University of Georgia Athletics
Game Notes: Dawgs Host Nicholls In Home Opener
September 05, 2016 | Football
Sept. 5, 2016
This is the first meeting between the Bulldogs and the Colonels.
Georgia plays host to Nicholls for the 2016 home opener at Sanford Stadium. This marks the season opener for Nicholls and the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Nicholls is located in Thibodaux, La., and the enrollment at the university is 6,300. They have been playing football since 1971 and joined the Southland Conference in 1991. The Colonels last win over an FBS team came in 2013, registering a victory at Western Michigan. Later this season, Georgia welcomes another Louisiana team to Sanford Stadium as the Ragin' Cajuns from Lafayette return for the first time since 2010. That year, Georgia cruised to a 55-7 win.
Bulldog sophomore wideout Michael Chigbu is the lone Georgia player from the Pelican State while the Colonels have no members from Georgia. Chigbu graduated from Holy Cross High School in New Orleans where he was a teammate of Nicholls sophomore linebacker Adrian Richardson and junior defensive back/returner Joel Dullary.
Last year, Nicholls went 3-8 including 3-6 in the Southland Conference. Head coach Tim Rebowe welcomes 18 starters back (seven on offense, nine on defense and two on special teams) including quarterback Figaro Tuskani. Tuskani started the first nine games last year before a season-ending injury to his collarbone against Lamar. It came at the end of a 75-yard scamper when he was tackled by defensive back Brendan Langley, a former Bulldog who spent his freshman year in Athens in 2013.
Tuskani directed the Colonels to an FBS road win over Western Michigan in 2013, a season when he set the school record for rushing with 1,103 yards.
The Kirby Smart era began last weekend in the Georgia Dome with a 33-24 win over #22 North Carolina from the ACC in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game. The rest of Georgia's 2016 non-conference slate includes Nicholls, UL Lafayette and Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs own a 1-0 record versus the Ragin' Cajuns after beating them 55-7 in the 2010 season opener in Athens. Georgia leads the series with the Yellow Jackets 65-38-5 as the Bulldogs have won 13 out of the last 15, including last year's 13-7 victory.
Debut Of UGA Head Coaches Since Vince Dooley {Final Rec. in 1st Season}
Vince Dooley (1964) #6 Alabama beat Georgia 31-3 in Tuscaloosa {7-3-1}
Ray Goff (1989) Georgia beat Baylor 15-3 in Athens {6-6}
Jim Donnan (1996) Southern Miss beat Georgia 11-7 in Athens {5-6}
Mark Richt (2001) Georgia beat Arkansas State 45-17 in Athens {8-4}
Kirby Smart (2016) #18 Georgia beat #22 North Carolina 33-24 (Georgia Dome)
The Southeastern Conference has created a patch to recognize student-athletes who have already earned their undergraduate degrees - and the Bulldogs have four who fit the bill. OT Tyler Catalina, QB Greyson Lambert, DB Maurice Smith and receiver Kenneth Towns are seniors athletically and are all pursuing graduate degrees. Catalina (Rhode Island), Lambert (Virginia) and Smith (Alabama) join Towns, who is in his fifth year with the Bulldogs. Towns was a former walk-on from Albany, Ga., who earned a scholarship before the 2016 season.
The Bulldogs are 4-1 all-time versus the Tigers. UGA blanked Missouri 14-0 in the 1960 Orange Bowl and is 3-1 against the Tigers since Mizzou joined the SEC.
*2015 averages
Head Coach Kirby Smart
When Georgia looked for a new head football coach after the 2015 season, the arrows all pointed to Kirby Smart, longtime University of Alabama defensive coordinator and former Bulldog player and assistant coach.
On Dec. 6, 2015, Smart officially came home to Georgia. But he had unfinished business at Alabama, which was still chasing a national title. He juggled two jobs for a month until January 11, 2016, when the Crimson Tide won its fourth national championship in a 7-year span. Twelve hours later, he was in Athens ready to go to work.
When Smart was named head coach he said "It's an honor and privilege to return home to the University of Georgia and my home state. I'm deeply appreciative of the faith President Morehead, Greg McGarity, and the Athletic Board Executive Committee have demonstrated in asking me to lead one of the truly great college football programs in the country. I also want to thank Coach Saban. I have been fortunate to spend 11 seasons with him as my mentor and have learned a tremendous amount from him as a coach and teacher. I'm honored and excited for the opportunity at Georgia and promise high energy, effort every day, and hard work every minute on the part of all our coaches, staff and student-athletes."
Smart has served on the Alabama staff the past nine years, the past seven as defensive coordinator. During his tenure at Alabama, the Crimson Tide won three BCS National Championships, one College Football Playoff national title, three Southeastern Conference crowns, six SEC western division titles, and was ranked in the nation's final top ten rankings the last eight years in a row.
