are looking to make a statement in the years to come. With 

numerous five stars on both sides of the ball, the future of the UGA 

football program is in good hands. 

Daniel Calhoun (#70, OL) 

Calhoun was the highest rated 

trench dawg that UGA had coming 

in this offseason. His metrics are unreal, 

standing at 6’7, 365-pound. He is a force to 

be reckoned with and is one of the biggest 

recruits that UGA has seen. He has been 

learning behind some experienced lineman, 

but he will definitely have a chance to see 

the field early in his career 

7 

Joseph Jonah-Ajonye 

(#99, DE) 

The 4-star out of Texas is the perfect frame 

for the current edge rusher. Standing at 6’4” 

with a 6’11” wingspan, JJA has the ability to 

shed blockers easily because of the far reach 

he creates. He also has a wide pursuit range 

and can make tackles that no normal DE can 

make. 

8 

Demello Jones (#15, DB) 

Jones was a multi-sport athlete 

in high school and did it all for his 

school in Swainsboro. His athletic ability 

mixed with his IQ gives him the ability to 

play whatever position needed. Although 

he is in a deep defensive back room, don’t 

be surprised to see him as a standout special 

teams player. 

9 

Jordan Thomas (#92, DL) 

Jordan Thomas is a 6’5, 320-pound 

interior defensive lineman. Even though 

he was continuously double teamed 

throughout high school, he was still able 

to record great numbers. He won’t play 

very much early on in his career, but he 

will be an anchor on the defense when he 

starts to get consistent playing time. 

10 

Jaden Reddell 

(#23, TE) 

With the Brock Bowers era over, UGA 

is looking for their next TE sensation. 

Although Reddell doesn’t have any standout 

qualities, he is able to take advantage of 

his mismatches well. He has the smooth 

catching ability of a wide receiver which 

makes him dangerous on the outside. 

Ryan Puglisi 

11 

(#12, QB) 

Puglisi wasn’t in the top 

rankings of incoming 

quarterbacks for 2024, but many fans feel 

that he is severely underrated. He has the 

arm strength and accuracy of any great 

QB and also has a promising frame. And 

learning behind veteran Carson Beck will 

help him tremendously. 

12 

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 18 ISSUE TWO • SEASON PREVIEW 

Nyier Daniels 

(#79, OL) 

Daniels isn’t one of the higher ranked 

offensive linemen in his recruiting class, 

but that’s only because he spent most of 

high school getting used to his enormous 

frame. Standing at 6’7”, 391 pound, the 

ceiling for Daniels is way taller than he is. 

It will be interesting to see how his career 

plays out and if Kirby can find use for him 

on a stacked offensive line.

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TO BE A GEORGIA BULLDAWG!

SPORTS 

FOOTBALL 

12 

2024 Dawgs 

Offensive 

Players 

1Carson Beck (#15, QB) 

This Heisman trophy candidate will 

be the most influential player for 

the Bulldog offense. He threw for 

nearly 4,000 yards last year with 24 

touchdowns, leading his team to 

an undefeated regular season. After falling 

short of a national title, Beck will be given 

the opportunity to lead his team right back 

into the mix with a stacked wide receiver 

room and solid running backs surrounding 

him. He will likely enter his final season under 

center as a Bulldog before heading to the 

NFL Draft, where a breakout performance this 

year will only help his draft stock. 

2Dominic Lovett (#6, WR) 

After transferring from Missouri 

prior to his junior year, Lovett 

had a solid first season in 

Athens with over 600 receiving 

yards and four touchdowns. 

With Ladd McConkey absent from the wide 

receiver room, Lovett seems to be the top 

candidate for Beck’s go-to guy out wide. The 

senior will be given the opportunity to be a 

leader of this offense alongside Beck to help 

keep the squad going through a challenging 

season ahead. 

3Dillon Bell (#86, WR) 

With the well-known players 

of last year’s team, Bell went 

a bit under the radar last year, 

tallying over 500 total yards 

of offense. His versatility as a 

receiver and a ball carrier will help him be a 

dangerous threat to opposing defenses this 

upcoming season. With the offense needing 

to find a reliable player, look for the junior to 

be that piece for this offense. 

4Oscar Delp (#4, TE) 

Bulldog Nation had to say 

goodbye to Brock Bowers, one 

of the best players to wear 

the red and black in recent 

memory. However, Bowers nursed an ankle 

injury throughout portions of the season, 

which gave Delp the opportunity to see 

quality playing time. He caught three 

touchdowns on 284 yards receiving during 

his limited time on the field. Though he 

will have big shoes to fill, he can take his 

knowledge playing behind Bowers to be a 

key piece of this offense as a starter. 

BY: Matthew Herren/BI 

After the 2023 season, Coach Smart and his staff said goodbye to key 

offensive players like Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey to the NFL Draft. 

However, the Bulldogs retained and acquired many key players to help 

keep the offense explosive ahead of the much anticipated 2024 season. 

Here’s a list of the Dawgs’ top 12 Offensive Players of 2024. 

9 

5Rara Thomas 

(#9, WR) 

After spending his first two 

years at Mississippi State, 

Thomas was a big part of last 

year’s scheme, catching 23 passes for 383 

yards and a touchdown. With three years of 

SEC experience under his belt, the senior will 

be given the opportunity to lead alongside 

Lovett in the locker room as someone who 

knows what it takes to win in the most 

challenging conference in football. 

6Trevor Etienne 

(#1, RB) 

With a running back 

room wide open after the 

departure of Daijun Edwards 

and Kendall Milton, Etienne will be given 

the opportunity to shine in Athens after 

transferring over from Florida. Last year as 

a Gator, he rushed for 753 yards and eight 

touchdowns. Look for him to be a reliable 

back for Beck’s offense that has plenty of 

experience playing against SEC defenses. 

7Colbie Young 

(#8, WR) 

One of Coach Smart’s best 

portal finds, this transfer 

wideout will have an 

immediate impact on this offense. In two 

seasons at Miami, he had nearly 1,000 

CFP PLAYOFF! 

receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. 

Though he will be a new face to the 

offense, his past experience at the 

collegiate level will help him lead this 

offense and be yet another piece of an 

extremely talented wide receiver room. 

Once he finds his connection with Beck, 

he could be in for an amazing season. 

8Tate Ratledge 

(#69, OL) 

The offensive line consists 

of some of the most 

underappreciated players 

on the team. This year, a few major 

starters make their return. Tate Ratledge, 

Dylan Fairchild, and Earnest Greene III 

will be vital leaders in the offensive line 

group. Surrounded by other experienced 

A NEW ERA 

linemen such as Xavier Truss and an 

athletic new starting center in Jared 

Wilson, Beck should have no problem 

navigating the pocket. 


Branson Robinson 

(#22, RB) 

After missing the 2023 

season with a knee injury, 

the redshirt sophomore will 

be looking to make his presence known 

once again in this offense. Back in 2022, 

he rushed for 330 yards on 68 carries with 

three touchdowns. Keep an eye out for 

this former five-star to break out early on 

and become a quality RB2 that the team 

can count on as the season goes. 

10 

Jared 

Wilson 

(#55, OL) 

With the 

departure of center Cedric Van Pran this 

past year to the NFL Draft, Wilson will 

be the likely replacement. The junior 

hasn’t seen the field much during his 

time in Athens, but had the ability to sit 

and learn from the knowledgeable and 

skillful center that Van Pran is. Bulldog 

Nation should be excited to see what 

he can do to keep the offense running 

smoothly throughout the year. 

11 

Benjamin 

Yurosek (TE) 

Another transfer 

portal snag, this 

former Stanford 

Cardinal will be a sneaky player to 

watch this fall. The graduate-senior 

has over 1,000 yards receiving in his 

collegiate career. With how much 

Georgia’s coaching staff loves to use 

tight ends, Delp and Yurosek could see 

a lot of playing time to complete this 

loaded offensive regime. 

12 

Michael 

Jackson III 

(#13, WR) 

Rounding out 

the wide receiver 

class is a player who has just under 

500 receiving yards in three previous 

seasons with the USC Trojans. He will 

have to play his way into playing time. 

However, with this being his senior 

year, the transfer will likely become a 

fan-favorite in the hearts of Dawg fans 

in 2024.

12 

2024 Dawgs 

Defensive 

Players 

1Mykell Williams 

(#13, DL) 

Williams came into Georgia as 

a five-star and the number two 

defensive-lineman in his class. He 

recorded 4.5 sacks during the 2023 season. 

The edge position is extremely valuable with 

quarterback pressure, and NFL scouts are 

already ranking Williams high on their boards. 

2Malaki Starks 

(#24, DB) 

By now, Georgia fans are familiar 

with the name Malaki Starks. Also 

a former five-star, Starks entered his first game 

against Oregon as a true freshman and came 

down with a spectacular highlight interception. 

Starks enters his third year with the Dawgs 

and is one of the most talented players on the 

team. He amassed 31 solo tackles and three 

interceptions during the 2023 season. 

3Smael Mondon Jr. 

(#2, ILB) 

Smael Mondon Jr. dealt with 

injuries throughout the entire 

2023 season. Even so, Mondon 

Jr. played in every single game, starting in 11 

of the 14. PFF listed their top-10 linebackers 

to watch in 2024 and Mondon was ranked 

fifth on the list. He is a two-year starter for 

the Bulldogs and will be a major leader on 

the defensive side of the ball. 

4Tyrion Ingram- 

Dawkins (#93, DL) 

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins missed 

six games during the 2023 

season due to a foot injury. 

In his short time playing last season, he 

had one sack and forced one fumble. After 

surgery this past offseason, T.I.D. looks to 

make a strong return to the field. 

5Nazir Stackhouse 

(# 78, DL) 

Nazir Stackhouse, a fan favorite, 

is returning for his senior season. 

Stackhouse was an All-SEC 

Second team player last season, starting in all 

14 games. He made 24 tackles (13 solo) which 

included two sacks. In addition, he intercepted 

one ball against Missouri and nearly returned it 

for a pick-six. 

BY: WILL HEARN/BI 

Georgia’s defense has had a history of being elite under Kirby Smart. Smart did a 

fantastic job this off season with player retention and the transfer portal. The Dawgs’ 

defense during the 2024 season has a mix of key returning players as well as some 

new faces fans should be familiar with. Although the Dawgs lost three starting 

members of the secondary to the NFL, a multitude of experienced players remain 

in the group. Last season, Georgia often struggled to pressure the quarterback. The 

emphasis of the Georgia defense during the 2024 season should be the defensive 

line and secondary. 

6 

CFP PLAYOFF! 

Daylen Everette 

(#6, DB) 

Daylen Everette is the most 

experienced returning 

corner. He started every 

game last season, and he put up his best 

performance in the Orange Bowl against 

FSU. His first career interception came 

against the Seminoles. His third year 

at Georgia will come with his second 

straight season starting at corner. 

7Jalon Walker 

(#11, ILB) 

Jalon Walker played a 

very specific role for the 

Georgia defense in 2023. He 

saw action in every game as a reserve 

linebacker. Primarily playing on third 

down, Walker had 20 total tackles and 

had a team-high five sacks. 

8Chaz Chambliss 

(#32, OLB) 

Soon after the Orange Bowl, 

Chaz Chambliss announced 

his intention to return for his 

Senior season. This offseason, Chambliss 

spoke on his focus this offseason being 

winning more efficiently in the pass-rush 

and use of his hands in the run game. 

Chambliss has been cross-training with 

MMA, inspired by players in the NFL such 

as Maxx Crosby. 

9Dan Jackson 

(#17, DB) 

Dan Jackson walked on 

to Georgia and has been 

with the Dawgs since 

2019. He has seen action on the field in 

the past three seasons. He is the most 

experienced member of the defensive 

back group. With the new absences of 

Javon Bullard and Tykee Smith, Jackson 

is again competing for a starting role at 

the safety position. Expected him to win 

the position, Jackson and his experience 

will help him play a vital role for the 

secondary. 

FOOTBALL 

A NEW ERA 

SPORTS 

10 

Daniel 

Harris (#7, 

DB) 

Daniel Harris 

made waves at the end of the 2023 

season. With the absence of Julian 

Humphrey due to injury, Harris was 

able to see the field six times last 

season. He showed flashes in coverage 

and recorded one solo tackle. He will be 

a valuable member of the cornerback 

rotation, but don’t be surprised if he 

works his way into a starting role. 

11 

Julian 

Humphrey 

(#12, DB) 

Humphrey briefly 

entered the transfer 

portal in January. Yet, he quickly 

decided to return to Georgia stating, 

“Georgia gets you ready for the NFL. It 

has been proven. I want to be a part of 

that.” Before suffering a season-ending 

injury against Ole Miss, Humphrey 

showed promise at the corner position. 

Now healthy, Humphrey will be a keycontributor 

to the Georgia secondary. 

12 

Christen 

Miller (#52 

DL) 

Christen Miller 

entered the 

transfer portal for a brief period during this 

offseason, but Kirby Smart and Co. were 

able to convince the talented defensivelineman 

to return to the Dawgs. During 

his freshman season, Miller racked up nine 

solo tackles and one sack. 


