Game Notes: Georgia Opens Season Against Austin Peay

August 27, 2018 | Football

The Georgia Bulldogs vs. The Austin Peay Governors

Game & Broadcast Info

Georgia Bulldogs vs. Austin Peay Governors
Kickoff: Saturday, September 1 - 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Sanford Stadium (92,746) - Athens, Ga.
2018 Records: Georgia 0-0 (0-0 SEC), Austin Peay 0-0 (0-0 OVC)
2017 Records: Georgia 13-2 (7-1 SEC), Austin Peay 8-4 (7-1 OVC)
Rankings: Georgia #3/#4, Austin Peay NR
TV: ESPN - Beth Mowins (PxP), Anthony Becht (analyst), Rocky Boiman (sidelines)
Video Stream: SECN+
Radio: WSB AM 750 - Bulldog Network | Affiliates | Scott Howard (PxP), Eric Zeier (Color), Chuck Dowdle (sideline)
Audio Stream: georgiadogs.com | TuneIn
Satellite: Sirius 81, XM 81
Web Stats: Live Stats
Twitter: #PEAYvsUGA
ReBroadcast: SEC Network: Sunday 9/2 @ 8:30 PM

Georgia	2017 Averages	Austin Peay
35.4	Scoring Offense	27.2
16.4	Scoring Defense	24.8
+4	Turnover Margin	0
435.3	Total Offense	387.2
258.4	Rushing Offense	258.8
176.9	Passing Offense	128.4
10.1	Punt Returns	9.8
23.5	Kickoff Returns	18.2

Saturday's Matchup

Third-ranked Georgia plays host to Austin Peay in the first-ever meeting between the two schools to open the 2018 season. The Bulldogs are coming off one of their most successful seasons in school history, posting a 13-2 record, claiming the SEC title and The Rose Bowl Game before falling in overtime to Alabama in the CFP National Championship game. In 2017, the Govs snapped a 29-game losing streak and went on to tie the program record for wins in a season by going 8-4.

Season Openers

The Bulldogs are 94-27-3 in season openers including winning 18 of their past 21. Georgia is 2-0 in season openers under Kirby Smart. In 2016, Georgia defeated No. 22 North Carolina 33-24 in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome. Last year, the Bulldogs cruised to a 31-10 victory in Athens over Appalachian State. The 2018 season marks the 125th year of Georgia football. The Bulldogs have an alltime record of 808-420-54. Georgia's 808 wins ranks 11th nationally. In fact, UGA's 800th all-time win came in 2017 in the 41-0 rout of Tennessee who ranks 10th with 833 victories.

A Glance At The Govs

Austin Peay, which is located in Clarksville, Tenn., is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and competes in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). They are coached by Will Healy who is in his third season. Georgia last opened a year against an FCS opponent in 2008 when it beat Georgia Southern 45-21 in Sanford Stadium. Sophomore dual-threat quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall returns to direct the Govs offense. Last year, he passed for 1,148 yards and seven touchdowns plus rushed for 549 yards and six touchdowns. Overall, the Govs led the OVC in rushing, averaging 259 yards a game and ranked second in scoring at 27 points a game. Defensively, they return the league's leading tackler in senior linebacker Gunnar Scholato (99 tackles, 12 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 interception).

Replacing Record-Setting Tailback Tandem

Sophomore QB Jake Fromm returns to the Bulldog lineup after earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors last year. Georgia must replace tailbacks Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. They completed their Bulldog career in 2017 as the top tandem in college football history, amassing 8,407 rushing yards and 77 rushing touchdowns. With the duo now playing in the NFL, Georgia looks to its next wave of talented tailbacks including sophomore D'Andre Swift and juniors Elijah Holyfield and Brian Herrien. Georgia's top-rated freshman class includes James Cook and Zamir White, although White now is sidelined due to a knee injury. Swift, an All-SEC Freshman Team selection, tallied 618 yards and three touchdowns last year.

