Carson Beck (QB #15) – Beck has firmly established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC. The gunslinger is coming off a homecoming to remember in his return to Jacksonville where the Bulldog quarterback threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns. Beck, as he has done throughout the season, showed poise and confidence on third down, and emphatically answered the question, “What will this offense do without Brock Bowers?” Bulldog fans should remember the scare in Columbia, Missouri last year, and with an even stronger Tiger team heading into Athens this week, Beck will need to have another strong performance to continue the Bulldogs’ pursuit of perfection.
Daijun Edwards (RB #30) – Edwards is coming off yet another monster performance against the Florida Gators. The Colquitt County native has been exceptional since returning from injury, carrying the ball 95 times for 556 yards and eight touchdowns. Edwards’ silky style of running and exceptional lateral movement has kept the Bulldog offense in front of the sticks, and his ability to gain positive yards on first down is critical for the Bulldog offense’s rushing success. This Saturday, Edwards will need to continue to run the ball effectively in the redzone to ensure the Bulldogs don’t leave points on the field and maximize offensive possessions against a stout Missouri defense.
Dominic Lovett (WR #6) – Lovett was an excellent edition from the transfer portal after the receiver decided his time in Columbia, Missouri was finished following the 2022 season. With this game being a personal one, playing against his former team, Lovett will surely be expecting to have another monster performance, proving his worth to the Bulldog faithful. Lovett is coming off a strong performance against the Gators where he had four grabs for 83 yards, bringing his tally to 365 yards total on the season which is second on the team behind Brock Bowers. Lovett will be a monster part of Georgia’s gameplan Saturday in Athens.
Tykee Smith (DB #23) – Smith has been flat out phenomenal for the Bulldogs so far in 2023 and has taken over Georgia’s nickel-corner position, or STAR, as they refer to it, beautifully. Smith is currently second on the team in total tackles with 33, just four behind leading tackler, Smael Mondon Jr. While Smith was known for his physical style of play early in his career at West Virginia, his pass coverage has been most impressive for the Bulldog defense in 2023. No. 23 leads the Georgia defense in interceptions with four on the season. Missouri has one of the top receiving units in the Country, and Smith will be a critical component to stopping the Tiger’s aerial attack.
Kamari Lassiter (DB #3) – Lassiter has fully asserted himself as a top defensive back, not just in the SEC, but in college football. The corner has been a blanket this season for the Bulldog defense and as a result is not often tested. This week, Lassiter will face a Missouri offense whose greatest strength is their dominant receiving unit. Because of this, there is no question Lassiter will have to be at the top of his game and showcase his top-tier coverage ability.
Jamon Dumas-Johnson (LB #10) – Mr. Reliable for the Georgia defense showed out again, living in the Florida backfield this past Saturday. Dumas-Johnson has been Georgia’s most effective player getting to the quarterback this season, totaling three and a half sacks so far in 2023. Georgia will need to pressure Brady Cook in order to slow down Missouri’s offense, and Dumas-Johnson will be relied on heavily to disrupt the passer. Expect another dominant outing from Georgia’s defensive quarterback this Saturday.
Before Missouri entered the Southeastern Conference in 2012, the Bulldogs and Tigers had met just once on the gridiron, with Georgia winning the 1960 Orange Bowl 14-0 over Mizzou.
In the Bulldogs 49-14 victory over the Tigers in Columbia in 2020, Georgia scored the final 35 points of the game. Zamir White ran for 126 yards and Georgia Pickens had 126 receiving.