GEORGIA GIRLS: CATHERINE DOLAHER PG. 28 | MIXTAPE: LAURA WILFONG PG. 35 

PROUST Q&A: JAKE TENCH PG. 46 

SOCIAL 

Lea Wallace, Jarryd Wallace, Sabrina Wallace , 

Jeff Wallace, Brittany Sjogren, Chris Sjogren 

PHOTO BY: LAUREN CARNES PHOTOGRAPHY 

One of the legendary coaches in Georgia history, 

Jeff Wallace led the Women’s Tennis program to 

amazing success in his 38 seasons at the helm. 

Wallace’s Bulldog teams won a combined six national 

championships (two outdoor, four indoor) and 20 

SEC titles (11 regular season, nine tournament). 

Under his direction, Georgia played for the national 

championship in five different decades. Wallace’s 814 

victories are the second most in NCAA women’s tennis 

history. 

On April 19 at the Georgia Theatre, the UGA Athletic 

Department put on a rockstar shindig to celebrate 

Wallace’s rockstar career with former players, 

colleagues, family and friends dancing the night way 

to a Tom Petty cover band. Congrats Coach Wallace 

and thanks for your legendary tenure to UGA! 


SOCIAL 

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Jeff Wallace 

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Michael Durham, Lewis Gainey, Sabina 

Wallace, Sean Nicholl, David Sailors 

Allen Miller, 

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Wallace, Brittany Sjogren, Chris Sjogren 


Suzanne Diaz, Manny Diaz, 

Jeff Wallace, Sabina Wallace 

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rocker! 

Lisa Devaney, Jud Doherty, Joanne Miller, Joe Devaney 

Jeff Wallace, the band and former Lady Dawgs’ Netters 

Jeff Wallace, 

George Bezecny 

ULLA JOHNSON + HUNTER BELL 

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JEFF WALLACE CELEBRATION 

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Jill Bateman, Kalki 

Yalamanchili, John Bateman 

Jeff Wallace (middle) with his first 

All-Americans, Stacey Schefflin 

Slomka and Lisa Apanay Enochs 

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Warner, Craig Crosby 

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Foundation: 

NAME: Catherine Dolaher 

FAMILY: Daughter of David and Anne (Athens native and UGA 

grad!) Dolaher, and sister to David and John 

HOMETOWN: Arlington, Virginia 

CURRENT TOWN: Alexandria, Virginia 

WHAT YEARS AT UGA: 2013-2017 

SCHOOL/DEGREE: Double major in Art History and 

International Affairs 

PROFESSION: After graduating from UGA and receiving my 

Master’s in Art History from George Washington University, 

I dove head first into the art world of Washington D.C. From 

the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden to the Torpedo 

Factory, a non-profit art space, I took every opportunity to lean 

into my shared love of art and business. In 2020, I started working 

for the incredible artist Riley Sheehey and I quickly discovered the 

true passion I have for working directly with artists and supporting 

their small businesses. In 2023, I founded CD Arts Management, a 

boutique artist management company that works with visual artists 

to build sustainable and thriving businesses. I feel fortunate to work 

with so many incredible artists from around the country, including a 

few Lamar Dodd grads, like Mary Ball and Mary Margaret Monsees. 

Accolades: 

I recently represented CD Arts Management on an artist panel at 

The Athenaeum Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia, and am thrilled for a 

few exciting opportunities coming soon! 

‌ 

Inspo: 

BOOK: I usually have two books going at once - one for fun and one 

for learning! I love ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ series for a cozy page 

turner, and just finished the non-fiction autobiography ‘Barbarian 

Days’ by William Finnegan (I have a weird obsession with surfing!). 

MAGAZINE: My brother recently gifted me a subscription to The 

World of Interiors, and I’ve loved diving into that fresh inspiration! 

PODCAST: I listen to The Daily and NPR’s Up First everyday for my 

news, and How’d She Do That (1), Talk Shop, The Art Angle, and The 

Art Coaching Club Podcast to learn from other entrepreneurs! 

BLOG: I love Substack, which in many ways feels like the modern 

blog! Grace Atwood, Jess Graves, and In Kind all write ones I read 

regularly. 

INSTAGRAM: @sarah.corbettwinder, @thewellfineart, 

@hannahsmckenna, @nan.philip, @lillysisto, @lizlidgett 

BRAND: I love any brand that celebrates color and pattern - Kule, 

Staud, Hunter Bell (2), and Ganni for my go-to for clothes. I’m always 

drawn to Il Buco Vita, Maison Venu, The Green Vase (a paper flower 

company) and Chairish for my home. 

FASHION DESIGNER: I am a huge fan of Ann Mashburn - she 

exudes evergreen style that never loses its interest or playfulness. 

Georgia 

Girls 

CATHERINE DOLAHER 

2. 3. 

I especially love that my mom and I can shop there 

together as all her silhouettes are timeless and 

perfect for every season of life. 

INTERIOR DESIGNER: I have a real obsession with 

Cynthia Collins of Collins Interiors in Dallas. Not only 

does she have a wardrobe I absolutely covet, she has 

built amazing businesses that intentionally tie in fine 

art to her projects. At least in my opinion - the art is at 

the heart of every room! 

1. 


4. 

5. 

We believe magic 

comes from bringing 

people together 

CHEF: Meredith Hayden of Wishbone Kitchen 

HISTORICAL FIGURE: Peggy Guggenheim 

QUOTE: 

“As you move toward a dream, the 

dream moves toward you.” - Julia Cameron 

Athens + UGA: 

DESCRIBE ATHENS IN FIVE WORDS OR LESS: 

Old southern charm + contemporary creativity 

RESTAURANTS AND BARS: White Tiger, Big 

City Bread, Seabear (3), and Creature Comforts. 

Peking is a must when all the family is in town! 

SHOPS: Heery’s Too, Agora, and whatever 

art or ceramic market is happening at Lamar 

Dodd or the Athenaeum! I’m very proud of the 

purchases I made from other students while I 

was in school! 

ATHENS/CAMPUS LANDMARK: Whenever 

we are in Athens, we have to drive by the 

President’s House (4). My grandfather was the 

President of UGA for many years and it’s my 

mom’s childhood home - we always have to 

check in on the old magnolias along Prince! 

MEMORY WHILE IN SCHOOL: Starting a 

football game in the stadium and ending the 

game on the couch at the Alpha Chi Omega 

sorority house. Also, waiting in line for Silent 

Disco at Trappeze most Friday nights with my 

best friends! 

PROFESSOR/CLASS: Dr. Laura Lake Smith 

changed the trajectory of my life with her Intro 

to Art History class my freshman year. Dr. Shelley 

Zuraw deepened my passion for understanding 

art and artists, and helped me understand how I 

could make that passion a career. 

GAMEDAY RITUAL/PLAN: I always wake up 

early on gamedays from excitement - whether 

I’m in Athens or not! I love to gather with 

family and friends in DC and share everyone’s 

favorite tailgating food. We create our own 

taste of Athens and reminisce on our cheap 

student ticket days! 

TAILGATE RECIPE: I always bring deviled eggs 

with a twist and a cocktail! Usually a batch of 

French 75. Fun cocktail napkins and cups, I 

love the ones by Chan Art (5), are almost as 

important as the food and drink. 

TO #CONNECTCOLLABORATECREATE. 

JOIN US 

#TSCRETREAT 

in Round Top, Texas 

September 25 - 27, 2024 

Serial entrepreneur and cupcake 

revolutionary Candace Nelson is 

sharing her expertise in turning 

one’s passion into a profitable business 

with New York Times bestselling 

books and as one of the sharks 

on hit show Shark Tank. 

Cheri Leavy’s rapport 

with her favorite 

tastemakers and 

UGA Alumnae brings 

you plenty of doggone 

good inspiration! 

@cherileavy | @thesouthernc 

@wearebulldawgs 

@guide2athens 


JOIN THE SOUTHERN C 

EST. NOVEMBER 2011 

THESOUTHERNC.COM

SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Gabrille Deliz, Houston Gaines 

G-DAY GAME 

Ky Smith, Calyp Smith 

Scout Rhodes, 

Danielle Rhodes 

Alicia Brown, Porter Brown 

Jason Bland, Rustin Bland, Emma Bland, 

Jessie Bland 

Glenn Bryor, Laura Halter Sardone, 

Nancy Thomas 

Ally Duda, Erin Smith, Lacey Stewart 

Ready to cheer on our Bulldawgs 

through another season! 

Cole Hixon Insurance • We’ve got you covered! 

Insurance professionals to help get you the right coverage at the right price- because 

our clients are #1, just like the Dawgs! 

Jay & Laura Hixon 

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FAN SHOTS 

SOCIAL 

Mike Turner, Anderson Turner, 

Carson Turner 

Campbell Munsey, Madeline Green, 

Scarlett Oetting 

Denzel Miller, Deion Miller, Roderick Miller 

Jill Gordon, Gage Gordon Cece Hobbs, Claire Hobbs Manaal Khalid, Aryan Patel Phil Fain II, Phil Fain III 

Congrats to the Diamond Dawgs 

on a stellar run, now 

let the countdown begin for 

the return to the gridiron! 

Alexa is an Athens, Ga, based interior designer with projects 

nationwide who is known for bringing a fresh perspective to traditional 

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SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

David Lee, Kristin Lee, Stephen Chitty, 

Kim Chitty 

Michelle Winningham, 

Madison Winningham 

Will Hearn, Aaron Murray 

Annie Boydston, Wesleigh Akins, 

Lydia LaHatte, Katie Hanson 

Joe Henderson and Goose 

Will Mayo, Ryan Lorentz, Gabe Gibbs, Matthew Iredale, Jackson Friday, Scout 

Summerlin, Luke Mabry, Kellen Fain, Colton Mazur, Ben Perez, Garrett Moore, 

Lucas Nunes, Josh Kincaid 

Marianne Smith, 

Caroline Smith 

You might need a bigger closet! 

1730 S. Lumpkin St. | Athens, GA 30606 

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Alice and Olivia 

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Poupette St Barth 

Brochu Walker 

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Farm Rio 

Philippe Model 

Emily McCarthy 

AGL 

and many more 

www.monkeesofathens.com 

1059 Baxter St. Suite A 

Athens GA 30606 

706.850.8577 

Follow Along! @monkeesathens 


FAN SHOTS 

SOCIAL 

Sophia Berrong, Kirsten Overstreet, Chris Overstreet, Victoria Garnto, 

Drew Posey 

Andrew Bleuez, Sarah White, 

Cooper Rau, Molly Lowe 

Brianna Slider, 

Mackenzie Reinhart 

G-DAY GAME 

John Mackey, Brock Bowers, Cameron Newell, Deanna Bowers, 

Warren Bowers, Kirby Smart Bella Morris, Reese Patterson Banks Faulkner, Gibbs Faulkner 

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Marketing 

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Desiree Varnedoe 

Rental Manager 

Sarah Broyles 

Rental Agent 

Emily Wages 

Rental Division 

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SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Bradan Welby, Lily Welby 

G-DAY GAME 

Ethan DeMore, Briggs DeMore, 

Shane DeMore, Donald DeMore 

Will Mayo, Ryan Lorentz, Gabe Gibbs, Matthew Iredale, Jackson 

Friday, Scout Summerlin, Luke Mabry, Kellen Fain, Colton Mazur, 

Ben Perez, Garrett Moore, Lucas Nunes, Josh Kincaid 

Cole Hill, Caleb Lovin, Tyelon Brock, Colton Hill, Cohen Thomason 

Haley Hallford, Taylor Buffington, 

Ty Balliburton, Sarah Kate Call, 

Cassidy Stevenson 

Vance Leavy, Frannie Atwater, 

Pat Atwater 

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Home is where your story begins... 

SPARTAN MANOR 


M I X T A P E 

playlist featured by Carter King 

brought to you by BULLDAWG ILLUSTRATED + LAST RESORT GRILL 

In honor of Athens’ distinction as one of the best music towns in the nation and the original 

Last Resort opened as a music club in 1966. Those who can still remember the tunes of such 

passionate performers as the Reverend Pearly Brown, Towns Van Zandt, Doc Watson, Jimmy 

Buffett, and even Steve Martin may feel nostalgic at the mere mention of the club’s name. 