"Getting On The Bus"

In Saturday's game, Georgia will likely dress more than 100 players, but next week for a Southeastern Conference (SEC) contest at South Carolina, teams are limited to a 70-man travel squad. Bulldog coach Kirby Smart has mentioned during the preseason that players will have to find a way to contribute to the squad to earn a spot on the trip, and special teams is one area they can improve their chances of "getting on the bus."

Bulldog Graduates

Georgia has three players on this year's roster who have already earned their undergraduate degrees. The players who received their undergraduate degrees include: DL Jay Hayes (Notre Dame), P Landon Stratton (Murray State) and OL Sean Fogarty (UGA). All of the SEC players who have achieved an undergraduate degree will be sporting the SEC Graduate patch on their uniforms.

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 FSU 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)

Coach Smart's Record
Year	W	L	Pct.	SEC
2016	8	5	.615	4-4
2017	13	2	.866	7-1
2018	0	0	.000	0-0
Total	21	7	.750	11-5

When Georgia looked for a new head coach after the 2015 season, the arrows pointed to Kirby Smart, longtime Alabama defensive coordinator and former UGA player and assistant. The 2017 Associated Press SEC Coach of the Year has not disappointed.

In his first year leading the Bulldogs in 2016, Georgia extended its school record to 20 consecutive bowl appearancesand posted five fourth-quarter comebacks including wins over No. 8 Auburn and No. 22 North Carolina. He led UGA to an 8-5 final record, which included a victory over TCU in the Liberty Bowl.

In 2017, Smart directed UGA to a 13-2 record, an SEC title, a win at The Rose Bowl Game during the CFP semifinal and a spot in the National Championship. He was named the Maxwell Football Club's George Munger National Coach of the Year. Before 2017, the Bulldogs last SEC title was 2005.

He has also made an immediate impact in recruiting, posting the nation's top-ranked class in 2018 and the third-ranked class in 2017. In addition to coaching, Smart oversees the Kirby Smart Family Foundation, which is focusedon being champions in the community by supporting and giving back to needy children and families.

Smart officially came home to Georgia on Dec. 6, 2015. But he still had unfinished business at Alabama, which was chasing a national title. He juggled two jobs for a month until January 11, 2016, when the Tide won its fourth national championship in a seven-year span. Twelve hours later, he was at work in Athens.

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)
Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern)
Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State)
Jim Harbaugh (Michigan)
Cliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech)
Barry Odom (Missouri)
Mark Richt (Miami)
David Shaw (Stanford)
Kirby Smart (GEORGIA)

Top Ind. Single-Game Performances Under Smart
Rushing Yards: 222, Nick Chubb vs. #22 UNC (9/3/16)
Rushing TDs: 3, Sony Michel vs. UK (11/18/17); vs. #2 Oklahoma (1/1/18)
Longest Rush: 75-TD, Michel vs. #2 Oklahoma (1/1/18)
Passing Yards: 346, Jacob Eason vs. VU (10/15/16)
Passing TDs: 3, Eason @ Missouri (9/17/16); Jake Fromm vs. Samford (9/16/17)
Receiving TDs: 2, Isaiah McKenzie @ Missouri (9/17/16); Terry Godwin vs. Samford (9/16/17)
Longest TD Pass: 80-TD, Fromm to Mecole Hardman vs. BAMA (1/8/18)
Longest Pass: 80-TD, Fromm to Hardman vs. BAMA (1/8/18)
Tackles: 13, Roquan Smith vs. GT (11/26/16); SECCG (12/2/17); CFPNC (1/1/18)
Sacks: 3, Trenton Thompson vs. TCU (12/30/16)
TFL: 3, Thompson vs. Nicholls (9/10/16)

Quick Facts

2017 Georgia Munger National Coach of the Year finalist, leading UGA to a 13-2 record, a Rose Bowl Game victory and an appearance the CFP National Championship Game.
The Bulldogs' No. 2 AP ranking in 2017 was the team's top AP ranking since week three of the 2008 season when Georgia was No. 2.
Bulldogs captured the SEC Eastern Division by going 7-1 in 2017, including a perfect 6-0 in the division for the first time since the league split into divisions in 1992.
Seven fourth-quarter comebacks, including wins over #8 AU (2016), #22 UNC in Atlanta (2016), @ #24 Notre Dame (2017), vs. #2 Oklahoma in 2018 Rose Bowl Game.
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 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic.

