Kirby Smart (Head Coach) – The nation’s top standing head coach has now won 42 straight regular season games. Kirby Smart is headed to his former stomping grounds in Tuscaloosa, Alabama for the second time as a head coach. Coach Smart’s first matchup in T-Town as a head coach happened during the Covid season, and the Dawgs fell short 41-24. Now, Smart has the chance to defeat Kalen DeBoer in the new Bama coach’s first SEC game as the leader of the Crimson Tide.
Carson Beck (QB #15) – Saturday’s game against Alabama may be the most defining performance of Carson Beck’s Georgia career. Coming off one of Georgia’s worst offensive performances in the Kirby Smart era, Beck has the chance to completely rewrite the narrative surrounding this Bulldog team. Now, he has been given the opportunity to get the bad taste out of his mouth from Kentucky, against the same team that ended the highly-touted quarterback’s playoff hopes last season. A big game from Beck is a must for the Dawgs to have a shot at beating the nation’s No. 4 ranked team.
Dominic Lovett (WR #6) – Coming off his best performance of the season, Dominic Lovett is looking to keep things rolling. Not only was it his best performance of the season, but against Kentucky, Lovett had the best game of his career since transferring to Georgia. He seems to always be on the field. His impact is evident as both a receiving leader and special teams player. A big game is needed from Lovett to help the Bulldogs put up enough points on the board to conquer the Tide.
Jared Wilson (Center #55) – Jared Wilson had to step up as a leader this past game as fellow lineman Tate Ratledge went down with an injury. Ratledge is now out for six-plus weeks after undergoing tight-rope surgery. This coming matchup is the important game yet for an offensive lineman to make a statement as a vocal leader. Wilson is both excellent at pass-blocking and can reach the second level. His ability to help the run game and be the anchor of the offensive line is well within reach.
Ben Yurosek (TE #84) – The former Stanford tight end has yet to make much of an impact offensively for the Bulldogs. Now would be a great time for the graduate transfer to make a name for himself in his new scheme. He didn’t see much action against Kentucky, but there may be some use of 13 personnel against Alabama. In whatever way needed, Yurosek’s experience in the league could pay dividends to a group that seems to be missing the great Brock Bowers.
Smael Mondon Jr. (LB #2) – The senior linebacker has tallied 12 tackles through the first three games of the season. As one of the veteran leaders of the defense, he has the opportunity to help calm the nerves of some of the younger players in the raucous environment that they will be playing in. Communication will be key across the defense. Mondon Jr. will be a big help in identifying Jalen Milroe as a runner, as well as stopping Alabama’s talented running back room. He will have to make a major impact against Milroe for the Dawgs to have a shot at stopping Alabama’s versatile offense.
KJ Bolden (Safety #4) – True freshman safety KJ Bolden has taken the college football world by storm. It seems like just yesterday Bolden was committed to the Seminoles, but now, he is a bonafide starter in Travaris Robinson’s position group. He flies around the field. The biggest concern is his size. Bolden tends to go for hard hits and can sometimes struggle to wrap up against college veterans. As he continues to develop both physically and in the Georgia scheme, Bolden will be a force to be reckoned with. For now, Georgia fans need him to slow down Alabama’s offense by any means necessary.
Daylen Everette (CB #6) – Georgia’s No. 1 corner has had solid showings thus far. Daylen Everette seems to have shown improvement through his offseason training. It has not been confirmed but is likely that he will match up against star Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams. Lining up against Williams will be Everette’s hardest task of the season yet and maybe the hardest task possible for a cornerback in college football. In his third season, he has the chance to prove his ability to be elite.
Georgia is the first school in history to have three alumni win Super Bowl Most Valuable Player honors – Jake Scott for the Dolphins, Denver’s Terrell Davis, and Hines Ward of Pittsburgh.
From 2021-2023, Georgia posted records of 14-1, 15-0 and 13-1 for a cumulative mark of 42-2. The Bulldogs won two national championships and five major bowls/CFP title games.
Two Georgia golfers have won professional major championships – Bubba Watson donned the Green Jacket at the 2012 and 2014 Masters, while Brian Harman won the 2023 British Open.