A former standout defensive back and scholar-athlete at Georgia, Smart was one of the nation's most respected defensive coordinators. During his time at Alabama, he coached players at three different positions, in addition to his coordinating duties. He was recognized as the 2012 AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2009 Broyles Award winner as college football's top assistant coach. He was also a finalist for the 2015 Broyles Award.
A four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Smart received his BBA degree in Finance from UGA in 1998 and his M.S. in Physical Education from Florida State in 2003. The Bainbridge, Ga., native is married to the former Mary Beth Lycett of McDonough, Ga., a 4-year letterwinner, and 2-year starter, on the Georgia women's basketball team from 2000-2003. The couple met long after their undergraduate days at UGA, when Lycett -- then working in the UGAAA business office -- helped arrange Smart's trip to interview for the Bulldogs' running backs coaching job in 2005. They are now the proud parents of twins Weston and Julia (Feb. 8, 2008) and son Andrew (May 25, 2012).
Did You Know?
Kirby Smart is one of nine head coaches at schools from Power 5 conferences that are coaching at their alma maters.
The complete list:
Paul Chryst (Wisconsin) Barry Odom (Missouri)
Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern) Mark Richt (Miami)
Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State) David Shaw (Stanford)
Jim Harbaugh (Michigan) Kirby Smart (GEORGIA)
Cliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech)
Quick Facts
DOG TRACKS
After transferring to UGA from Virginia to start graduate school during the 2015 summer, Greyson Lambert is back for his final year of eligibility. The Jesup, Ga., native has started the season opener the past two years and started a total of 13 games, going 11-2 in those contests.
Lambert, freshman Jacob Eason and junior Brice Ramsey competed for the starting spot this season. Eason saw his first action in the win over #22 North Carolina and completed 8-of- 12 for 131 yards and a score (Isaiah McKenzie). When the Bulldogs trailed 24-14 in the third quarter, Eason was at the controls and directed a five-play, 75-yard TD drive in 1:43. During the scoring drive that brought Georgia within three points, the Bulldogs converted a 3rd-and-5, 3rd-and-7 and 3rd-and-8.
New offensive coordinator Jim Chaney will also coach the QBs. He is a 30-year coaching veteran of the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and the NFL. Chaney served the 2015 season at Pittsburgh following a two-year tenure at Arkansas. He also served as Offensive Coordinator at Tennessee (2009-12), Purdue (1997- 2005) and Cal State-Fullerton (1988-92). From 2006-08, Chaney coached in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams.
Junior Nick Chubb returned to the lineup in dramatic fashion in the season opener against #22 North Carolina. After sustaining a season-ending knee injury in the sixth game last year at Tennessee (Oct. 10, 2015), he underwent surgery and extensive rehab. Against the Tar Heels, he tallied a Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game record 222 yards rushing on 32 carries. This marked his third career 200-yard game with only legendary running back Herschel Walker having more in his Bulldog days (nine). Also, Chubb went for a career-high 266 yards, (an SEC bowl record) versus #20 Louisville in the 2014 Belk Bowl, and his first 200- yard game came in a 2014 road win over Arkansas (202).
The centerpieces of the Bulldog backfield are Chubb and Sony Michel. Chubb had tallied 747 yards and seven touchdowns on 92 carries (8. 1 avg.) through the first five games of last season and the opening play versus the Volunteers before his injury. Chubb practiced at full-speed for most of the 2016 preseason camp.
Michel returns after he became the 10th Georgia player in history to rush for more than 1,000 yards while starting just six games last year. Michel moved into the starting role after Chubb, who became the ninth running back with 1,000+ in 2014, went down with the aforementioned knee injury at Tennessee. Michel sustained a broken left forearm in early July 2016, was limited during preseason camp and did not play versus North Carolina.
Senior Brendan Douglas has played in 37 games at tailback over the last four years and saw action in the win over the Tar Heels rushing for 23 yards and picking up a 7-yard catch.
With Michel unavailable in game one, freshman Brian Herrien took advantage of some playing time and recorded 59 yards on seven carries, including a 19-yard touchdown on his first career carry.
Georgia returns five of its top six receivers from last year's campaign. Sophomore Terry Godwin, junior TE Jeb Blazevich, senior Reggie Davis and junior Isaiah McKenzie, among others, will be called on to help lead. In the season-opening win over #22 North Carolina, six different Bulldogs caught a pass, highlighted by the performances of McKenzie and sophomore Michael Chigbu.
McKenzie posted career highs in catches (six) and receiving yards (122) and hauled in his first career touchdown catch. Chigbu completed the game with three receptions for 27 yards.
Godwin's career highlights include becoming the first Bulldog in school history to catch and throw a touchdown during a bowl game when he earned MVP honors in Georgia's win over Penn State at the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl. The Hogansville, Ga., native started nine games as a true freshman last year and was second on the team with 35 catches for 379 yards and two touchdowns.