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LAURA WILFONG 

NAME: Laura Wilfong 

FAMILY: Bobby Wilfong (husband); McNeal 

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freshman year at UGA, Phi Mu, major Interior 

Design) 

HOMETOWN: Athens 

CURRENT TOWN: Athens 

YEARS AT UGA: 1989-1993 

SCHOOL/DEGREE: FACS, Consumer 

Economics 

PROFESSION: REALTOR 

FAVE BAND I HAVE SEEN IN CONCERT: 

Super Jam (concert at Athens Fairground) 

Blues Traveler, Allgood, Widespread Panic, 

Kinchafoonee Cowboys, Catfish Jenkins, Follow 

for Now 

Blues Traveler - Run Around 

ABBA - Dancing Queen 

Alabama - Dixieland Delight 

laura's Playlist 

Chris Stapleton - You Should Probably Leave, 

Joy of My Life 

Blues Traveler - Run Around 

Justin Bieber - All Around Me 

One Direction - History 

Taylor Swift - End Game, Reputation 

Carrie Underwood - Amazing Grace 

Michael Buble - Feeling Good 

The Emotions - Best of My Love 

ABBA - Dancing Queen 

Leo Sayer - You Make Me Feel Like Dancing 

Marvin Gaye - Ain’t No Mountain High Enough 

Diana Ross - I’m Coming Out 

Norah Jones - Don’t Know Why 

Rick Springfield - Jessie’s Girl 

Alabama - Dixieland Delight 

Looking Glass - Brandy 

Beyonce - Love On Top 

Kostas Christides - Orestis And Klelia 

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playlist on 

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University of Georgia Alumni 

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SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Tate Ratledge, Connor Creasy 

Nazir Stackhouse, Josh Brooks, 

Warren Brinson 

Helen Castronis, Wingate Downs, 

Orlean Castronis 

Hendricks Hansen, Carson Beck, 

Brett Hansen 

Savannah Henderson, Asia Avinger, Leigh 

Ann Bauerle, De’Mauri Flournoy 

Helen Castronis, Jack Bauerle, 

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Jim Cooney, Harvey Humphries, 

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FAN SHOTS 

SOCIAL 

Carl Parks, Jake Magahey, Sydney 

Alery, Conner Baldwin, Barbara Parks 

Georgia athletic director, Josh Brooks, 

led a fun and informative discussion with 

student-athletes, Abby McCulloh (women’s 

swim), JaFree Scott (gymnastics), Drew Bobo 

(football) Savannah Henderson (women’s 

basketball). 

2024 SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT DINNER 

Jordan Davis, Ashley Allen, Jaydyn Brooks, 

David Sweaney, Anne Sweaney, Lucy Cain, 

Avary Morrison 

Brooks Jones, Bill Jones, Josh Brooks 

Ford Williams, Jeannette Greeson, 

Smael Mondon, Lee Greeson 

Chaz Chambliss, Troy Bowles, Cheri Leavy, 

Jamaal Jarrett, Vance Leavy, Shaun Chapas 

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what’s the 

word 

BY HAMILTON CULPEPPER 

PHOTO BY: WILL HEARN/BI 

A season to remember, two weekends to never forget for the 

Diamond Dawgs, Kudzu Hill Krazies and the 

entire Bulldog Nation 

A 

season to remember, two 

weekends to never forget … 

the Athens Regional and Super 

Regional scenes from Kudzu Hill were 

scripts from Hollywood. The Classic City 

awoke in the heat of early June, and 

those Kudzu Krazies answered the call to 

create an electric environment at Foley 

Field. 

I previously wrote a story detailing 

the spectacle that was Kudzu Hill for 

the dramatic three wins in the Athens 

Regional. Visit bulldawgillustrated.com 

to view the article and photos from the 

victories over Army, UNC Wilmington and 

Tech as well as the Kudzu Hill accounts 

from the weekend. On the flipside, we 

will focus on the Diamond Dawgs playing 

host to a Super Regional where the 

Wolfpack of North Carolina State came to 

town. 

To understand the full narrative of 

Kudzu Hill for the Super, our story begins 

shortly after taking down the Nerds in 

extra innings on Sunday, June 2. The 

following morning, an Athens legend and 

Damn Good Dawg/realtor, Joey Tucker, 

gave me a call about the upcoming series 

with the Wolfpack. 

While taking down UNC WIlmington 

in the Regional, Joey and I spoke with 

Jeff Shirey, landlord of the duplex that 

includes the renowned Kudzu Hill. He 

was thrilled to have droves of people in 

his tenant’s backyard. He then graciously 

added that if the Dawgs were to make 

it to the Super, we could do whatever 

we want to the hill to enhance the fan 

experience for the Kudzu Krazies. 

Joey took it to heart, and on that 

Monday morning after a victorious 

regional, expressed his interest in 

trimming up the kudzu to create more 

room for the fanatics of right field. Come 

Tuesday morning, Joey hired Jimmy 

Easley’s Yard Care crew. By 10 a.m., 

the invasive weed that covers Georgia 

baseball’s greatest tradition was trimmed 

up just enough to make a view for 

hundreds more fans beyond that right 

field fence. 

About the same time the kudzu 

was cleared Tuesday morning, it was 

announced that Georgia would take the 

noon slot on Saturday and Sunday and a 

TBD time slot for an if necessary Monday 

game. Saturday morning rolled in with 

a heat wave and high expectations for 

them Diamond Dawgs. NC State put 

the Dawgs to sleep quickly as they 

scored an ugly 11 runs in the top of 

the second. Despite the downtrodden 

Dawgs showing on the diamond, those 

Kudzu Krazies had a historic afternoon 

of kudzu keg beers, cheeseburgers, fries 

and onion rings cheffed up by District 7 

Commissioner John Culpepper and his 

trusty partner Mack Furlow. 

Win or go home standards loomed 

over the Dawgs 24 hours later, but Corey 

Collins, Tre Phelps, Leighton Finley 

and Co. stepped up to the plate. Finley 

pitched a gem while the Georgia bats 

got a kick start, and the Dawgs avoided 

elimination with an 11-2 win. 

Monday’s first pitch time was dependent 

upon the other results of Sunday’s slate. 

Late Sunday evening, Kentucky topped 

Oregon State 3-2. Georgia vs. NC State 

was now the only series to go to a 

Monday game three decider. The options 

for first pitch: noon or 7 p.m. The reliable 

Krazies begged the baseball gods (and 

ESPN schedulers) for a 7 p.m. slot by 

posting a painted bed sheet on the fence 

proclaiming, “WE WANT 7:00! HBTMFD!” 

Without their last ditch effort, the Dawgs 

would most likely play at noon, but 

thanks to their work beneath the surface, 

it was America’s pastime under the lights 

of Foley! 

Associate Athletic Director Tanner Stines 

dropped the message: “7:06. Period.” The 

Classic City’s hometown area code for the 

first pitch time; the rubber match and a 

trip to Omaha on the line. 

Alongside some friends, we painted 

a new bed sheet with a target and the 

phrase “COREY UR DUE” pasted above 

it. Three hours before first pitch, we 

hung it up and stuck around for batting 

practice. Collins stepped up to the plate 

for his turn at BP and raked a 480-foot 

bomb just two feet above the target. 

The ball practically landed in my good 

buddy Walker Way’s lap. We posted a 

video of the crater the ball left in the 

kudzu dirt and Walker holding the ball 

to @wearebuldawgs. We tagged Collins 

and a short two hours before game time, 

he replied, “Need y’all staying loud up 

there fellas!” The demand was given by 

the DGD as Collins geared up for his final 

game at Foley. Needless to say, the Kudzu 

Krazies answered yet again. 

By 7:06, there were a record number 

of fans atop the historic hill. Trucks 

piled in 15 deep with tailgate pools and 

more kegs for the Georgia faithful. It 

was an environment unlike any other, 

“the greatest set up in mankind for any 

sporting event.” 

Georgia put up a dawg fight but fell 

short in the end 8-5. A heartbreaker, 

yes, but a season to remember and two 

weekends to never forget from Kudzu 

Hill. And in his last at bat, the greatest 

Georgia baseball player in history, Charlie 

Condon, knocked his 37th home run of 

the season. A proper farewell in his last 

game wearing the Red and Black. 

Storylines, cold beer and baseball were 

the talk of the town as Georgia went on 

this historic run in year one of the Wes 

Johnson era. Ladies and gentlemen, I 

can confidently say, we will be back. This 

was not the end of Georgia baseball but 

only the beginning! Thank you, Diamond 

Dawgs, for memories that will last a 

lifetime! Thank you, Dawg Nation, for 

stepping up to the plate and creating a 

raucous environment for two legendary 

weekends at Foley Field! See y’all next 

year! 


FAN SHOTS 

SOCIAL 

(back) Will Keen, Jarrett Daniels, Maggie Daniels, JD 

Daniels, Ben Butler; (front) John Culpepper, Katherine 

Culpepper, Mimi Culpepper, Hamilton Culpepper, 

Carrie Smith 

DIAMOND DAWGS 

Susan Northrop Jackson, Hal Northrop, 

David Lefkowitz, Carol Beltran 

Chip Hackett, Joe Strickland, Ray Hackett, 

Catherine Downing 

Julia Flynt, Conoly Flynt, 

Alessandra Lazarus 

Joy Davis, Jack Davis 

Chas Easley, Eric Eberhardt, David Abernathy, 

Brian Betzel 

Michael Earl, Keith Archer 

Lollie Butler, Caroline Butler, Mimi Culpepper, 

Blu Dawg, Kitty Carter 

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Collins Vaught, Jarrett Daniels, Sofia 

Lombardi, Maddie Patton, Win Dyleski 

Trip Garbin, Jack Murray Jr, Jack Murray, Sr 

(back) Jarrett Daniels, Sofia Lombardi, 

(front) JD Daniels, Maggie Daniels 

Jud Kenney, Garrett Collier, Connor Wooten, Bret Buursema, Bryson Hawkins, 

Will Hensley, Justin Cellilli, Porter Buursema 

Mark Dyleski, John Culpepper, Katherine Culpepper, 

Ben Butler, Rhett Butler 

Amy Malone, Jill Shuff, Eric Shuff, Michael Malone, 

Brett Kelleher, Jake Crane 

Banks Fowler, Maddox 

Hammons, Miller Pennington 

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FAN SHOTS 

SOCIAL 

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Kenneth Huffman, Ben Brown, 

Brennan Carroll, Spencer Scheu, 

Zach Paulk, Stephen Randall 

Thomas Ferland, Hank Stephens, Stacy Stephens, Carey Stephens 

Nick Tuggle, Sam Shelton, Chris Kinnas, Jackson Muschamp, Rob Kinnas, 

Gray Sasser, Nick Mauldin 

Bella Silverman, 

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Tanner Stines, Todd Pennington 

Jean Martin-Williams, 

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Donald Davis, Tricia Davis 

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SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

DIAMOND DAWGS VS. VANDY 

SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024 – FOLEY FIELD 

Diamond Dawgs’ play-by-play announcers, Jeff Dantzler and David Johnston threw 

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Brookes Land, 

JoJo Land 

Cassidy Stevenson, Haley 

Hallford, Sarah Cate Call, 

Taylor Buffington, Jarrett 

Broome 

Bryan Glover, Brookes Glover, Alison Glover 

DIAMOND DAWGS VS. VANDY 

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Read 

Darrell Huckaby ONLINE … 

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Darrell Huckaby 

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Monday-Friday | 7am-2pm | Saturday-Sunday | 8am-2pm 

408 Mallery Street | SSI | 912.634.7772 

Located in the Village between Parker’s + The Village Inn & Pub 

Scan QR code or go to … 

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PROUST 

Q&A 

COMPILED BY: CAROLINE CHAMPION 

NAME: Jake Tench 

FAMILY: Son of Greg and Karen Tench; brother of Josh and Jessi Tench; 

uncle of Charlie, Baker, and Wills Tench 

HOMETOWN: Cornelia, Georgia 

CURRENT TOWN: Cornelia, Georgia 

WHAT YEARS AT UGA: 2013-2017 

SCHOOL/DEGREE: College of Agricultural and Environmental 

Sciences (CAES) / B.S.A Agricultural Economics; Agribusiness 

PROFESSION: Director of Government Affairs, Georgia Agribusiness Council 

ACCOLADES: UGA Football Letterman; UGA CAES Alumni Board of 

Directors; Advancing Georgia’s Leaders (AGL) Graduate; Sigma Phi Epsilon 

Fraternity; Georgia CTAE Advisory Council; National Football Foundation High 

School Scholar-Athlete; Small Group Leader Level Grove Baptist Church 

WHAT LIFE LESSONS DID YOU LEARN WHILE AT UGA? 

UGA has a unique way of teaching you a number of life lessons. Many of 

those lessons are learned inside of the classroom, but many are learned 

by simply being a part of the university and living in Athens between the 

ages of 18 and 22. Perhaps the most obvious lesson is learned when you 

are thrust into situation with a large number of people from countless 

places, backgrounds, and each have goals and aspirations that are 

uniquely theirs. Much like with anything in life, the true reward comes 

from the relationships that are built within the experience. 

WHAT PROFESSOR DID YOU MOST ADMIRE? 

I do not think it would be possible to narrow the list enough to name any 

specific names. The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences 

is fortunate to have many great professors and administrators that care 

about their students and have passion for education. However, many of 

them probably weren’t my biggest fan when I handed them an excused 

absence for every Friday in the fall from the Athletic Department due to 

football requirements. 

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST 

ACHIEVEMENT? 

I would like to think that my greatest achievement is still in front of me. 

I’ve been fortunate take part in some pretty great stuff, but if I had to say 

one, it would most likely be the opportunity to travel all over the world 

and pour into people with my church. 

