Kirby Smart (Head Coach) – This will be one of the biggest regular season matchups that coach Kirby Smart has had to prepare for in his time at Georgia. It will be on him to ensure that the Dawgs remain composed against the toughest opponent they’ve faced so far. The Dawgs’ performance against the Vols on Saturday will be the direct results of Smart’s preparation.
Daijun Edwards (RB #30) – The Tenneesee Volunteers are one of the nation’s leaders in plays ran per game. When they have the ball they play fast, and they use that tempo to their advantage, keeping opposing teams on edge. That’s where Daijun Edwards comes in. Using the ground game, Georgia will manage tempo their own way holding onto the ball and keeping out of the hands of the volatile Volunteers offense.
Stetson Bennett (QB #13) – Similarly to Edwards, Stetson Bennett should be tasked with the role of game manager against Tennessee. The Volunteers will ask a lot of Bennett’s leadership. In what will be the Georgia Bulldogs most anticipated matchup of the year. It will be Bennett’s responsibility to pay close attention to the details that will make or break this game. Though the Volunteer’s Hendon Hooker has all the hype right now, many forget about Bennett’s 2022 campaign. Thus far he’s thrown for over 2,000 total passing yards and should only add to that come Saturday.
Ladd McConkey (WR #84) – Explosiveness and efficient offensive drives will be key to getting ahead of the Volunteers, and explosiveness is just what third-year wideout Ladd McConkey has to offer. Last year McConkey caught 31 passes for 447 yards, and halfway through this year, he’s already on pace to almost double that. Georgia will need to implement his speed into the game plan in order to keep up with the Volunteers.
Jalen Carter (DL #88) – Jalen Carter is undoubtedly the best interior defensive lineman in the country, he just hasn’t had the opportunity to play because of injury. In his limited time against Florida last Saturday, you could see him moving people and affecting the quarterback. That type of disruption should be what you see against the Volunteers. He’s still recovering from his MCL injury, but he’s good enough to play. Another week’s worth of treatment should allow him to play a bigger role.
Christopher Smith (DB #29) – Redshirt senior Chris Smith is playing absolutely out of his mind. At the safety position he’s made 27 tackles, three pass deflections, two interceptions, and one sack. You can trust him to do almost anything on the defense. In his final year at Georgia, Smith has earned a major leadership position on the team and his play has shown he’s worthy of that.
Javon Bullard (DB #22) – Coach Smart said that one thing Tennesee does well is run the ball. Playing at STAR, Javon Bullard’s presence on the field will allow the Georgia defense to guard the speed of a receiver while maintaining enough physicality to stop the run. With the tempo at which the Volunteers play, keeping a player like Bullard on the field makes sense because of his versatility.