This season, three of the five starters on the offensive line return from 2015. Seniors Greg Pyke (OG/OT) and Brandon Kublanow (C/OG) and junior Isaiah Wynn (OT) have combined for 65 career starts. The Bulldogs also benefit from getting graduate transfer Tyler Catalina and the emergence of redshirt sophomore Lamont Gaillard as they joined the aforementioned trio in the starting lineup for the season opening win over #22 UNC. Junior guard Dyshon Sims, who has played in 17 games and started one, is in the rotation as well.
The line of scrimmage helped pave the way for 289 rushing yards and 474 yards of total offense against the #22 Tar Heels. However, the Bulldogs did surrender four sacks versus UNC.
Georgia's first test came against a high-powered UNC offense after the #22 Tar Heels set school records in points in a season, points per game and touchdowns in 2015, posting 40.7 points per game. The Bulldogs held the Tar Heels to 24 points and 315 total yards on offense. Most importantly when the Bulldogs fell behind 24-14 with 6:34 left in the third period, the Georgia defense blanked North Carolina the rest of the game as the Bulldogs rallied back for a 33-24 victory.
Mel Tucker is the new Defensive Coordinator and coaches the secondary after serving one year on the Alabama staff as Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Backs coach. Before that, Tucker worked for seven years as an NFL coordinator with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns. He was the Jaguars interim head coach for the final five games of the 2011 season.
Junior Malkom Parrish had a team-high seven tackles while junior Aaron Davis had five stops and graduate transfer Maurice Smith also had five tackles plus two pass breakups. Smith joined the team late in the summer after graduating and completing his undergraduate career at Alabama. Smith played in all 15 games for the 14-1 national champions in 2015 and finished with 15 stops. He played in 41 career games (starting two) and made 38 tackles, 1.5 sacks, five pass break-ups, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery for Alabama.
All-SEC performer Dominick Sanders returns for the Bulldogs after recording a league-leading six picks in 2015 and complemented those turnovers with 48 tackles from his safety spot. Sanders finished last year with a UGA single season record of 205 interception return yards, which ranked fifth in SEC history. He already is fourth in the UGA record books with 269 yards in his two years.
Georgia's success in the season opener versus #22 UNC was due in part to winning the battle on the line of scrimmage. Along with veterans DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle, Trenton Thompson and John Atkins, a host of underclassmen contributed against the Tar Heels. True freshman David Marshall finished with four tackles, including the team's only sack, off the bench. Fellow true freshmen Julian Rochester, Tyler Clark and Michail Carter also got snaps on the frontline.
Georgia started the 2016 season with no returning starters at the four linebacker spots. Sophomores Roquan Smith and Natrez Patrick got the nod at ILB versus UNC and junior Reggie Carter returned after missing the 2015 season with shoulder surgery. Smith was second on the team with six tackles, including two tackles for loss and one of the TFLs resulted in a safety as Georgia rallied back from a 10-point deficit. Patrick added five stops against the Tar Heels.
At OLB, juniors Davin Bellamy and Lorenzo Carter are geared for breakout seasons while senior Chuks Amaechi and sophomore D'Andre Walker can give help at both LB spots. Carter had five stops against the Tar Heels while Bellamy had three. Senior ILB Ryne Rankin also returns after being voted the Special Teams Captain after the 2015 season.
Competition continues at kicker headed into game two. Redshirt sophomore William Ham handled the place kicking duties against the Tar Heels, notching his first field goal (a 29 yarder with 5:27 left in the fourth quarter to put Georgia up 26-24) and went 4-for-4 on PATs. He missed his first career attempt, a 42 yarder, in the third quarter. Ham shared kickoff duties redshirt freshman Rodrigo Blankenship.
At punter, true freshman Marshall Long handled the punting duties versus #22 North Carolina and finished with an average of 38.5 on four punts. Returning QB Brice Ramsey shared punting duties last season and finished with a 41.9 average.
Marshall Morgan completed his kicking career at Georgia in 2015 as the third-leading scorer in SEC and UGA history with 407 points. He also set the SEC record with 215 PATs made during his time in the red and black. Nathan Theus snapped for four seasons and got a free agent call from the Denver Broncos after last season. At punter, Colin Barber, who punted 164 times over the 2012-15 seasons, will also be absent from the lineup after completing his career.
Fourth-year snapper Trent Frix, who is the younger brother of former snapper Ty Frix (2009-12) and the son of former snapper Mitch Frix (1981-82). The youngest Frix served as the snapper in the season-opening win over #22 UNC.