WHICH HISTORICAL FIGURE DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH? 

Perhaps it’s more admiration than resemblance. I have always admired 

Senator Johnny Isakson for his willingness to talk to anyone and his ability 

to find common ground in order to achieve the greater goal. 

If I am allowed 

to mention a 

fictional character, 

I would have to 

say the great Sheriff 

Andy Taylor. He was 

a soft spoken man that 

loved his community and 

always found a way to do the 

right thing. 

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE? 

I would have to say that my father is my hero. He is a man of integrity, 

generosity, and honesty that has provided an example not only for me 

and my family, but for the community and church that he calls home. 

QUOTE TO LIVE BY: 

Jake Tench 

“When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want 

to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear.” – Thomas Sowell 

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS? 

I think perfect happiness is when you’re spending time with the people 

that you care about. When you forget about all of the things that you 

“want” and fully appreciate the blessings that you already have. 

Also, Dawgs winning a natty, flushing a 4 iron, catching a big fish, and a 

successful hunt aren’t too bad either. 

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MARKED CHARACTERISTIC? 

The things that I strive to be are loyal, amiable, kind, and virtuous 

WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN YOUR FRIENDS? 

Loyalty is obviously a big one, but I value the friends that genuinely care 

and are not afraid to tell you the truth. 

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, 

WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

A couple more inches in height wouldn’t be the worst thing. Being 

bilingual and musically adept seem like they could be a good addition. 

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE WRITERS? 

I probably read more Thomas Sowell than anything else right now. He 

has the ability to make you think about things like you never have before. 

Currently, I like Cormac McCarthy for fiction because of his ability to write 

in a minimalist, yet effective way. 

FAVE SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHO TO FOLLOW (AND WHY)? 

I am trying to cut back on social media, but I do find myself on youtube 

watching a vast array of things. Fried Egg Golf, Wild Fly Productions, and 

My Self Reliance are a few that can pass the time. 

athens • watkinsville • auburn • lawrenceville 


WHADDAYA GOT LORAN PG. 54 | JD’S POSITION BY POSITION PG. 56 | FROM THE FIELD PG. 62 

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GAME BY GAME 

BY: JEFF DANTZLER 

AUGUST 31 

CLEMSON 

MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM (ATL) 

The last time these two old rivals met was in the 2021 

season opener. That one was played in Charlotte, and the 

Bulldogs 10-3 victory jump-started Georgia’s run to the 

national championship. This one will be contested in Atlanta, 

where the Bulldogs hope to play multiple times this season, 

including the national championship game on January 20. 

These are two of college football’s great powers, led by 

highly successful coaches. 

Dabo Swinney led Clemson to the 2016 and 2018 national 

championships and six straight playoff appearances between 

2015 and 2020. Swinney’s Tiger teams have dominated the 

Atlantic Coast Conference, capturing eight league titles, 

including seven in eight years between 2015 and 2022. 

Last year, Clemson found itself at 4-4 eight games in, with 

a pair of overtime losses stinging. The Tigers would rally, and 

win five straight to close out at 9-4. Clemson’s last two games 

last year were wins over Southeastern Conference foes - arch 

rival South Carolina in the regular season finale and then 

Kentucky in the Gator Bowl. 

Expectations are high once again in Tiger Town, with 

quarterback Cade Klubnik leading the way. As usual, Clemson 



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is fast, strong and physical. With Klubnik 

settled in behind center, the Tiger faithful 

are confident they have all the pieces to 

return to the top of the ACC and pull in a 

playoff bid. 

Kirby Smart has been amazing at his 

alma mater. Georgia’s head coach led 

his alma mater to back-to-back national 

championships in 2021 and 2022 and a 13-1 

campaign last season. His Bulldogs have 

finished in the top-10 seven straight years. 

Both teams have difficult schedules, with 

Georgia’s arguably the country’s most 

challenging. For the loser, there is the ability 

to recover and make its way to the playoff. 

But the margin for error will be much 

thinner, especially for Georgia if the Tigers 

notch the win in Atlanta. 

Through the years, these two have played 

in some true classics. Some of Georgia’s 

greatest teams topped the Tigers in 

signature triumphs en route to glory: 1980, 

1982, 2002, 2021. Clemson’s 1981 national 

championship team beat defending 

national champion Georgia for its shining 

victory. Some of the best to ever play for 

the Bulldogs shined brightly against the 

Tigers. Scott Woerner, Kevin Butler and 

Chris Smith delivered some of the most 

significant plays in Georgia football annals 

while leading the Bulldogs past the Tigers. 

Like so many of the high profile games on 

Georgia’s schedule, legends can be made in 

games like this. 

And for the fan base of the winner, be 

careful talking too much, with the 12-team 

playoff a future meeting just may be in the 

cards. We’ll say that about several more 

teams of the Bulldogs rugged slate this year. 

SEPTEMBER 7 

TENNESSEE TECH 

SANFORD STADIUM 

The way the schedule sets up, the 

Bulldogs have the high profile opener with 

Clemson, the regular season finale against 

the Yellow Jackets, a bit of a buffer on the 

back and front ends and eight SEC games 

in the middle. 

So between Clemson and the SEC opener 

at Kentucky, the Bulldogs host Tennessee 

Tech out of the Ohio Valley Conference 

in Division 1-AA/FCS. The Golden Eagles 

went 4-7 a year ago. This is one that should 

be an easy win for Georgia. Lots of players 

should get snaps, and those, especially for 

inexperienced players, can certainly prove 

valuable this season. Or next. 

A nice fun fact on Tennessee Tech. It is the 

alma mater of legendary Georgia women’s 

basketball coach Andy Landers. 

SEPTEMBER 14 

KENTUCKY 

KROGER FIELD 

The last time Georgia played football at 

Kentucky, it was late November 2022, and 

quite possibly the coldest football game 

the Bulldogs have ever played in. Wind 

chills and “feels like” got down into the 

single digits. This one used to be in October 

then November. It will be a different 

feel playing Kentucky when it is hot in 

Lexington. 

Georgia has dominated the series with 

Kentucky, winning 14 straight meetings 

with the Wildcats dating back to 2010. 

That includes that aforementioned frigid 

16-6 Georgia triumph en route to a second 

straight national championship, and last 

year’s 51-13 victory over the Wildcats 

Between the Hedges. Georgia got its 

second string quarterback some action 

on that picturesque night in Athens. That 

signal caller, Brock Vandergriff, is now the 

starting quarterback for the Wildcats. 

Mark Stoops, heading into his 12th season 

as Kentucky’s head coach, has high hopes 

for this team and is hopeful Vandergriff, 

who is also a good runner, can give the 

Wildcats the difference making dual 

threat behind center. Stoops has done an 

excellent job in Lexington, leading the 

Wildcats to a bowl game in eight straight 

seasons, highlighted by 10-3 campaigns in 

2018 and 2021. He has the most wins of any 

head coach in Kentucky football history. His 

comments comparing Kentucky football 

to basketball - born on third base - raised 

a few eyebrows. Hey, John Calipari is now 

coaching Arkansas, and Stoops has the 

Wildcats once again squarely in the middle 

of the pack. 

Kentucky is a hard-nosed physical football 

team. The Wildcats have turned the tables 

on Florida. But Kentucky has only beaten 

Tennessee twice over the last 12 years 

and Georgia has the long winning streak 

against the Wildcats. 

The battle with the Bulldogs will be 

the third of four straight home games 

for Kentucky to kick off the season. The 

Wildcats open with Southern Miss and then 

host South Carolina prior to the Bulldogs 

visit. It will be loud and raucous under 

the lights with the Wildcats eyeing the 

upset. Georgia and Kentucky last played in 

Lexington at night in 2016, with Rodrigo 

Blankenship nailing the game-winning field 

goal as time expired. 

Georgia’s road schedule is brutally tough, 

that margin for error is thin. 

SEPTEMBER 28 

ALABAMA 

BRYANT-DENNY STADIUM 

The Nick Saban era is over at Alabama. 

What an incredible run it was, with six 

national championships highlighting the 

resume. From 2008 (his second campaign 

on the capstone) through last year, the 

Crimson Tide had either a once beaten or 

undefeated regular season 13 times in 16 

seasons. That consistent excellence may be 

the most impressive accomplishment of 

Saban’s reign. 

Kalen DeBoer is the new head coach at 

Alabama. He comes to Tuscaloosa from the 

University of Washington, fresh off leading 

the Huskies to the College Football Playoff 

as the last ever PAC-12 champion, and the 

national title game. 

The transfer portal was beaming players 

in and out of T-Town, but we know this: 

Alabama is extremely talented and tough. 

DeBoer will try and put his fingerprints on 

the program, while keeping the train on the 

tracks. I’m having Ray Perkins flashbacks. 

It really is incredible that Alabama had 

college football’s greatest coach of the 

second half of the 20th century, and then 

the top head-man of the first two decades 

of the 2000s. 

Both Georgia and Alabama have playoff 

aspirations, and though this will be a huge 

game, there is of course the chance that 

these two could meet again down the road. 

Since Georgia’s last win in Tuscaloosa 

in 2007, the Bulldogs and Alabama have 

played only once at Bryant-Denny Stadium, 

a 41-24 Crimson Tide victory in the 2020 

Covid season. 

These two have squared off on the biggest 

of stages, and that could be in the cards 

again. 

Alabama opens with lighter lifting against 

Western Kentucky and South Florida, then 


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heads to Wisconsin in week three, so the 

game versus Georgia will be the Tide’s SEC 

opener. 

The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide will each 

have an open date prior to the showdown. 

For Smart’s Dogs, it’s a chance to draw “first 

blood” against DeBoer’s Tide. The two will 

play in Athens next season, as the SEC is flip 

flopping this year’s conference slate for 2025. 

The second half of Alabama’s schedule is 

a challenge, and they’ll get every team’s 

best shot. The last two weeks of October 

feature a trip to Tennessee and a visit from 

Missouri. In November, the Crimson Tide 

goes to LSU, then hosts Mercer. That’s 

followed by a trip to Oklahoma and then 

Auburn in the Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa. 

Some Bama fans will say, doesn’t matter. 

It’s Alabama. Let’s just say, expectations will 

still be very high. 

OCTOBER 5 

AUBURN 


Playing Auburn the week after Alabama is 

some kind of challenge. Through the years, 

I can’t imagine too many teams have played 

these two back-to-back. 

Don’t sleep on the Tigers. Hugh Freeze will 

have Auburn jacked up to pull off the road 

upset of the Bulldogs. Both teams will be 

coming off huge games the week before, 

the Bulldogs at Bama, while Auburn will be 

hosting Oklahoma. Auburn took Georgia 

to the wire last year, as the Bulldogs pulled 

out a thrilling 27-20 victory, highlighted by 

heroics from All-American Brock Bowers. 

In the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, filled 

with upsets, road wins, stunners and tightly 

contested battles for championships, 

Georgia has enjoyed tremendous success 

against the Tigers over parts of three 

decades. Since 2006, the Bulldogs are 16-3 

against Auburn, highlighted by a 28-7 

victory in the 2017 SEC Championship 

Game with a CFP berth on the line. That 

SEC Championship victory in Atlanta was 

the first of seven straight in the current 

win streak for Georgia over Auburn. These 

things are cyclical, and Georgia is in an 

incredible cycle of success against Auburn. 

From 1983-1990, the Tigers topped the 

Dogs seven times in eight games, costing 

Georgia three SEC titles. 

Auburn’s last win in Athens was a crushing 

31-30 loss to the Tigers in 2005. That’s eight 

straight wins Between the Hedges for 

the Bulldogs over Auburn. To put that in 

historical context, between 1977 and 2001, 

Auburn went 11-2 against Georgia in Athens. 

For the Tiger faithful, they’re hoping to 

get back to the elite. They certainly haven’t 

enjoyed their two biggest rivals sitting atop 

the college football world. And nobody in 

the SEC played Saban’s Bama teams better 

than Auburn. 

Smart has done a tremendous job of 

turning the page and having his teams 

focused week after week. This will be critical 

- hot take here - for this showdown that 

still feels strange being played this time of 

year. The schedule move has been good 

for Georgia. All those years with the Gators 

and Auburn and then the Yellow Jackets, it 

was mighty tough. After the 1982 Bulldogs 

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beat Florida, Auburn and Tech to close out 

an 11-0 SEC Championship regular season, 

Georgia didn’t beat the big three rivals 

again in the same season until 2007. 

The Bulldogs have been incredible 

Between the Hedges in the Kirby Smart 

dynasty. Georgia’s last loss at Sanford 

Stadium was to South Carolina in 2019. This 

will be a huge test, and a game the Dogs 

need badly to maintain that margin for error. 

OCTOBER 12 

MISSISSIPPI STATE 


Make that a double, with Mississippi 

State coming to town. Smart has done an 

incredible job having his team ready week 

to week, that focus will be vital when those 

Maroon Bulldogs come to town. Mississippi 

State will be looking at this as a trap game 

and an upset opportunity. Georgia will be 

coming off games against Alabama and 

Auburn with a highly anticipated road trip 

to Texas looming. MSU will be coming off 

an open date, having played Texas in Austin 

on September 28. 