Defense/Special Teams Scores
2016: Safety vs. #22 UNC; Lorenzo Carter 24-yd fumble recovery for TD vs. Nicholls; Terry Godwin 43-yd KOR for TD @ SC; Maurice Smith 34-yd INT return for TD vs. #8 Auburn; Isaiah McKenzie 82-yd PR for TD
2017: J.R. Reed 3-yd fumble recover for TD vs. Florida

7 Victories When Tied Or Trailing Late
Year	Opponent	Start of 4th Qtr.	Final
2016	%#22 UNC	Trailed 24-23	33-24
2016	@ Missouri	Trailed 27-21	28-27
2016	@ Austin Peay	Trailed 21-16	27-24
2016	#8 Auburn	Tied 7-7	13-7
2016	^TCU	Trailed 23-21	31-23
2017	#24 Notre Dame	17-16, trailed 19-17 with 10:21 left	20-19
2018	$ #2 Oklahoma 31-31	trailed 45-38 with 0:55 left	54-48 2ot

%Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic; ^Liberty Bowl; $Rose Bowl Game

Dogs Aiming To Have Another Explosive Offense

Georgia averaged 35.4 points/game in 2017. The Bulldogs tallied 67 touchdowns on the year. Returning PK Rodrigo Blankenship led the team with 123 points, including a perfect 63-for-63 on PATs and 20-for-23 on field goals.

The Bulldogs ranked fourth nationally in Red Zone Offense, going 53-for-55, including 39 touchdowns, last year.

QB Jake Fromm, the 2017 SEC Freshman of the Year, was 12-2 as a starter. He accounted for 27 touchdowns, one shy of the UGA record by a freshman set by Aaron Murray in 2010.

For the third straight year, Georgia has a true freshman quarterback who could make an impact for the Bulldogs. Justin Fields arrived in January 2018 and is competing for playing time.

Fromm became only the seventh true freshman Bulldog quarterback to start a game, including just the second to do it on the road in his first start. Fromm joined Eric Zeier (1991) as the only true freshmen to have their first career start on the road.

Fromm has led his team to two comebacks when trailing at the half. One of Georgia's signature wins came with his Rose Bowl Game performance after the Bulldogs trailed 31-17 at the half and rallied to a 54-48 win in double overtime. Georgia trailed 45-38 with 3:22 remaining in the game before Fromm directed a gametying drive.

Fromm's first career start came at #24 Notre Dame. Trailing 19-17 with 6:47 left in the contest, Fromm directed a nine play, 63- yard drive to set up the go-ahead field goal. He was 3-for-4 for 45 yards during the drive.

Jake Fromm (UGA Career)
2017	Att	Cmp	TD	Int	Yds	Sk	Eff.
ASU (W)	15	10	1	0	143	0	168.7
@ #24 ND (W)	29	16	1	1	141	2	100.5
SU (W)	13	8	3	0	165	0	244.3
#17 MSU (W)	12	9	2	0	201	0	270.7
@ UT (W)	15	7	1	1	84	2	102.4
@ VU (W)	11	7	2	0	102	1	201.5
MU (W)	26	18	2	1	326	1	192.2
vs. UF (W)	4	7	1	1	101	0	196.9
USC (W)	22	16	2	0	196	1	177.6
@ #10 Auburn (L)	28	13	1	0	184	4	113.4
UK (W)	14	9	1	1	123	1	147.4
@ GT (W)	16	12	2	0	224	0	233.8
SECCG -#2 AU (W)	22	16	2	0	183	2	172.6
ROSE - #2 OU (W)	29	20	2	0	210	2	152.6
CFP NC - #4 UA (L)	32	16	1	2	232	4	108.7
TOTAL	291	181	24	7	2,615	20	160.1