The answers to who will be the Bulldogs' punt/kick returners is a bit easier to figure out. Junior Isaiah McKenzie is the leading candidate after already making his mark in the all-time SEC record book with his returns. His four punt returns for touchdowns rank fifth best in SEC history while his five total returns for scores (four punt returns, one kickoff return) is tied for third best in the league record books.
Senior Reggie Davis also returns after having a teamleading 17 kick returns for 394 yards (23.2 avg.) to go with eight punt returns for 110 yards and one for a touchdown at Tennessee last year that covered 70 yards.
McKenzie's Career Touchdown Returns
*started the game
The Bulldogs had six first-time starters in the 2016 season opener on offense and defense. #22 UNC: Michael Chigbu (WR), Tyler Catalina (LT), Lamont Gaillard (RG) Charlie Woerner (TE), Roquan Smith (WLB) and Maurice Smith (STAR). Additionally, all three kicking specialists made their Bulldog debut in William Ham (PK, PAT, KO), Marshall Long (P) and Rodrigo Blankenship (KO).
In the 2016 season opener, 12 true freshmen made their debut plus two redshirt freshmen.
In 2015, a total of 22 true freshmen, which led the nation, played for the Bulldogs, including 19 in the season opener and that also led the country. Thirty-three Bulldogs earned a snap for the first time in their careers last season.
Before the ULM game to start last year, the most true freshmen to play in a season opener since 2001 was 13 coming back in 2012.
The Georgia Bulldogs vs. The Nicholls State Colonels
Game & Broadcast Info
- Game 2: Georgia Bulldogs vs. Nicholls Colonels
- Kickoff: Saturday, September 10 - 12:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Sanford Stadium (92,746) in Athens, Ga.
- Records: Georgia 1-0 (0-0 SEC), Nicholls 0-0 (0-0 Southland)
- Rankings: Georgia 9/9, Nichols NR
- TV: SECN - Dave Neal (play-byplay); Matt Stinchcomb (color analyst); Olivia Harlan (sideline reporter)
- Video Stream: SECN+
- Radio: WSB AM 750 - Bulldog Network | Affiliates
Scott Howard (PxP), Eric Zeier (Color), Chuck Dowdle (sideline) - Audio Stream: georgiadogs.com | Mobile
- Satellite: 113 Sirius/190 XM
- Live Stats:
- Twitter: #NICHvsUGA
- ReBroadcast: SEC Network - 9/12 12AM, 9/14 5AM
Series History:
This is the first meeting between the Bulldogs and the Colonels.
Home Opener For The Bulldogs Under Coach Smart
Georgia plays host to Nicholls for the 2016 home opener at Sanford Stadium. This marks the season opener for Nicholls and the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Nicholls is located in Thibodaux, La., and the enrollment at the university is 6,300. They have been playing football since 1971 and joined the Southland Conference in 1991. The Colonels last win over an FBS team came in 2013, registering a victory at Western Michigan. Later this season, Georgia welcomes another Louisiana team to Sanford Stadium as the Ragin' Cajuns from Lafayette return for the first time since 2010. That year, Georgia cruised to a 55-7 win.
Bulldog-Colonel Connections
Bulldog sophomore wideout Michael Chigbu is the lone Georgia player from the Pelican State while the Colonels have no members from Georgia. Chigbu graduated from Holy Cross High School in New Orleans where he was a teammate of Nicholls sophomore linebacker Adrian Richardson and junior defensive back/returner Joel Dullary.
Last year, Nicholls went 3-8 including 3-6 in the Southland Conference. Head coach Tim Rebowe welcomes 18 starters back (seven on offense, nine on defense and two on special teams) including quarterback Figaro Tuskani. Tuskani started the first nine games last year before a season-ending injury to his collarbone against Lamar. It came at the end of a 75-yard scamper when he was tackled by defensive back Brendan Langley, a former Bulldog who spent his freshman year in Athens in 2013.
Tuskani directed the Colonels to an FBS road win over Western Michigan in 2013, a season when he set the school record for rushing with 1,103 yards.
Non-Conference Slate Continues
The Kirby Smart era began last weekend in the Georgia Dome with a 33-24 win over #22 North Carolina from the ACC in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game. The rest of Georgia's 2016 non-conference slate includes Nicholls, UL Lafayette and Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs own a 1-0 record versus the Ragin' Cajuns after beating them 55-7 in the 2010 season opener in Athens. Georgia leads the series with the Yellow Jackets 65-38-5 as the Bulldogs have won 13 out of the last 15, including last year's 13-7 victory.
