Senior defensive lineman, Jonathan Ledbetter played his last game as a Bulldog Tuesday evening. As someone who was part of the transition from the Mark Richt to the Kirby Smart era, he knows just how much the program has changed in three short years.

Ledbetter says his legacy is simple and something that will benefit future Bulldogs. He realizes that his time as a Bulldog is greater than himself.

“Georgia’s heading a different direction than it was a couple years back. I can say I was a part of that group that laid the foundation for that. Obviously, you see the standards changing, despite today, tough loss. Played a good physical team,” Ledbetter stated. “But the culture of Georgia has become something greater than it ever was. I think it will continue to do that way beyond when I’m gone.”

Ledbetter and this senior class were the beginning of Smart’s time at Georgia and now their time at Georgia is finished. Personally for him, being a part of this culture change was a big deal.

“I was a start of it, and that’s big for me. I’m grateful to be that,” Ledbetter said. “I’m grateful that the school allowed me to be there and took a chance on me and picked me as a leader for this team and just to get the thing started off in the right way.”

The culture at Georgia continues to change, and despite Georgia falling to Texas in the Sugar Bowl, the players know that the future is bright. Ledbetter and the rest of the seniors are just the beginning of what could potentially be something special. Now it’s up to the freshmen he and the other leaders have helped all season; it is their time to leave their legacy as a Bulldog.