A Look At The Line

The Bulldogs return four of five starters on the offensive line, including Freshman All-American tackle Andrew Thomas. Thomas is joined by rising seniors C Lamont Gaillard and G Kendall Baker as well as redshirt sophomore G Ben Cleveland.

Redshirt sophomore Solomon Kindley started seven games at right guard in 2017 and joins graduate student Sean Fogarty, sophomore Justin Shaffer, redshirt freshman Isaiah Wilson and true freshmen Cade Mays and Trey Hill in the competition for playing time.

Georgia established school records with 3,876 rushing yards and 42 rushing touchdowns in 2017.

Array of Targets

The Bulldogs return six of their top seven receivers from last season, including senior Terry Godwin and junior Mecole Hardman. Godwin was second on the team with 38 catches for 639 yards and six scores while Hardman snagged 25 catches for 418 yards and four touchdowns, including an 80-yard touchdown versus Alabama in the 2018 CFP National Championship Game.

Georgia will be looking to replace its leading receiver in Chicago Bears pick Javon Wims, who finished 2017 with 45 receptions for 720 yards and seven scores.

Two of their top six returning receivers are tight ends. Junior Isaac Nauta started nine games in 2017 and led the corps with nine catches for 114 yards and a pair of touchdowns while junior Charlie Woerner hauled in nine receptions for 100 yards in his second season.

There has been a spirited competition to join Godwin and Hardman at the top of the receiving ranks. Junior Riley Ridley snagged 14 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns, including a team-best six catches for 82 yards versus Alabama in the National Championship Game, and is aiming for a starting role. Senior Jayson Stanley, senior Ahkil Crumpton, junior Tyler Simmons and redshirt sophomore newcomer Demetris Robertson have also been lining up and competing for playing time for the Bulldogs this preseason camp at receiver.

Robertson, a native of Savannah, Ga., and graduate of Savannah Christian, arrived in Athens during preseason camp and was cleared to play for Georgia this fall after spending the last two years at the University of California.

RSo. Demetris Robertson Bio (6-0, 190, Savannah, Ga.)

Career highs

Long rec. of 61 yards vs. Washington, 2016
141 receiving yards vs. Washington State, 2016
2 TD receptions, at Arizona State & vs. Utah, 2016
9 receptions, at USC, 2016
Long Rush of 34 vs. Weber State, 2017
Long Kickoff Return, 39 at Oregon State, 2016

2017 (At Cal)

Started each of the first two games before suffering an injury and receiving a medical redshirt
Contributed seven catches for 70 yards, as well as the first two rushes of his career for 40 yards with a career-long 34-yard touchdown run on his first career rush vs. Weber State to total 110 all-purpose yards
Earned honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic recognition

2016 (At Cal)

Freshman All-American honors from Campus Insiders, ESPN. com, Phil Steele and USA Today
Ranked second on the team in receptions (50), receiving yards (767) and touchdown catches (7)
Finished among the nation's top freshmen in receiving touchdowns (2nd), receiving yards per game (3rd, 63.9), receiving yards (3rd), yards per reception (6th, team-high 15.3), receptions (7th) and receptions per game (8th)
Added 10 kick returns for 202 yds to total 969 all-purpose yds
Also competed in track, running the 100 meters, 4x100m relay

Bulldogs Welcome Three New Coaches

Teams have now been given the opportunity to have a 10th full-time coach and the Bulldogs also filled two additional vacancies after Kevin Sherrer headed to Tennessee to become defensive coordinator and Shane Beamer left to work with Oklahoma as an assistant head coach.