Debut Of UGA Head Coaches Since Vince Dooley {Final Rec. in 1st Season}
Vince Dooley (1964) #6 Alabama beat Georgia 31-3 in Tuscaloosa {7-3-1}
Ray Goff (1989) Georgia beat Baylor 15-3 in Athens {6-6}
Jim Donnan (1996) Southern Miss beat Georgia 11-7 in Athens {5-6}
Mark Richt (2001) Georgia beat Arkansas State 45-17 in Athens {8-4}
Kirby Smart (2016) #18 Georgia beat #22 North Carolina 33-24 (Georgia Dome)
Four Graduates Included On Georgia's Roster
The Southeastern Conference has created a patch to recognize student-athletes who have already earned their undergraduate degrees - and the Bulldogs have four who fit the bill. OT Tyler Catalina, QB Greyson Lambert, DB Maurice Smith and receiver Kenneth Towns are seniors athletically and are all pursuing graduate degrees. Catalina (Rhode Island), Lambert (Virginia) and Smith (Alabama) join Towns, who is in his fifth year with the Bulldogs. Towns was a former walk-on from Albany, Ga., who earned a scholarship before the 2016 season.
On Deck: @ Missouri Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m. ET (SECN)
The Bulldogs are 4-1 all-time versus the Tigers. UGA blanked Missouri 14-0 in the 1960 Orange Bowl and is 3-1 against the Tigers since Mizzou joined the SEC.
Inside The Numbers This Season
| Georgia | 2016 Averages | Nicholls* |
| 474.0 | Total Offense | 329.0 |
| 289.0 | Rushing Offense | 181.5 |
| 185.0 | Passing Offense | 147.5 |
| 33.0 | Scoring Offense | 17.7 |
| 24.0 | Scoring Defense | 32.5 |
| -1 | Turnover Margin | -9 |
| -0.7 | Punt Returns | 3.5 |
| 24.0 | Kickoff Returns | 16.2 |
*2015 averages
Head Coach Kirby Smart
| Personal Full Name: Kirby Paul Smart Birthdate: December 23, 1975 Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama Family: Wife: Mary Beth; Children: twins Weston and Julia (Feb. 8, 2008), and Andrew (May 25, 2012) High School: Bainbridge (Ga.) College: BBA Georgia '98; MS Florida State '03 Coaching Experience 1999 Georgia Admin. Asst. 2000 Valdosta State Defensive Backs 2001 Valdosta State Def. Coord. 2002-03 Florida State Grad. Assistant 2004 LSU Defensive Backs 2005 Georgia Running Backs 2006 Miami Dolphins Safeties 2007 Alabama Asst. HC/DBs 2008-13, '15 Alabama Def. Coord./ILBs 2014 Alabama Asst. HC/Safeties 2016-current Georgia Head Coach Playing Experience Georgia (1995-98): Four-year letterman as defensive back. First team All-SEC in '98; 13 career interceptions; four-time member of SEC Academic Honor Roll. Bainbridge H.S. (1991-93): Three-year letterman in football, basketball, and baseball; first team Class AAAA All-State as a senior; 16 career interceptions. High School Coach: Sonny Smart (father) |
On Dec. 6, 2015, Smart officially came home to Georgia. But he had unfinished business at Alabama, which was still chasing a national title. He juggled two jobs for a month until January 11, 2016, when the Crimson Tide won its fourth national championship in a 7-year span. Twelve hours later, he was in Athens ready to go to work.
When Smart was named head coach he said "It's an honor and privilege to return home to the University of Georgia and my home state. I'm deeply appreciative of the faith President Morehead, Greg McGarity, and the Athletic Board Executive Committee have demonstrated in asking me to lead one of the truly great college football programs in the country. I also want to thank Coach Saban. I have been fortunate to spend 11 seasons with him as my mentor and have learned a tremendous amount from him as a coach and teacher. I'm honored and excited for the opportunity at Georgia and promise high energy, effort every day, and hard work every minute on the part of all our coaches, staff and student-athletes."
Smart has served on the Alabama staff the past nine years, the past seven as defensive coordinator. During his tenure at Alabama, the Crimson Tide won three BCS National Championships, one College Football Playoff national title, three Southeastern Conference crowns, six SEC western division titles, and was ranked in the nation's final top ten rankings the last eight years in a row.
A former standout defensive back and scholar-athlete at Georgia, Smart was one of the nation's most respected defensive coordinators. During his time at Alabama, he coached players at three different positions, in addition to his coordinating duties. He was recognized as the 2012 AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2009 Broyles Award winner as college football's top assistant coach. He was also a finalist for the 2015 Broyles Award.
A four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Smart received his BBA degree in Finance from UGA in 1998 and his M.S. in Physical Education from Florida State in 2003. The Bainbridge, Ga., native is married to the former Mary Beth Lycett of McDonough, Ga., a 4-year letterwinner, and 2-year starter, on the Georgia women's basketball team from 2000-2003. The couple met long after their undergraduate days at UGA, when Lycett -- then working in the UGAAA business office -- helped arrange Smart's trip to interview for the Bulldogs' running backs coaching job in 2005. They are now the proud parents of twins Weston and Julia (Feb. 8, 2008) and son Andrew (May 25, 2012).
