Kirby Smart (HC) – After securing his 100th win as head coach of the Bulldogs against No. 1 Texas a few weeks ago, Smart leads his team into Oxford, Mississippi for a battle with Ole Miss. While the season has certainly had its ups and downs, his team sits atop the college football world yet again. Everyone is looking to knock off Smart’s squad any chance they can. In his first season in Athens, Coach Smart lost to Hugh Freeze and the Rebels in a 45-14 blowout. Now facing Lane Kiffin’s aggressive, high-flying attack, he will try to avenge the loss from his earlier days to keep the Dawgs atop the SEC and national standings.
Carson Beck (QB #15) – Georgia’s star signal-caller passed the 2,000-yard mark after tallying 309 yards and two touchdowns against the Gators in his hometown of Jacksonville. However, Beck still struggled with the turnovers, throwing three interceptions. While a change at the quarterback position is likely not in play, Beck’s performance against the Rebels could be the biggest factor in the outcome of this game. If he continues to turn the ball over to an Ole Miss offense that can score in a hurry, it could be a tough night for the Bulldogs. Look for Beck to have a controlled tempo game in Oxford.
Arian Smith (WR #11) – The senior leads the team in receiving with 303 yards, along with three touchdowns on the year. Smith is the Dawgs best deep threat, with three catches for over 45 yards this season. Keep an eye on Smith to break through the Rebels secondary for an explosive play to silence the Rebel faithful in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Lawson Luckie (TE #7) – With lots of focus on players such as Smith and Etienne, a breakout game from Luckie could very well be in play. So far this season, Luckie and the rest of the tight end room are still looking to break through for impactful plays. The sophomore from Norcross has just 12 receptions on the year with 183 yards and three touchdowns. With that being said, this upcoming game could be just what this versatile tight end needs to succeed.
KJ Bolden (DB #4) – This freshman standout has 29 tackles on the year with one interception. In last week’s game versus Florida, Bolden was second on the team with five tackles. As he continues to show Bulldog Nation each week what he’s capable of bringing to this defense, the former five star will continue to find ways to disrupt Jaxson Dart and his connection with his wide receivers. Adding another interception to the stat books could go a long way, as well.
Jalon Walker (LB #11) – Walker took over college football and the media after his amazing performance against Texas. With eight tackles and three sacks, his name could be seen across many social media outlets. Against the Gators, his lone highlight came on a fumble recovery of a botched field goal attempt. Now facing Ole Miss, he will be looking for a similar performance against a ranked SEC foe. This linebacker will certainly give Kiffin and Dart headaches for 60 minutes.
Daylen Everette (DB #6) – In road SEC games, winning the turnover battle can go a long way in ensuring a win. For Everette, he has the ability to do just that. He was another Dawg who showed out against Texas, forcing two turnovers. He and his fellow defensive backs will need to be ball hawks this weekend to keep the Rebels offense off the field and the scoreboard.
In Georgia’s 31-17 victory over Ole Miss in 2002, Tim Jennings made the play of the game with a pick-six off the arm of Eli Manning. The Bulldogs finished that year 13-1 and No. 3 in the land.
Georgia beat Ole MIss 33-10 in 1982, as the Dogs intercepted seven passes, Herschel Walker broke the SEC career rushing record and Kevin Butler nailed a 59-yard FG to close the half.
Freshman standout Rodney Hampton ran for 227 yards and posted a school record for all-purpose yards in a single game with 290, as the Bulldogs defeated Ole Miss 31-24 in 1987.