Georgia added Cortez Hankton (WRs) on the offensive side of the ball and Dan Lanning (OLBs) on the defensive side. Hankton comes to the Bulldogs after serving as the Vanderbilt receivers coach while Lanning was Memphis' inside linebackers coach.

Scott Fountain will be the additional on-field coach focusing on special teams after serving as the special teams analyst in 2017.

Head coach Kirby Smart is going into his third year with Georgia, as well as Mel Tucker (Fain and Billy Slaughter Defensive Coordinator/secondary), Jim Chaney (offensive coordinator/ TEs), Sam Pittman (OL), James Coley (co-offensive coord./ QBs), Glenn Schumann (ILBs) and Dell McGee (Asst. HC/RBs). Tray Scott (DL) begins his second year with the Bulldogs.

Looking For Leaders At LB

Georgia is looking to replace a trio of starting linebackers, including one of the best defenders in school history.

ILB Roquan Smith, who the Bears selected eighth overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, led a seasoned linebacker lineup last season as he was named the Butkus Award winner and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year after recording a 137 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He was joined by outside linebackers Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy, who combined for 95 stops and 9.5 sacks in 2017. Carter was selected by the N.Y. Giants during the draft while Bellamy signed a free agent deal with the Houston Texans.

Also losing Reggie Carter to graduation, the Bulldogs will turn to senior Natrez Patrick, sophomore Monty Rice, junior Tae Crowder and senior Juwan Taylor at ILB.

With the loss of Carter and Bellamy, senior OLB D'Andre Walker, who played in all 15 games on defense and special teams and finished with 40 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, is one of the top candidates on the outside. In addition, sophomore Walter Grant also played in 13 games last year and finished with nine stops, including 2.5 tackles for loss from an OLB spot, and will be looked on to continue his development with the Dogs.

Sophomore Malik Herring, who has been cross-training on the outside and on the defensive line, and redshirt freshman Robert Beal will add depth to the position. A couple freshmen linebackers also competing for playing time are Brenton Cox and Channing Tindall.

Returning Starters Headline Defensive Line Group

Veterans Tyler Clark and Jonathan Ledbetter anchor a defensive line that lost 2017 senior John Atkins and junior Trenton Thompson. Atkins was signed as a free agent by the New England Patriots.

Clark led the front in the Rose Bowl Game win over #2 Oklahoma with five stops, including a sack and two tackles for loss. Clark was tops among all interior linemen with 41 stops. Ledbetter was next on the list with 38 tackles.

Other returning lettermen expected to contribute on the line are seniors DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle, Keyon Richardson, juniors David Marshall, Julian Rochester, Michael Barnett and sophomore Malik Herring. Sophomore Devonte Wyatt will also be in the mix after spending his freshman season at Hutchinson CC.

Another immediate option is graduate transfer Jay Hayes. Hayes arrived in Athens during the summer after graduating from Notre Dame. He had seven tackles during the Bulldogs' win over the Irish in 2017.

Reed, Baker Back To Lead Defensive Backfield

Senior DB Deandre Baker, who has been named a preseason All-American by several outlets, started 14 games last year and returns after registering 44 tackles and three interceptions, which was second on the team behind Sanders' four last year.

Georgia also welcomes back junior J.R. Reed, a 2017 All- SEC Second Team selection. He ranked second on the team with 79 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

One of the veterans also expected to make a difference is junior Tyrique McGhee. McGhee has been sidelined with a foot injury.

The Bulldogs must replace the senior trio of Dominick Sanders, Aaron Davis and Malkom Parrish. Sanders finished his career as the school record holder for interceptions (16) and was second in the SEC with career INT return yards (381).

The candidates in the secondary who have been getting reps in the preseason include: senior Jarvis Wilson, sophomores William Poole, Ameer Speed, Deangelo Gibbs, Mark Webb, Richard LeCounte, redshirt freshman Eric Stokes, freshmen Tyson Campbell, Christopher Smith and Otis Reese.