Did You Know?
Kirby Smart is one of nine head coaches at schools from Power 5 conferences that are coaching at their alma maters.
The complete list:
Paul Chryst (Wisconsin) Barry Odom (Missouri)
Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern) Mark Richt (Miami)
Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State) David Shaw (Stanford)
Jim Harbaugh (Michigan) Kirby Smart (GEORGIA)
Cliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech)
| The Kirby Smart Record | ||||
| Year | W | L | Pct. | SEC |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 0-0 |
Quick Facts
- Led UGA to its first win over a ranked team in a season opener away from Sanford Stadium in school history, posting a 33-24 win over #22 UNC during the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic
- In head coaching debut, Bulldogs overcame a 10-point deficit in the second half and scored the final 19 points of the game in a win over the #22 Tar Heels in the Georgia Dome
DOG TRACKS
2016 STATISTICAL LEADERS
| RUSHING |
| 27 Nick Chubb, TB 222 yards on 32 att., 6.9 avg., 2 TDs, 55 long |
| 35 Brian Herrien, TB 59 yards on 7 att., 8.4 avg., 1 TD, 19 long |
| PASSING |
| 11 Greyson Lambert, QB 5x8, 54 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 119.20 eff. |
| 10 Jacob Eason, QB 8x12, 131 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 185.87 eff. |
| RECEIVING |
| 16 Isaiah McKenzie 6 rec., 122 yards, 1 TD, 51 long |
| 82 Michael Chigbu 3 rec., 27 yards, 0 TD, 14 long |
| ALL-PURPOSE YARDS |
| 27 Nick Chubb 222 yards (222 rush) |
| 16 Isaiah McKenzie 148 yards (4 rush, 122 rec, 22 ret) |
| TACKLES |
| 14 Malkom Parrish 7 total tackles (5 solo, 2 asts.) |
| 3 Roquan Smith 6 (5 solo, 2 asts.), 2.0 TFL |
Lambert Starts Season Opener With A Win
After transferring to UGA from Virginia to start graduate school during the 2015 summer, Greyson Lambert is back for his final year of eligibility. The Jesup, Ga., native has started the season opener the past two years and started a total of 13 games, going 11-2 in those contests.
Lambert, freshman Jacob Eason and junior Brice Ramsey competed for the starting spot this season. Eason saw his first action in the win over #22 North Carolina and completed 8-of- 12 for 131 yards and a score (Isaiah McKenzie). When the Bulldogs trailed 24-14 in the third quarter, Eason was at the controls and directed a five-play, 75-yard TD drive in 1:43. During the scoring drive that brought Georgia within three points, the Bulldogs converted a 3rd-and-5, 3rd-and-7 and 3rd-and-8.
New offensive coordinator Jim Chaney will also coach the QBs. He is a 30-year coaching veteran of the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and the NFL. Chaney served the 2015 season at Pittsburgh following a two-year tenure at Arkansas. He also served as Offensive Coordinator at Tennessee (2009-12), Purdue (1997- 2005) and Cal State-Fullerton (1988-92). From 2006-08, Chaney coached in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams.
| Greyson Lambert (2013-14 UVA; 2015-16 UGA) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | G/GS | Cmp. | Att. | Pct. | Yds. | INT | TD | Eff. | LG | |
| 2013 | 7/0 | 33 | 75 | .440 | 340 | 2 | 1 | 81.1 | 23 UNC | |
| 2014 | 9/9 | 154 | 261 | .590 | 1,632 | 11 | 10 | 115.7 | 54 VT | |
| 2015 | 12/12 | 162 | 256 | .633 | 1,959 | 2 | 12 | 141.5 | 48 ULM, UT | |
| 2016 | 1/1 | 5 | 8 | .625 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 119.2 | 25 UNC | |
| Total | 29/22 | 354 | 600 | .590 | 3,985 | 15 | 23 | 122.4 | 54 VT | |
Triumphant Return For Chubb
Junior Nick Chubb returned to the lineup in dramatic fashion in the season opener against #22 North Carolina. After sustaining a season-ending knee injury in the sixth game last year at Tennessee (Oct. 10, 2015), he underwent surgery and extensive rehab. Against the Tar Heels, he tallied a Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game record 222 yards rushing on 32 carries. This marked his third career 200-yard game with only legendary running back Herschel Walker having more in his Bulldog days (nine). Also, Chubb went for a career-high 266 yards, (an SEC bowl record) versus #20 Louisville in the 2014 Belk Bowl, and his first 200- yard game came in a 2014 road win over Arkansas (202).
The centerpieces of the Bulldog backfield are Chubb and Sony Michel. Chubb had tallied 747 yards and seven touchdowns on 92 carries (8. 1 avg.) through the first five games of last season and the opening play versus the Volunteers before his injury. Chubb practiced at full-speed for most of the 2016 preseason camp.