There is a new head coach in Starkville. 

Jeff Lebby is Mississippi State’s third in 

the last three years. Mike Leach tragically 

passed away in 2022. His successor Zach 

Arnett lasted just one season. 

Lebby is known as the architect for 

some high-powered offenses. He comes 

to Starkville from Norman, where he was 

Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator and 

quarterbacks coach the previous two years. 

Prior to that, he spent two seasons as the 

offensive coordinator at Ole Miss. So he 

is more than familiar with football in the 

Magnolia State, the Egg Bowl and the SEC. 

The aerial attacks he has directed have the 

State faithful hopeful that they can make 

a jump in the rugged SEC. The schedule 

is brutal. Along with going to Austin and 

Athens, MSU also travels to Tennessee 

and then plays Ole Miss in Oxford in the 

regular season finale. State opens with 

Eastern Kentucky, going to Arizona State 

and then hosts Toledo. Could they post a 

3-0 mark with Florida coming to town the 

next week? The game with the Gators is 

huge for both teams’ postseason hopes. 

Plus, Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin 

left Mississippi State, his alma mater, for 

Gainesville. That will make for a storyline. 

Blake Shapen, a transfer from Baylor, is 

the frontrunner at quarterback. He started 

23 games for the Bears and, as a backup 

pressed into duty, was the Most Valuable 

Player of the 2021 Big XII Championship 

Game. 

Making it to a bowl game would be a 

strong accomplishment in Year One for 

Lebby. To do so, the Maroons might just 

have to knock off an SEC blueblood along 

the way. 

OCTOBER 19 

TEXAS 

DARRELL K ROYAL-TEXAS 

MEMORIAL STADIUM 

In his third year as Texas’s head 

coach, Steve Sarkisian fed the hungry 

Longhorns fan base with a farewell Big XII 

Championship, College Football Playoff 

berth and an early season victory over 

Alabama. Texas lost a heartbreaker to 

Washington in the Sugar Bowl, but it was 

still a big step forward. 

Now the Longhorns - and Oklahoma - 

officially join the SEC. 

Expectations - shocker - are high in Austin. 

Quinn Ewers is back at quarterback. So is 

Arch Manning. The Longhorns lost some 

outstanding talent at wide receiver but 

have recruited well and figure to be in the 

hunt as one of the best teams in the league. 

Honestly, anything short of a playoff berth 

will be a disappointment for Texas. Of 

course, the same can be said for several SEC 

teams including Georgia. 

The last time these two met, Texas beat 

Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to cap off the 

2018 season. The Bulldogs and Longhorns 

will meet for just the sixth time ever, the 

first in Austin since Texas beat Georgia 

13-8 in 1958. Georgia’s lone win over the 

Longhorns came on January 2, 1984 in the 

Cotton Bowl. John Lastinger’s touchdown 

dash, Kevin Butler’s extra point and a 

supreme defensive effort led the 9-1-1 

Bulldogs to a 10-9 upset victory, dealing the 

second-ranked 11-0 Longhorns their lone 

loss of the season, quite possibly costing 

them the national championship. 

Anticipation for this one is high. But again, 

there is a very good chance, with a playoff 

that has tripled in size, these two could 

see one another again. Tickets are in high 

demand, hotel rooms even more so. There 

is a Formula One race scheduled that very 

same weekend in Austin, which is expected 

to bring in over 400,000 extra fans to the 

Texas State Capitol. 

Sarkisian’s team will be coming off the 

annual battle with Oklahoma in Dallas. It 

will be an epic two weeks for the burnt 

Orange faithful. 

Where Texas has made its big strides, 

and it showed the last two years against 

Alabama, is on the defensive front. 

The Horns open with Colorado State 

and then go to Michigan. The games with 

the Sooners and Georgia will be tossups. 

Texas figures to be favored in every other 

SEC contest. Oklahoma, which closes at 

Missouri, home with Bama and at LSU, is 

already making noise that Texas got the 

easier draw. They aren’t wrong. At least, at 

this point. 

NOVEMBER 2 

FLORIDA 

EVERBANK STADIUM (JAX) 

There is nothing like Georgia-Florida. In 

the divisional era of the conference, the 

road to Atlanta ran through Jacksonville. 

This is still massive, but there’s not the leg 

up in the SEC East race because there are 

no longer separate divisions in the SEC. 

It’s one of the biggest rivalries in college 

football, and the atmosphere in Jacksonville 

is uniquely electric. Smart’s Bulldogs have 

won six of the last seven meetings with the 

Gators, defeating a trio of Florida coaches 

along the way. That includes Billy Napier, 

who heads into his third season at the helm 

in Gainesville sitting on one of - if not THE - 

hottest seat of any coach in college football. 

Since the Gators beat the Bulldogs 

in 2020, the programs have gone in 

two completely different directions. 

Georgia is 46-2 with a pair of national 

championships, six major bowl/College 

Football Playoff/National Championship 

Game victories, three straight trips to the 

SEC Championship Game and a trio of 

successive triumphs over Florida (all by at 

least 22 points). The Gators have suffered 

three straight losing seasons after dropping 

their final three games of the 2020 

campaign. 

Florida is looking for a turnaround and 

that signature win against the Bulldogs. 

As the East versus West SEC era has closed, 

Georgia has been to Atlanta six of the 

last seven years, posting regular season 

records of 11-1 or 12-0 in each of those 

six title game runs. Florida went in the 

aforementioned 2020 season, and the two 

years prior to Kirby’s dynasty run. In the 32 

all time SEC Championship games, it was 

Florida (13) or Georgia (11) out of the East 

24 times. 


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The Bulldogs fell behind 7-0 last season in 

Jacksonville, then erupted to score the next 

36 points in a 43-20 victory. 

One of the Gators top offensive threats 

from the last two years, running back Trevor 

Etienne, transferred to Georgia. Bulldogs 

quarterback Carson Beck is a Jacksonville 

native. He was tremendous in the game last 

year, hitting 19-of-28 passes for 315 yards, 

two touchdowns and no picks. 

Like Georgia, Florida has an extremely 

tough schedule. The Gators open with 

Miami in Gainesville and close with the 

Seminoles in Tallahassee. Leading up 

to the game at Florida State, the Gators 

play Georgia in Jacksonville, go to Texas, 

then host LSU and Ole Miss. The ultimate 

Gator icon Steve Spurrier has predicted an 

8-4 season, saying Florida fans would be 

turning cartwheels if that happens. If it is 

worse than that, and Ole Miss wins in the 

Swamp, the Gator faithful will be calling for 

Lane Kiffin. 

NOVEMBER 9 

OLE MISS 

VAUGHT-HEMINGWAY STADIUM 

Last season, Kiffin led Ole Miss to one of 

its greatest seasons of all time last year. The 

Rebels went 11-2, losing only to Alabama 

and Georgia, and beat Penn State 38-25 in 

the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and finished No. 

9 nationally. It was just Ole Miss’s second 

final top-10 national ranking since the glory 

days of the Johnny Vaught era. 

The first half of the schedule is more than 

manageable for the Rebels, and to make 

the playoff, they probably need to come 

out of the gates 6-0. Then comes a trip to 

Baton Rouge and old nemesis LSU, followed 

by a visit from Boomer Sooner on October 

26. The Square and The Grove will be epic 

that Saturday. While Georgia is battling 

Florida, the Rebels will be at Arkansas. 

The Square and The Grove will also be 

epic when the Bulldogs come to town. 

Hotel rooms will be at a premium and the 

doormen at City Grocery, Ajax, Old Venice, 

The Burgundy Room and Proud Larry’s will 

have a fist full of 50s, if not hundies. 

We all know that the portal giveth and 

taketh away. Ole Miss got hit, most notably 

losing a bidding war with Ohio State for 

standout running back Quinshon Judkins. 

The Rebels also had some impressive 

additions. And Jaxson Dart is back at 

quarterback. He’s one of college football’s 

best. 

Georgia blew away the Rebels in a top-10 

showdown last year. The Bulldogs prevailed 

52-17 Between the Hedges to improve to 

10-0, while handing the Rebels just their 

second loss. The way Ole Miss responded 

was very impressive. Kiffin said after the 

game that they weren’t a playoff team. But 

their close to the campaign rightfully put 

them in the top-10. Could they be a playoff 

team this season? Absolutely. Tre Harrie 

is electric at receiver and the Rebels have 

some weapons on defense, notably a stout 

defensive front that includes Texas A&M 

portal addition Walter Nolen, who teams 

with veterans JJ Pegues and Jared Ivey. 

The last time Georgia came to Oxford, it 

was 2016 and Smart’s first season at his alma 

mater. The Bulldogs were impressive against 

North Carolina, then beat Nicholls State by 

two and MIssouri by one. Ole Miss meanwhile 

was 1-2, having 20-plus point leads evaporate 

against Florida State and Alabama. Georgia 

was 3-0, but ... it was a long Saturday in 

Oxford. Ole Miss led 31-0 at the half, and 45-0 

in the third quarter. The Rebels won 45-14. 

Georgia has come a long way since, to the 

top of the college football mountain. While 

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Ole Miss is making the climb. Both have 

daunting slates - hello, it’s the SEC. If the 

Bulldogs and Rebels are both once-beaten 

or better, book this as the game of the day 

in college football. No matter the records, 

you can book that it will be the best tailgate 

and fashion show. 

NOVEMBER 16 

TENNESSEE 


When it comes to Tennessee, everything 

begins with Nico. The heralded prospect 

from California, Nico Iamaleava is the 

unquestioned starter at quarterback for the 

Volunteers. He got his feet wet last season, 

and then excelled in Tennessee’s 35-0 

Citrus Bowl victory over Iowa, accounting 

for four touchdowns. The 6-6, 210-pound 

sophomore is a terrific passer with excellent 

speed and elusiveness. The Tennessee 

faithful are hopeful that he’s the player who 

can put them over the top. 

It’s year four of the Josh Heupel era in 

Knoxville, and this is the best shape the 

Volunteers program has been in since the 

early 2000s. Expectations really got ramped 

Public Service Commission 

A Watchdog for 

www.timechols.com Proven. Trusted. 

* Paid for by the committee to elect Tim Echols 

up in 2022 when Tennessee rose to the top 

spot in the college football playoff rankings, 

only to lose at reigning and eventual 

national champion Georgia and then South 

Carolina. But the Vols rebounded to beat 

Clemson in the Orange Bowl, finishing in 

the top six of the final national polls. 

An early season loss at Florida, where 

Tennessee just can’t seem to win, put 

the Vols on tilt when it came to playoff 

aspirations. They led Bama in Tuscaloosa 

at the half, but it was all Tide in the 

second half. Then back-to-back weeks in 

November, the Big Orange got pounded 

36-7 at Missouri and 38-10 by Georgia in 

Knoxville. A 48-24 victory over Vandy and 

the Citrus Bowl win closed things out on 

a good note, and Nico’s showing against 

Iowa gives great hope for the future. 

As always, the schedule is tough. Every 

SEC team can say that. For some, it’s just 

tougher. Tennessee’s is manageable. What 

seem to be the three toughest tests are a 

trip to Oklahoma, the visit from Alabama 

and then the Bulldogs in Athens. But 

there’s also N.C. State in Charlotte, a trip 

to Arkansas, Kentucky … and Florida. In 

Knoxville. the week before Bama visits. 

If the Volunteers 

could win both of 

those in backto-back 

weeks 

on Rocky Top, 

there’ll be victory 

cannonballs into 

the Tennessee River 

and Calhoun’s may 

run out of ribs. 

PSC 

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Georgia Families 

Since 2010, 

Georgia is 12-2 

against Tennessee. 

In 2015, Mark 

Richt’s last year at 

the Bulldog helm, 

the Vols rallied from 

a 24-3 first half 

deficit to win 38-31. 

Then the next year, 

Kirby Smart’s first, 

there was the Hail 

Mary. 

It’s seven in a 

row for Georgia 

under Smart now. 

Here are the scores 

dating back to 

2017: 41-0, 38-12, 

43-14, 44-21, 41-17, 

27-13, 38-10. A 

series that Georgia 

trailed 17-10-2 

heading into the 21st century is now led by 

the Bulldogs 28-23-2. 

This one could have huge postseason 

implications, and Georgia, coming off that 

trip to Ole Miss - and Florida the week prior 

- will get a highly motivated Vols team. 

Tennessee will be coming off a home game 

with Mississippi State. 

Georgia figures to also be highly 

motivated. 

NOVEMBER 23 

UMASS 


This is one that Georgia should win. UMass 

went 3-9 last year. The MInutemen did beat 

Army. They also lost to Penn State 63-0 and 

went down to Auburn 59-14. After eight 

straight SEC games, and with Tech coming 

up on a short week, a victory without 

taking too much gas out of the tank would 

be nice. This will be UMass’s third SEC 

foe. The Minutemen go to Missouri and 

Mississippi State as well. The week prior to 

the trip to Athens, UMass hosts Liberty. 