Blankenship Back

With one of the nation's top 20 offenses in 2017 scoring 35.4 points/game, preseason All-American candidate PK Rodrigo Blankenship was busy last year, booming 94 kickoffs 9 (a school record 67 for touchbacks), 63 PATs and 20 field goals, including a 51 yarder in overtime of the CFP National Championship Game.

Blankenship set a Rose Bowl Game record by drilling a career- long 55-yard field goal during the 2OT win over #2 Oklahoma. His performance included a 38-yard FG in overtime.

He was a 2017 Groza Award semifinalist.

Last year, 67 of his kickoffs were touchbacks, which was a new school record. The old mark was by Kevin Butler (51 in 1981).

Career Highs For Blankenship
Points: 17 (MU17; 4FG, 5PAT)
PATs: 6 (VU17, UF17, OU18)
FG Att: 5 (LA16)
FG Made: 4 (UK16, MU17)
FG Long: 55 (OU18)
KO: 10 (MU17)
KO Yards: 635 (MU17)

Blankenship Kicking Stats

Year	PAT	FG	LG	TP
2016	26x26	14-18	49	68
2017	63x63	20-23	55	123
Total	89x89	34-41	55	191

Field Goal Breakdown

Year	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50-99
2016	0-0	7-7	3-4	4-6	0-1
2017	0-0	8-8	6-6	4-7	2-2
Total	0-0	15-15	9-10	8-13	2-3

The Bulldogs also had a solid punter last season in graduate transfer Cameron Nizialek. He averaged 45.0 yards and had 19 punts of 50+ yards. Georgia finished third in the league in Net Punting at 41.6.

This year, another graduate transfer, Landon Stratton, and a true freshman, Jake Camarda, are battling for the spot. Stratton comes to the Bulldogs from Murray State, where he averaged 41.2 yards in three years for the Racers. Camarda graduated from Norcross High School and finished his career as one of the nation's top punters last year.

Teams are now allowed to have a 10th full-time assistant coach and the Bulldogs turned to someone who worked as a special teams analyst with the team last year. Scott Fountain will be the additional on-field coach focusing on special teams.

SEC's Leading Punt Returner Back

Junior returner/receiver Mecole Hardman is back in the lineup after having 23 punt returns for 271 yards and an 11.8 average (all of those led the league). Also, Hardman was second in the SEC in kickoff returns with a 25.2 average (20 returns for 505 yards).

Georgia has two other receivers who have experience with punt returns with seniors Terry Godwin and Ahkil Crumpton. Along with Hardman, the Bulldogs' options at kick returner include junior Elijah Holyfield (4 ret. for 64 yds.), senior Jayson Stanley and Crumpton.

RSo. transfer Demetris Robertson had 10 kick returns for 202 yards to total 969 all-purpose yards in his first year at Cal during the 2016 season. He had career highs of six kick returns and 116 kick return yards as well as a career-long kick return of 39 yards at Oregon State in a contest in which he finished with a career-best 145 all-purpose yards.

First-Time Starters In 2017

The Bulldogs had 17 first-time starters last season. ASU: Andrew Thomas (RT), Tyler Clark (DL), J.R. Reed (DB), Pat Allen (LG); #24 ND: Kendall Baker (LG), Mecole Hardman (WR), Jake Fromm (QB), Richard LeCounte (DB); SU: Solomon Kindley (RG), Tyrique McGhee (DB); UT: Riley Ridley (WR); VU: Juwan Taylor (ILB); MU: Monty Rice (ILB); AU: D'Andre Swift (TB); UK: Ben Cleveland (RG); SECCG: Elijah Holyfield (TB); Trey Blount (WR)

The True Freshman Experience

In 2017, 16 true freshmen played for the Bulldogs. Andrew Thomas started at RT becoming the first true freshman OL to start a season opener since John Theus in 2012.