Michel returns after he became the 10th Georgia player in history to rush for more than 1,000 yards while starting just six games last year. Michel moved into the starting role after Chubb, who became the ninth running back with 1,000+ in 2014, went down with the aforementioned knee injury at Tennessee. Michel sustained a broken left forearm in early July 2016, was limited during preseason camp and did not play versus North Carolina.
Senior Brendan Douglas has played in 37 games at tailback over the last four years and saw action in the win over the Tar Heels rushing for 23 yards and picking up a 7-yard catch.
With Michel unavailable in game one, freshman Brian Herrien took advantage of some playing time and recorded 59 yards on seven carries, including a 19-yard touchdown on his first career carry.
| Nick Chubb | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G/GS | Att. | Yds | TD | LG | Rec | Yds | TD | LG | |
| 2014 | 13/8 | 219 | 1,547 | 14 | 83 | 18 | 213 | 2 | 27 |
| 2015 | 6/6 | 92 | 747 | 7 | 83 | 4 | 32 | 1 | 24 |
| 2016 | 1/1 | 32 | 222 | 2 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 20/15 | 343 | 2,516 | 23 | 83 | 22 | 245 | 3 | 27 |
| Sony Michel | |||||||||
| G/GS | Att. | Yds | TD | LG | Rec | Yds | TD | LG | |
| 2014 | 8/1 | 64 | 410 | 5 | 75 | 7 | 106 | 1 | 33 |
| 2015 | 13/6 | 219 | 1,161 | 8 | 66 | 26 | 270 | 3 | 48 |
| Total | 21/7 | 283 | 1,571 | 13 | 75 | 33 | 376 | 4 | 48 |
Options Abound At Receiver
Georgia returns five of its top six receivers from last year's campaign. Sophomore Terry Godwin, junior TE Jeb Blazevich, senior Reggie Davis and junior Isaiah McKenzie, among others, will be called on to help lead. In the season-opening win over #22 North Carolina, six different Bulldogs caught a pass, highlighted by the performances of McKenzie and sophomore Michael Chigbu.
McKenzie posted career highs in catches (six) and receiving yards (122) and hauled in his first career touchdown catch. Chigbu completed the game with three receptions for 27 yards.
Godwin's career highlights include becoming the first Bulldog in school history to catch and throw a touchdown during a bowl game when he earned MVP honors in Georgia's win over Penn State at the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl. The Hogansville, Ga., native started nine games as a true freshman last year and was second on the team with 35 catches for 379 yards and two touchdowns.
Three Veteran Linemen Anchor OL
This season, three of the five starters on the offensive line return from 2015. Seniors Greg Pyke (OG/OT) and Brandon Kublanow (C/OG) and junior Isaiah Wynn (OT) have combined for 65 career starts. The Bulldogs also benefit from getting graduate transfer Tyler Catalina and the emergence of redshirt sophomore Lamont Gaillard as they joined the aforementioned trio in the starting lineup for the season opening win over #22 UNC. Junior guard Dyshon Sims, who has played in 17 games and started one, is in the rotation as well.
The line of scrimmage helped pave the way for 289 rushing yards and 474 yards of total offense against the #22 Tar Heels. However, the Bulldogs did surrender four sacks versus UNC.
Bulldog Defense Passes First Test Versus #22 UNC
Georgia's first test came against a high-powered UNC offense after the #22 Tar Heels set school records in points in a season, points per game and touchdowns in 2015, posting 40.7 points per game. The Bulldogs held the Tar Heels to 24 points and 315 total yards on offense. Most importantly when the Bulldogs fell behind 24-14 with 6:34 left in the third period, the Georgia defense blanked North Carolina the rest of the game as the Bulldogs rallied back for a 33-24 victory.
Mel Tucker is the new Defensive Coordinator and coaches the secondary after serving one year on the Alabama staff as Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Backs coach. Before that, Tucker worked for seven years as an NFL coordinator with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns. He was the Jaguars interim head coach for the final five games of the 2011 season.
Junior Malkom Parrish had a team-high seven tackles while junior Aaron Davis had five stops and graduate transfer Maurice Smith also had five tackles plus two pass breakups. Smith joined the team late in the summer after graduating and completing his undergraduate career at Alabama. Smith played in all 15 games for the 14-1 national champions in 2015 and finished with 15 stops. He played in 41 career games (starting two) and made 38 tackles, 1.5 sacks, five pass break-ups, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery for Alabama.