These two met in 2018, on this week, 

after the SEC and with the Jackets on deck. 

Georgia won 66-27 with seven different 

Bulldogs scoring touchdowns. UMass’s 

standout wide receiver Andy Isabella was 

tremendous. He caught 15 passes for 219 

yards and two touchdowns, including a 75- 

yard scoring grab and dash. 

The most famous athlete to attend UMass, 

one of the greatest basketball players ever, 

No. 6, Julius “Dr. J” Erving. 

NOVEMBER 29 

TECH 


Here they come. The Jackets are gunning 

for the Dogs. They have their coach. He 

went to school there, and the Jacket faithful 

are hoping he can continue the turnaround 

and be to the North Avenue Trade School 

what Kirby Smart has been to his alma 

mater. 

Brent Key took over in the middle of what 

was shaping up as another disastrous 

season in 2022. He brought the Yellow 

Jackets to respectability and made 

defending and eventual national champion 

Georgia (I never tire of writing that) sweat 

in a 37-14 Bulldogs victory Between the 

Hedges. Last year’s game on the Flats, 


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especially after a touchdown 

and first down inside the ten 

were called back by penalties 

with Georgia leading 31-16 

in the fourth quarter, was 

very nervy. Tech got an early 

lead, and took advantage of 

turnovers to get within eight 

at 31-23. But the Bulldogs got 

the onsides kick and ran out 

the clock to escape Hyundai 

Field with a victory. It was 

Georgia’s 12th straight win on 

the Flats and 16th in the last 17 

meetings in Atlanta. The lone 

loss, the infamous Al Ford call 

on Jasper Sanks non-fumble 

that was incorrectly in prereplay 

days ruled a fumble. 

Georgia is 19-3 against the 

Yellow Jackets since 2001. Due 

to covid scheduling, these 

two didn’t play in 2020. Tech 

has won two of the last four 

Between the Hedges, in 2014 

and 2016. 

Since the heartbreaking 28-27 

loss to the Jackets in 2016, 

Smart’s first season at the helm 

in Athens, the Bulldogs have 

won six in a row. The winning 

margins have been: 31, 24, 45, 

45, 23 and last year’s eight. 

Tech beat UCF 30-17 last year 

in the Gasparilla Bowl, the 

Yellow Jackets first postseason 

appearance and winning 

record since 2018. After the 

Jackets first bowl win since 

2016, Key fired up the fan 

base in the seats by saying “Go 

Jackets! To hell with Georgia!” 

This is the best Jackets team 

since Paul Johnson’s heyday 

on the Flats. Haynes King is a 

fantastic quarterback, running 

and throwing. He gave the 

Dogs fits a year ago. Jamal 

Haynes,ran for 1,059 yards as a 

freshman last season. 

Tech has its entire offensive 

line back and have talent 

at receiver and the defense 

figures to be vastly improved. 

Now there’s the schedule. The 

game has been moved to the 

Friday night after Thanksgiving. 

Tech had already set its slate up 

to go “all-in” to topple the Dogs. 

The Jackets have open dates on 

November 2 and November 16 

and play N.C. State on Thursday 

November 21. 

The schedule is more than 

manageable. Tech opens with 

Florida State on August 24 

against Florida State in Dublin, 

Ireland. The Yellow Jackets 

figure to be favored the rest 

of the way until October 19 at 

Notre Dame. They must avoid 

the head scratching upset, 

like last year’s loss to Bowling 

Green. Dating back many years 

(the tie with Notre Dame in 

1980, a win over Alabama in 

1981), the Jackets seem to 

spring the upset. They did it - 

granted by one of the all time 

worst coaching decisions ever 

from the Miami staff - last year 

against the Hurricanes. 

Could Tech have eight or 

nine wins and be in the ACC 

Championship mix when the 

Jackets head to Athens? 

Could Georgia need a win to 

get to 10-2 and grab a playoff 

berth? 

All of this could be in play. 

There are some teams some 

Bulldog fans enjoy beating 

more, but it hurts to lose to 

“The Enemy” way more than 

anyone. And Tech is trending 

up. 

Kirby Smart has built Georgia 

into a two-time national 

championship powerhouse, 

sitting atop the college football 

world. The Bulldogs are built 

to win national titles. Key is 

building the Jackets - while 

enjoying other fruits along the 

way - to beat Georgia. 

JD’S EARLY TOP 12 

BY JEFF DANTZLER 

The season is fast approaching, and the warp speed changes of 

the game beloved by so many kick in another step in 2024, as the 

College Football Playoff triples in size from four teams to 12. So, as 

we do our Top 12 here at BI, it’s not a real Top 12. The four highest 

ranked conference champs get a bye, and the “Group of Five” / 

Mid Major gets a berth. That would likely be the 12 seed. So being 

ranked 12th, that will be the college football version of finishing 

fourth in the Olympics. Close, but no medal. So here we go with 

the best bets (looking at the schedules) on what the playoff 

will look like and where everyone will be slotted heading into 

the (obsolete, except for the money) conference championship 

games. So basically, the top 12, when those rankings are released 

will most likely not be a true top 12. Remember, each league can 

only get one bye. Until it expands again shortly to 16. Don’t sleep 

on the Big XII, there are some outstanding quarterbacks out there. 

1. GEORGIA - The Bulldogs have - on paper - one of the two 

most talented rosters, along with Ohio State. The schedule is brutal, 

starting with Clemson, and includes road dates at Bama, Texas and 

Ole Miss. If Georgia makes it, the Dawgs may be the team to beat. 

2. OHIO STATE - The Big Ten now has 18 teams, and the Buckeyes 

appear to be the team to beat. Three straight losses to Michigan isn’t 

sitting well. Ohio State paid big money in the portal. The rest of the 

league, a la the SEC for so long, could beat each other up. 

3. CLEMSON - The Tigers and Georgia square off on August 31 in 

Atlanta. The winner has an early leg up in the playoff race and margin 

for error. Clemson closed strong last season, winning the final five 

games of the season, and Dabo’s Tigers are hungry. 

4. KANSAS STATE - The Wildcats, Utah, Arizona, and Oklahoma 

State have outstanding quarterbacks, and are likely to fight it out for 

the Big XII title. K-State hosts both Arizona and the Cowboys, and 

doesn’t play Utah, making them the early front-runner. 

5. TEXAS - No doubt the Longhorns caught what looks like a much 

more manageable schedule than their fellow SEC newcomer and 

rival Oklahoma. On the heels of last year’s playoff berth, Texas has the 

talent and slate to be in a good spot in December. 

6. MISSOURI - 2023 was a breakthrough year for the Tigers, who 

went 11-2 last year, losing only to LSU and at Georgia, and then 

beating Ohio State 14-3 in the Cotton Bowl. The Tigers have a ton of 

talent back and face maybe the SEC’s most manageable schedule. 

7. ALABAMA - The Nick Saban reign is over. Kalen DeBoer is 

Alabama’s new head coach. He led Washington to the playoff and 

a Sugar Bowl win over Texas a year ago. Bama’s schedule is tough, 

including a trip to Oklahoma a week before the Iron Bowl. 

8. OLE MISS - The Rebels, who lost only at Alabama and Georgia 

last year, should come out of the gates 6-0. To make the playoff, that 

may be a must. The second half of the schedule features a trip to LSU, 

and visits from both Oklahoma and Georgia. 

9. UTAH - The Running Utes of Kyle Whittingham were the rough 

and tough, physical team of the PAC-12, winning the now defunct 

league in 2021 and 2022. Now they bring that to the Big XII. A late 

September trip to Stillwater and a visit from Arizona will paint the 

picture. 

10. FLORIDA STATE - The Seminoles open the season against 

the Yellow Jackets in Dublin, Ireland. That’s dangerous. Clemson 

heads to Tallahassee October 5. Road games at Miami and Notre 

Dame loom. Is there scar tissue from 63-3 in the Orange Bowl? 

11. NOTRE DAME - The Fighting Irish can’t get a top four spot, but 

have the talent and the schedule to get in the playoff. The season 

opener with Texas A&M in College Station, where it will be real hot, is 

big. Florida State visits South Bend on November 9. 

12. MEMPHIS - Of the Group of Five teams vying for the spot in the 

12-teamer, Memphis may be the team to beat. Last season, the Tigers 

won the American and beat Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl. Memphis 

plays a nooner in Tallahassee on September 14. 


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The Bulldog Nation lost a Damn Good Dawg 

in April with the passing of Don Leebern, Jr. 

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 

All of us bring about multiple 

images as we travel life’s journey, 

and we will be remembered 

differently by those with whom 

we cross paths. For the Payne Hall fraternity 

of the late 50s, there were some interesting 

characters with divergent and varying ways. 

Payne Hall was the athletic dorm at the 

University of Georgia at that time. Athletes 

on scholarship lived there, primarily because 

of the training table in the basement. Players 

on all teams were housed there along with 

those who were tryouts, the term for “walkon” 

athletes in that era. 

It was not “Animal 

House” altogether, but 

those of that ilk were 

abundant and very 

prominent. However, 

there were some 

doggedly serious 

students who knew 

the importance and 

consequence of a degree. 

They had the discipline 

and the commitment 

to leave campus with a 

sheepskin. 

I could tick off names of 

those who were not headed to the National 

Football League; the many who were not 

necessarily “Touchdown” heroes but who 

were quality athletes who played for the 

“Glory to Ole Georgia,” and would become 

most valuable alumni. 

One of those was Columbus native 

Don Leebern Jr., who passed on April 27. 

Leebern was the son of a wholesale liquor 

dealer and would take the family business 

to new heights. Owing to the death of his 

father, there was an interruption of his 

educational process. 

On campus, he kept himself in peak 

condition to satisfy the rigors required of 

offensive lineman of that era. He wasn’t the 

biggest member of the “trenches clan,” but 

at 6-2, 215--pound, was big enough to start 

and compete fluently in the Southeastern 

Conference. He had the assets of a canny 

streetfighter. His smarts and competitive 

passion made him a winner, who elicited 

high praise from his line coach J. B. 

Whitworth and the head man, Wallace Butts. 

Although the family business was the sale 

of spirits, Leebern didn’t drink. He never 

hung out at the popular beer joints with his 

teammates who were given to such routine. 

He spent his downtime in his room studying 

or at the library. 

He dated one of the prettiest coeds ever 

on campus, and she later became his 

wife. While he was a member of the SAE 

Suzanne and Don Leebern at 

Don’s 75th birthday party at Sea 

Island, one of his favorite places. 

social fraternity, he was a serious student 

who enjoyed quiet conversation with his 

teammates in the dorm. 

When his father passed away late in the 

fall of 1959, Leebern left Athens, and soon 

took over the family business empire at the 

tender age of 21. 

With the same work ethic that he 

identified with on the football field and 

the good business sense that came natural 

with him, he soon had Georgia Crown 

scaling new heights in the marketplace. 

Ties with one of the quality names in the 

spirits world, Seagram’s, 

his business savvy got the 

attention of the Bronfman 

family, who owned the 

brand. 

Leebern expanded 

Georgia Crown into 

Alabama and Tennessee. 

He developed satellite 

distribution centers across 

the Peach state. As the 

company grew, he hired 

former teammates and 

Bulldog football players as 

salesmen. He has always 

had a deep and abiding 

commitment to the University of Georgia, 

serving on the UGA athletic board and was a 

long-time appointee of the Board of Regents. 

Lettermen from 1957-59 teams will tell 

you the thing that all players on all teams 

consider the ultimate import—that Don 

Leebern was a good teammate. If you really 

knew him, you are likely to recall a time 

when he befriended you and your family. 

He was very generous to his friends. 

There was an incident on campus that 

helps define the Don Leebern we all knew 

and appreciated. 

Sanford Drive runs down the middle of 

campus and is now closed to automobile 

traffic. In the late 50s, however, it was 

an active thoroughfare. One day, a blind 

student was crossing the street in front of 

the old Commerce-Journalism Building. 

A jerk of a student easing down Sanford 

Drive suddenly sat down on his horn, 

causing the blind student to panic as 

he frantically tried to find solid and safe 

ground with his white cane. 

Leebern went over to the driver’s side 

of the car, opened the door and gave 

the driver a “knuckle sandwich.” As the 

driver slumped over the steering wheel 

unconscious, ‘ole No. 77 unceremoniously 

headed off to class. 

That is one of the many images Don 

Leebern’s former teammates and old friends 

have of this “Damm Good Dawg.” 


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BY JEFF DANTZLER 

OFFENSE 

QUARTERBACK 

Fifth year senior Carson Beck is back for his second 

season as Georgia’s starting quarterback. He was 

outstanding in 2023, succeeding two-time national 

champion legend Stetson Bennett as the Bulldogs signal 

caller. Beck was one of the cornerstones of Georgia’s 

13-1 Orange Bowl Championship team that finished 

ranked No. 3 nationally. Starting all 14 games, the 

Jacksonville native hit on 302 of 417 passes - the 72.4 

completion percentage ranking fourth nationally — for 

a Southeastern Conference leading 3,941 yards with 24 

touchdowns and six interceptions. Though he is not the 

swiftest runner, Beck rushed for four scores last year and 

was effective on designed runs. His pocket awareness 

has improved considerably, and the second team All-SEC 

selection has shown the ability to make all the passes. 

He throws a good ball, and has a lot of zip. Brock Bowers 

and Ladd McConkey are now in the NFL. Two of the great 

players in Georgia history, those two have been the 

Bulldogs “go-to guys” the last three years. 

If Beck can continue to improve, he could be as good 

as any quarterback in the country, in all the awards 

conversations and a potential high NFL Draft pick. 

Winning takes care of all of that, and that’s the big reason 

he is back - to try and lead Georgia to another season of 

glory. 

Gunner Stockton is the No. 2 quarterback. He started 

the second half of the Orange Bowl, playing with the 

ones, and led the Bulldogs to a trio of touchdown drives 

in Georgia’s 63-3 demolition of Florida State. Stockton 

is a gamer with moxie. A Rabun County prep legend in 

the Peach State, he’s a talented runner and passer who 

projects as a future Bulldog standout quarterback. 

True freshman Ryan Puglisi was an early enrollee 

who never wavered from his commitment. He has an 

outstanding arm and quick release. The Bulldogs added 

depth from the portal with Jaden Rashada. He started 

three games as a freshman at Arizona State, throwing for 

four touchdowns and three interceptions, but missed the 

remainder of the season due to injury. 

Georgia has talent, depth, experience and balance in 

the classes - plus verbal commitments for callers in the 

next two prep cycles. The development of Beck is another 

testament to Mike Bobo, and his outstanding work as a 

quarterbacks’ coach and offensive coordinator. 

The Bulldogs appear to be in outstanding shape for the 

present and future at QB. 

RUNNING BACK 

There are some question marks for Tailback U. Georgia 

has showcased as many great runners through the years 

as any school in America. That certainly goes for the 

Kirby Smart era. Sony Michel, Nick Chubb, D’Andre Swift 

(third string in 2017), Elijah Holyfield, Brian Herrien, Zamir 

White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh (third team in 2021), 

Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton are the headlining 

running backs who have amassed miles of yards and 

triple digits in touchdowns. 

Edwards and Milton, who both battled injuries, 

combined for 27 touchdowns on the ground as seniors 

a year ago. Both have joined their Bulldog running back 

forebears in the NFL. 

So who are the next guys? 

Sophomore Roderick Robinson is built like a classic 

Vince Dooley fullback from the 1980s. At 6-0, 240-pound, 

he packs a punch. Injuries hindered much of his first 

season, but when his number was called late in the 

season, especially on a couple of Georgia football classic 

toss sweeps, he sure looked the part. 

Redshirt sophomore Branson Robinson was an elite 

recruit who played well as a freshman, most notably 

punching in a pair of touchdowns to punctuate the 

Bulldogs resounding 65-7 trouncing of TCU to capture 

the 2022 national championship. Unfortunately, he 

missed all of last season with a foot injury. At 100%, the 

5-10, 220-pound Robinson has the look of an All-SEC 

running back. His powerful running style drawing 

comparisons to the beloved Chubb. 

A healthy Robinson and Robinson will give the Bulldogs 

a physical duo of ball carriers. 

There are new additions to the backfield, including 

a trio of blue chip freshmen - Nate Frazier, Chauncey 

Bowens and Dwight Phillips - and transfer Trevor Etienne. 

The younger brother of Clemson All-American and 

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, he had 

two fine seasons at Florida, totaling 1,472 yards (at 5.9 

per carry) and 14 touchdowns for the Gators in 2022 and 

2023. With 21 receptions a year ago, he could be a threat 

in the passing game for Georgia. No doubt he was one 

of the Gators that the Georgia defense keyed on the last 

two years in Jacksonville. With another expected stout 

offensive line leading the way, Etienne should flourish as 

a valuable piece in the Bulldogs backfield. 

Don’t forget about Cash Jones. The former walk-on 

ran for 161 yards on 22 carries last season, and scored 

his lone touchdown at a huge moment. Jones had a 13- 

yard fourth quarter scoring dash off right tackle to give 

the Bulldogs a 10-point lead in a 24-14 win over South 

Carolina Between the Hedges. 

The potential is there for a very good group. Staying 

healthy … news flash … is vital. For a season that could 

go 13 to 17 games long, depth becomes increasingly 

vital. It would be nice for the Dawgs to get some pop 

from one of the freshmen, even if it is not until later in the 

season. 

WIDE RECEIVER 

There are big shoes to fill with Ladd McConkey and 

Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, who were part of some of the 

biggest plays in Georgia football history. 

Headlining the returnees is junior do-everything 

standout Dillon Bell, who has proven to be a tremendous 

receiver, outstanding runner, special teams threat and 

even a passer. He threw a touchdown pass to Marcus 

Rosemy-Jacksaint in the Bulldogs 38-10 victory at 



WIDE RECEIVER DOMINIC LOVETT 

SHOULD BE ONE OF CARSON 

BECK’S KEY TARGETS IN 2024 



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Tennessee, then caught a scoring toss from Beck on Georgia’s 

next possession. It was a Hines Ward type performance. On 

the season, he caught 29 passes for 355 yards - including some 

sensational over-the-shoulder grabs down the stretch - and a pair 

of touchdowns. Bell, between snaps at tailback and carries as a 

wide receiver, rushed 25 times for 157 yards and two scores. 

Georgia has leaned on the portal at receiver more heavily than 

any other position. Dominic Lovett, who had 54 catches for 613 

yards and four touchdowns, including a game-tying TD at Tech, 

is back for his second season in Athens. So is RaRa Thomas, who 

battled injuries, and came up with 23 grabs for 383 yards and a 

score. He had a critical juggling grab in Georgia’s win at Auburn. 

Lovett is not real big, but gets open. Thomas is physical. 

The Bulldogs welcome in a trio of transfers at receiver this 

season. 

Colbie Young had an impressive spring, and at 6-3, 215-pound 

gives the Bulldogs good size. The Bulldogs are hopeful he could 

have the kind of impact that Lawrence Cager, who was hampered 

by injury, had for the Bulldogs in 2019. Like Cager, Young comes 

to Athens from Miami. In two seasons with the Hurricanes, he had 

79 catches for 930 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

Last season, Georgia got a close up view of Landon Humphreys, 

who had a 49-yard catch and run for a touchdown on Vanderbilt’s 

opening drive against Georgia. Named to the All-SEC Freshman 

Team, he had 439 yards and four touchdowns last season for the 

Commodores. 

Michael Jackson III comes to Georgia from Southern Cal where 

he had five career touchdowns. 

Fifth year senior Arian Smith is one of college football’s 

fastest players. He has had a slew of big plays in Georgia 

career, highlighted by a touchdown for the ages against Ohio 

State, another deep ball against the Buckeyes and a big play 

in the Bulldogs 2022 No. 1 vs. No. 1 victory over Tennessee. 

When healthy, Smith is a tremendous weapon. If he’s well and 

consistent, Smith could be a difference maker. 

Anthony Evans is back for his second year. He came on late last 

season as a punt returner and receiver. There is upside here. 

Cole Speer and true freshmen Nitro Tuggle and Sacovie White 

will fight for snaps at receiver and on special teams. There are 

two other true freshmen who will likely play in the secondary, K.J. 

Bolden and Demello Jones, who could prove to play playmakers 

at receiver at some point in their career. 

Settling in on a rotation of four to five regulars at receiver will be 

big for Beck. 

Georgia welcomes back ace recruiter James Coley as the wide 

receivers coach. 

TIGHT ENDS 

The greatest tight end in college football history now plays for 

the Las Vegas Raiders. Brock Bowers is one of Georgia’s all-time 

legends. The three-time All-American and two-time John Mackey 

Award winner, like his ++ sidekick McConkey shined brightest 

on the biggest stages. Those two icons scored touchdowns in 

National Championship Games, CFP battles and against Florida, 

Auburn, Tennessee, South Carolina and the Yellow Jackets. 

There won’t be another Bowers. 

But Georgia is still very good at tight end. 

Todd Hartley, college football’s top tight ends coach, has 

assembled another outstanding group. 

Oscar Delp was the top backup a year ago, and is a very good 

player. He’s a good blocker and terrific downfield receiver. The 

6-5, 245-pound junior had 24 catches for 284 yards and three 

touchdowns a year ago. He had a big score against Missouri 

and made a fantastic catch in Jacksonville against the Gators. 

Sophomore Lawson Luckie was shining in camp, but struck down 

by injury. He came on late in the season and caught a touchdown 

in the Orange Bowl. Luckie is athletic with big upside. 

Another rising sophomore, Pearce Spurlin, had to retire from 

football due to a medical condition. He will still be a part of the 

program as a student assistant. 

There are a pair of freshmen entering the mix, Jaden Reddell and 

Colten Heinrich. 

The newcomer likely to have the greatest impact is senior 

transfer Benjamin Yurosek. In three seasons at Stanford, Yurosek 

recorded 1,342 yards on 108 catches with five touchdowns. 

At 6-4, 242-pound, he has the size to be a high quality in-line 

blocker. 

Georgia has been masterful at utilizing the tight end position. 

The versatility and flexibility has opened up a wealth of weapons, 

formations and options. On Georgia’s national championship 

teams of 2021 and 2022, the Bulldogs boasted maybe the best 

one-two tight ends punch ever in Bowers and “The Skyscraper” 

Darnell Washington. 

It might be a reach for anyone to approach that duo ever again. 

But if Delp and Luckie and the best Delp and Luckie they can be, 

Georgia may be better at tight end than anyone else in the SEC. 

OFFENSIVE LINE 

Big, strong, athletic, powerful, deep, experienced, cohesive. 

Once again, Georgia’s offensive front will try and check all the 

boxes. The big and strong are a certainty. The size of the Bulldogs 

offensive line is bigger than the front five of several NFL teams. 

When Kirby Smart came to Georgia, there were two glaring 

areas that needed an upgrade in every way, the offensive line and 

special teams. Mission accomplished. 

A trio of O-Line coaches - Sam Pittman, Matt Luke, and now 

Stacy Searels, have done a tremendous job year in and year out, 

assembling and putting together one of college football’s top 

units. 

Some of Kirby Smart’s best recruiting has been swaying 

standout players to return for their senior seasons. The return of 

Chubb, Michel, Lorenzo Carter, Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt and 

Sedric Van Pran has been integral to the Bulldogs incredible run 

of success. Add to that list this season, a quartet of “big uglies,” 

Tate Ratledge and Xavier Truss on the offensive line, and Nazir 

Stackhouse and Warren Brinson (more on them later) back to 

bolster the defensive front. 

Van Pran leaves a huge void. He took over as Georgia’s center 

late in the 2020 season, and started every game after. A 

tremendous leader and outstanding student, he is one of the best 

to ever play at Georgia. 

Succeeding that “bell cow” at center will be a big challenge. 

Jared Wilson is the front-runner, and got numerous snaps last 

season when the Bulldogs had pulled away. Drew Bobo is one 

of the top backups, and Georgia always cross trains its offensive 

linemen. Ratledge, a ++ leader and all-star candidate can play 

center, as can Dylan Fairchild. Those two and Micah Morris, who 

emerged as a big time player last season, give Georgia a strong 

group on the interior. Truss can play right tackle or inside. 

Earnest Greene, a redshirt sophomore, shows all-star promise 

at left tackle. Truss, Monroe Freeling and Bo Hughley will fight it 

out for snaps at tackle. The latter two could be the heir apparent 

starters at tackle looking ahead to 2025. There are six massive 



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true freshmen on campus, with the average size around 6-6, 

330-pound. Michael Uini and Daniel Calhoun, projected tackles 

are amongst the young newcomers who could vie for some 

playing time this season. 

With so many potential games on the schedule, the continued 

development of the depth across the board is very important. 

That certainly goes for the offensive line. The production of this 

position has been tremendous. This year’s line looks like it has the 

potential to be top notch as well, which is a must if the Bulldogs 

are going to contend for the big prize once again this season. 

DEFENSE 

DEFENSIVE LINE 

When Georgia won the 2021 national championship, the 

Bulldogs boasted a defensive line that goes down as one of the 

greatest in college football history. Four eventual first round 

picks were the cornerstone of a tremendous stop unit. Trayvon 

Walker, Davis and Wyatt were first rounders. Jalen Carter was an 

All-American and first round pick the next year, anchoring the 

defensive front on Georgia’s run to a second straight national 

championship. 

An all time great defensive line in 2021, the country’s top 

defensive front in 2022, and then last year, Georgia merely had 

one of college football’s best D-lines. 

Those elite, big, strong, fast, athletic, disruptive penetrators on 

the defensive line are the hardest players to find, even more so 

than great quarterbacks. 

So the challenge for Smart’s stop unit and defensive line coach 

Tray Scott … build the Bulldogs into a dominant, disruptive, elite 

force in 2024. 