All-SEC performer Dominick Sanders returns for the Bulldogs after recording a league-leading six picks in 2015 and complemented those turnovers with 48 tackles from his safety spot. Sanders finished last year with a UGA single season record of 205 interception return yards, which ranked fifth in SEC history. He already is fourth in the UGA record books with 269 yards in his two years.
| UGA RECORD BOOKS - INT RETURN YARDS (CAREER): | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 315 | Jake Scott (16) | 1967-68 {fifth in SEC history} |
| 2. | 303 | Scott Woerner (13) | 1977-80 |
| 3. | 293 | Bacarri Rambo (16) | 2009-12 |
| 4. | 269 | Dominick Sanders (8) | 2014- |
Winning The Battle In The Trenches
Georgia's success in the season opener versus #22 UNC was due in part to winning the battle on the line of scrimmage. Along with veterans DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle, Trenton Thompson and John Atkins, a host of underclassmen contributed against the Tar Heels. True freshman David Marshall finished with four tackles, including the team's only sack, off the bench. Fellow true freshmen Julian Rochester, Tyler Clark and Michail Carter also got snaps on the frontline.
Georgia started the 2016 season with no returning starters at the four linebacker spots. Sophomores Roquan Smith and Natrez Patrick got the nod at ILB versus UNC and junior Reggie Carter returned after missing the 2015 season with shoulder surgery. Smith was second on the team with six tackles, including two tackles for loss and one of the TFLs resulted in a safety as Georgia rallied back from a 10-point deficit. Patrick added five stops against the Tar Heels.
At OLB, juniors Davin Bellamy and Lorenzo Carter are geared for breakout seasons while senior Chuks Amaechi and sophomore D'Andre Walker can give help at both LB spots. Carter had five stops against the Tar Heels while Bellamy had three. Senior ILB Ryne Rankin also returns after being voted the Special Teams Captain after the 2015 season.
Big Shoes To Fill For Specialists
Competition continues at kicker headed into game two. Redshirt sophomore William Ham handled the place kicking duties against the Tar Heels, notching his first field goal (a 29 yarder with 5:27 left in the fourth quarter to put Georgia up 26-24) and went 4-for-4 on PATs. He missed his first career attempt, a 42 yarder, in the third quarter. Ham shared kickoff duties redshirt freshman Rodrigo Blankenship.
At punter, true freshman Marshall Long handled the punting duties versus #22 North Carolina and finished with an average of 38.5 on four punts. Returning QB Brice Ramsey shared punting duties last season and finished with a 41.9 average.
Marshall Morgan completed his kicking career at Georgia in 2015 as the third-leading scorer in SEC and UGA history with 407 points. He also set the SEC record with 215 PATs made during his time in the red and black. Nathan Theus snapped for four seasons and got a free agent call from the Denver Broncos after last season. At punter, Colin Barber, who punted 164 times over the 2012-15 seasons, will also be absent from the lineup after completing his career.
Fourth-year snapper Trent Frix, who is the younger brother of former snapper Ty Frix (2009-12) and the son of former snapper Mitch Frix (1981-82). The youngest Frix served as the snapper in the season-opening win over #22 UNC.
Taking It To The House
The answers to who will be the Bulldogs' punt/kick returners is a bit easier to figure out. Junior Isaiah McKenzie is the leading candidate after already making his mark in the all-time SEC record book with his returns. His four punt returns for touchdowns rank fifth best in SEC history while his five total returns for scores (four punt returns, one kickoff return) is tied for third best in the league record books.
Senior Reggie Davis also returns after having a teamleading 17 kick returns for 394 yards (23.2 avg.) to go with eight punt returns for 110 yards and one for a touchdown at Tennessee last year that covered 70 yards.
McKenzie's Career Touchdown Returns
| Date | Game | Length |
| Sept. 20, 2014 | Troy | 52-yd PR |
| Nov. 8, 2014 | @ Kentucky | *90-yd KOR |
| Nov. 8, 2014 | @ Kentucky | 59-yd PR |
| Sept. 12, 2015 | @ Vanderbilt | 77-yd PR |
| Nov. 14, 2015 | @ Auburn | 53-yd PR |
First-Time Starters In 2016
The Bulldogs had six first-time starters in the 2016 season opener on offense and defense. #22 UNC: Michael Chigbu (WR), Tyler Catalina (LT), Lamont Gaillard (RG) Charlie Woerner (TE), Roquan Smith (WLB) and Maurice Smith (STAR). Additionally, all three kicking specialists made their Bulldog debut in William Ham (PK, PAT, KO), Marshall Long (P) and Rodrigo Blankenship (KO).
The True Freshman Experience
In the 2016 season opener, 12 true freshmen made their debut plus two redshirt freshmen.
In 2015, a total of 22 true freshmen, which led the nation, played for the Bulldogs, including 19 in the season opener and that also led the country. Thirty-three Bulldogs earned a snap for the first time in their careers last season.
Before the ULM game to start last year, the most true freshmen to play in a season opener since 2001 was 13 coming back in 2012.
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