Real quick, let’s cover terminology. There are defensive ends and 

outside linebackers. Often times, OLBs wind up lining up on the 

offensive tackle or tight end. Technically making them defensive 

ends. Along those lines, junior Mykell Williams has moved from 

DE to OLB, giving arguably the team’s most talented defender 

and the Bulldogs a bit more flexibility up front. 

Let’s start with Stackhouse and Brinson, the seniors seeking to 

go out with a bang. They give Georgia excellent size, depth and 

experience on the D-Line. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, a fourth year 

junior, will figure heavily in the mix, and is a candidate to start up 

front at defensive end. When he has been healthy, TID has made 

big plays and could be poised for a breakout season. These three 

give Georgia a strong foundation up front. Next up are the three 

big sophomores, Christen Miller (a redshirt soph) and second year 

players Jamaal Jarrett and Jordan Hall. The progression of this 

trio will be vital to the Bulldogs success on the defensive interior. 

Xzavier McLeod is a transfer who could figure into the mix. He 

signed with South Carolina and played sparingly a year ago. Now 

he gives Georgia more depth and size up front. 

The Bulldogs put together an outstanding defensive line 

recruiting class, including: Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Jordan Thomas, 

Justin Greene, Nnamdi Ogboko, Quintavious Johnson (who could 

play some OLB) and Nasir Johnson. The Bulldogs haven’t shied 

away from playing freshmen during Smart’s remarkable tenure. 

If Georgia makes a run, these freshmen could provide the depth, 

reinforcements and fresh, strong legs for the stretch push. 

next step is consistency at his new home. Williams has first team 

All-American and high first round pick upside. Chaz Chambliss 

is a veteran presence and there are some lights out second year 

talents - Damon Wilson, Gabe Harris and Samuel M’Pemba. 

Presuming the progression continues, this position should be an 

enormous talent supply for the Bulldogs. 

Jalon Walker, like Williams, is an X-Factor. No. 11 in the red 

helmet is a versatile play-maker. He can line up all across the 

field. Walker makes plays. An all-star season could be in the cards, 

playing inside, and out. He’s a football player. 

Smael Mondon is back for his senior season. He is an All-SEC 

talent and leader of the squad. CJ Allen got his feet wet as a 

freshman, and moved into a starting role due to injury. If this 

pair stays healthy, along with Walker and those young outside 

‘backers, Georgia should bring some serious punch to the 

position. Raylen Wilson and Troy Bowles are set for their second 

season, top flight recruits who continue to climb the depth chart. 

Georgia recruited - shocker - here very well. Justin Williams, Chris 

Cole and Kris Jones are all out of state products who ranked as 

blue chippers. That’s depth, talent and potential special teams 

standouts. 

SECONDARY 

This position group was hit hard by the NFL Draft. Javon Bullard, 

an all time great Georgia safety, Kamari Lassiter, one of the best 

corners to ever don the silver britches, and Tykee Smith, who had 

a tremendous 2023 campaign, were all high picks and leave huge 

shoes to fill. 

Junior safety Malaki Starks is the headline returnee. A first team 

All-American last season, the SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year 

in 2022, Starks is the total package. He has great instincts, a nose 

for the ball, great coverage skills and is a physical tackler. Starks 

burst onto the scene with a spectacular interception against 

Oregon in his first ever game as a Bulldog in 2022. Two weeks 

later, he had a 42-yard INT return against South Carolina to set up 

a touchdown. Over two seasons, he has five picks and 120 tackles. 

Georgia needs for Starks to play big once again, and show the 

way for a reloaded secondary. 

CORNERBACK 

JULIAN HUMPHREY 

WILL BE IN THE MIX 

FOR A STARTING 

POSITION 


LINEBACKERS 

On the outside, Mykel Williams is the headliner. He has shown 

flashes through his first two seasons of being a great player. The 


FOOTBALL 

MORE SPORTS 

Dan Jackson is another play-maker, back as a front runner 

to start alongside Starks at safety. He had interceptions in 

each of the last two seasons against South Carolina, and has 

been a ++ special teams ace, blocking punts and covering 

kicks, a la the splendid coverage tackle he had to kick off the 

Orange Bowl. 

Highly touted sophomore Joenel Aguero is physical. He can 

play safety or the STAR position. Same for hard hitting senior 

David Daniel-Sisavanah. JaCorey Thoas, transfer Jake Pope 

and Justyn Rhett give Georgia depth at the position. 

Daylen Everette is back for a second season as a starting 

cornerback. He played well last season, and closed strong 

with an interception against Florida State. Surrounded by 

four all-stars, he had a lot of balls coming his way, and did 

a nice job. Julian Humphrey was emerging, but injuries cut 

his season short. Daniel Harris got some significant snaps in 

Miami and the Bulldogs are high on him. 

There are four highly touted true freshmen the Bulldogs 

brought in who could all see action. It can be nervy to play 

freshmen in the secondary, but K.J. Bolden, Ellis Robinson, 

Demello Jones and Ondre Evans will all be hungry for snaps. 

It might be a bit greedy to hope that one of these standouts 

could have an immediate impact like Starks, but there is 

some standout talent amongst this group. And the Bulldogs 

are hoping to play 16 games this season. 

Year Four Coming Soon! 

SPECIAL TEAMS 

Georgia’s two biggest question marks heading into 

last season were quarterback and kicker. Even the most 

optimistic of Georgia fans would have been hard pressed 

anticipating the caliber of seasons that Carson Beck and 

Peyton Woodring had in 2023. Both were sensational. Now 

both spots are viewed as positions of strength. And you 

better be able to trust your quarterback and kicker. 

The sophomore Woodring got off to a bit of a shaky start, 

but beginning with a pair of clutch field goals in Georgia’s 

27-20 victory at Auburn, he was as good as any kicker in the 

country. Woodring made 21 of 25 field goals, all 71 extra 

points and led the SEC in scoring with 134. 

Georgia’s biggest question mark heading into 2022 was 

punter. Jake Camarda is one of the best in Georgia history. 

The Bulldogs haven’t missed a beat. Thorson is one of 

the best in Bulldogs lore. The opposition did not return 

a punt against the Bulldogs last season. That is ZERO 

return yardage. On just 32 punts, he averaged 43.8 yards 

per attempt, and was a master at landing kicks deep in 

enemy territory. That’s where punting yardage can be a bit 

deceiving. As a freshman, he punted 36 times for an average 

of 48 yards. The highlight came against Tennessee. With 

the Bulldogs leading 7-3, he smoked a 75-yarder that was 

downed at the one-yard line in Georgia’s monumental 27-13 

victory over the Vols. The case can be made that it is the 

greatest punt in Sanford Stadium history. 

Will Snellings is the frontrunner at snapper, a position 

where Georgia has been consistently strong. Beck figures to 

again be the holder. 

Evans flashed at punt returner late last year. 

There are several options on kickoff returns, including Bell. 

Special teams have been a weapon for Kirby’s Dawgs dating 

back to 2017. Georgia’s depth teamed with high quality 

kickers is a big reason. 

There is no reason to think the Bulldogs won’t again be 

exceptional on special teams, a must as Georgia once again 

is a front-runner to contend for the highest of national 

honors. 

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FROM THE 

field 

BY GREG POOLE 

EXAMINING 2024 DAWGS MANTRA - ASSUME NOTHING 

Kirby Smart, a coach renowned for 

his unique blend of intensity and 

discipline, has not only established a 

foundation of exceptional success but 

also transformed the way we perceive 

coaching. His coaching philosophy, 

which places significant emphasis on 

fostering interpersonal connections 

among teammates, has proven to be 

a transformative factor in creating a 

championship environment and elevating 

team performance. 

Coach Smart’s approach to building 

connections is practical and instills a 

deep sense of belonging and recognition 

within the team. It starts with something 

as simple as learning teammates’ names, 

a gesture that can foster a profound 

connection. 

Here is what Kirby said in early spring 

about a challenge he issued to an 

incoming freshman buying into building 

connections: 

“You’ve been here three months, can you 

name the front row of this team meeting? 

It’s not like he just got there; he’s been 

there three months, he’s been in workouts, 

he’s been in interactions , and he went 

down the row and he named about 10 out 

of 20.” 

Building those connections is necessary 

to reach championship-level performance. 

Phil Knight’s Nike philosophy of ‘assume 

nothing,’ which encourages a proactive 

and accountable mindset, is at the heart 

of Smart’s 2024 connections-oriented 

direction for the program. This philosophy, 

often summarized as ‘don’t take anything 

for granted,’ emphasizes the importance 

of constant vigilance and effort. It aligns 

perfectly with Smart’s belief that players 

should always strive for improvement and 

not rest on their laurels. 

ASSUME NOTHING 

1. Make sure people keep their promises. 

2. Push yourself, push others. 

3. Stretch the possible. 

The 2023 bowl season served as a 

powerful testament to the significance of 

promise-keeping in Smart’s coaching 

credo. Despite not making the College 

Football Playoff, Smart’s Dawgs stood 

firm despite the setback. They showcased 

their commitment by showing up and 

dominating Florida State, while many 

Seminole starters, who had neglected 

their program and fans, left their 

teammates to bear the consequences. 

This stark contrast underscores the 

profound impact and the absolute 

necessity of promise-keeping in sports, 

instilling a sense of accountability and 

commitment in every player. 

Smart’s adopted principles also apply 

to coaches. Glenn Schumann and Todd 

Hartley, both key members of Smart’s 

coaching staff, stand out as examples. 

Schumann, who came to UGA with 

Smart from Bama, and Hartley, who 

returned to Athens in 2019, have not only 

embraced the promise-keeping mantra 

but also fostered personal growth in 

their respective rooms. Their leadership 

and commitment to Smart’s coaching 

philosophy have been instrumental in the 

team’s success. For example, Schumann’s 

focus on individual development has 

seen several players grow significantly 

under his guidance. Hartley’s emphasis 

on player cohesion has contributed 

considerably to the tight end room’s 

growth into one of the team’s most 

productive rooms. 

Pushing teammates is not just a part 

of athletic training but also the heart of 

Smart’s coaching philosophy. We’ve all 

seen weight room videos of coaches and 

teammates cheering on a try for a new 

personal record lift. The lifter consistently 

achieves his lift because we don’t record 

his failures, but every player experiences 

them. Pushing oneself in the context 

of sports training means constantly 

challenging one’s limits, whether it’s 

lifting heavier weights, running faster, 

or improving technique. It’s not just a 

strategy, but a mindset that starts with 

training before even trying for a new 

personal record and making repeated 

attempts before reaching the goal. 

Kirby believes that you play like you 

practice, and this relentless drive and 

determination are what sets champions 

apart. This concept of pushing oneself is 

a fundamental part of Smart’s coaching 

philosophy, and it plays a crucial role in 

his team’s success. 

Linebacker Jalon Walker immediately 

comes to mind when thinking of pushing 

teammates (and himself). As the son of a 

football coach, Walker was no stranger to 

the ‘pushing’ concepts, and he embraced 

them fully at Georgia. His dedication to 

his training and his teammates; as well 

as, his commitment to the team’s success 

is a testament to the effectiveness of 


Smart’s coaching philosophy. Leadership 

is in his genes, and he has become a role 

model for his teammates, embodying the 

principles of Smart’s coaching philosophy 

in his every action on and off the field. 

Stretching the possible could also 

be expressed as pushing the envelope. 

The concept boils down to refusing 

to accept the conventional wisdom 

of what is possible. In the context 

of Smart’s coaching philosophy, this 

means constantly challenging the team 

to exceed their perceived limits and 

strive for excellence. One hallmark of 

Kirby Smart’s tenure at UGA has been 

consistently developing three-star 

recruits into NFL draft picks. This feat 

was once considered unlikely but has 

become a regular occurrence at UGA due 

to the team’s commitment to pushing the 

envelope. 

Milledgeville’s Javon Bullard and 

Chatsworth’s Ladd McConkey are two 

recent names that illustrate UGA’s 

success at identifying, developing and 

training less-than-blue-chip signees. 

Both were three-star prospects according 

to multiple recruiting ratings services, 

and both went on to play crucial roles in 

Georgia’s recent national championships. 

Their journey from three-star recruits 

to NFL draft picks is a clear example of 

how Smart’s coaching philosophy, which 

emphasizes the importance of individual 

player development and the team’s 

commitment to pushing the envelope, 

has not just led to the team’s remarkable 

success but also instilled a sense of 

accomplishment and inspiration in every 

player. 

According to the recruiting services, the 

Dawgs’ likely starting center, Jared Wilson, 

was a three-star recruit. However, Kirby 

and his staff evaluated him as capable 

of replacing four-star recruit and fifthround 

draft pick Sedrick Van Pran. Player 

development and careful recruiting 

evaluations have consistently enabled 

Smart to mine front-line SEC talent from 

lower-ranked recruits. 

Kirby Smart could restrict his recruiting 

efforts to blue-chip prospects, allow his 

staffers to implement their motivational 

philosophies, and confine his interactions 

with his players to the practice fields and 

meeting rooms. However, his approach 

to coaching is holistic. Georgia builds 

football players, but more importantly, 

Smart’s approach to coaching builds 

leaders.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY. 

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