Tori Newman
As Georgia football’s season opener against UT Martin on Sept. 2 inches closer, some Bulldogs await their return to the field while others will remain at the mercy of a timeline impacted by injury.
Who’s back:
Mykel Williams is one of the biggest names returning to the Bulldogs after undergoing foot surgery in March. The sophomore defensive lineman missed the remainder of the spring practice period, but returned to practicing once fall camp commenced.
Williams was recently named to the 2023 Preseason Coaches All-SEC defensive first team. In his freshman season, he recorded 28 tackles and four and a half sacks.
Sophomore linebackers Jalon Walker and Marvin Jones Jr. have both recovered after undergoing surgeries for torn labrums several months earlier. Jones had surgery done in February while Walker had his in March. Both were cleared to return to practicing mid-July.
“I feel great,” Walker said. “I feel like I have a brand new shoulder.”
On the bubble:
Kamari Lassiter’s return is close but not yet solidified. The redshirt sophomore cornerback has been limited to non-contact reps during the scrimmage after sustaining a foot injury as reported in early August.
“He’s been tender and sore after he practices, so he’s kind of been a day on, a day off, a day on, a day off,” head coach Kirby Smart said. “We’re doing what the doctors say, bringing him back slowly and [he’s] listening to his body.”
Lassiter — named to the 2023 Preseason Coaches All-SEC defensive second team — donned a black jersey during the second scrimmage, which signified his non-contact
status. Smael Mondon Jr. has also worn a black jersey, but has worked with the linebackers in practice.
Kendall Milton, also named to the 2023 Preseason Coaches All-SEC second team, picked up a hamstring injury early into fall camp. The junior running back has played limited snaps since, but is not yet at one hundred percent. Daijun Edwards also recently suffered an injury and, according to Smart, is progressing well.
Who’s out:
Sophomore running back Branson Robinson suffered a non-contact ruptured patellar tendon in practice on Aug. 22, ending his 2023 season. He is expected to make a full recovery in time for the 2024 season.
“Tough, tough break for him,” Smart said. “He was coming back from a toe injury
on the other leg and he was actually not even in a contact drill. He cut, planted and ruptured the patellar tendon.”
Georgia’s linebacker room has been without freshman Raylen Wilson. The No. 3 linebacker prospect nationally in 2023 hyperextended his knee during play in Georgia’s first scrimmage and is still recovering.
Freshman tight end Lawson Luckie went down with an ankle injury during the first scrimmage of fall camp, which required surgery. His timeline of return is currently unknown.
Who needs to step up:
The uncertainty of Lassiter’s status is likely one of the biggest issues for Georgia coming out of fall camp. Lassiter is one of the more experienced veteran defensive backs
that Georgia has in its arsenal.
In the chance that Lassiter does not return to full-contact, Nyland Green, Daylen Everette, Julian Humphrey and A.J. Harris could be potential candidates to fill the gap.
Georgia’s running back depth took a huge blow with Robinson’s seasonending injury. With a banged-up Milton and Edwards, the team may have to look towards running backs Roderick Robinson II, Cash Jones and Andrew Paul to anchor the run game. To add to injury concerns, Paul is currently recovering from a torn ACL in the prior season.
“We’ve got capable backs there and we’ve got people around them to get the ball to,” Smart said. “I don’t see [Robinson’s injury] changing who we are offensively.”
Who’s healthy and who’s not for Georgia’s first game
I feel like I have a brand new shoulder.
JALON WALKER | GEORGIA LINEBACKERGeorgia running back Branson Robinson (22) runs the ball against Texas Christian University during the College Football Playoff National Championship at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. JESSICA GRATIGNY/STAFF
Samuel Higgs
Georgia football is back.
The Bulldogs are set to start their 2023-2024 season against the Tennessee Martin Skyhawks in Sanford Stadium on Sept. 2. This is the first time the two have played against each other, with the matchup leaning in the Bulldogs’ favor. The two-time defending national champions will enter the game as heavy favorites.
Many players will make their debut against the Skyhawks, but no one name carries more weight than new starting quarterback Carson Beck. The redshirt junior out of Jacksonville, Florida, has patiently waited behind players like former starter Stetson Bennett for his chance to put his talents on display. In limited time under center, Beck has showcased his arm talent that could shine with the plethora of pass-catchers within the locker room.
UT Martin finished the previous season with an overall record of 7-4, led by former quarterback Dresser Winn. Ole Miss transfer Kinkead Dent was named the starter for the season opener — the first start of his collegiate career.
Like Winn, many of UT Martin’s prominent pieces from the previous season are no longer present. Zak Wallace — who led the team in rushing with 1,012 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns — transferred to Arkansas State.
Leading receiver Colton Dowell, on the other hand, was drafted in the seventh round by the Tennessee Titans in the 2023 NFL Draft. Dowell ended last season with 67 receptions, 1,032 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
While the Skyhawks have several positions with room for improvement, many players still have the potential to perform well. The team’s second-leading rusher last year, Sam Franklin, totaled 676 rushing yards as a freshman and made his way into the endzone eight times. DeVonte Tanksley, who was the second-leading receiver last season with 653 receiving yards and one touchdown, will return to the receiving core.
The last time UT Martin faced an opponent from the SEC was against Tennessee last season, which was ranked as the No. 3 overall team at the time. The game did not fare well for UT Martin as the team was outmatched in
a 65-24 defeat. Former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker and wide receiver Jalin Hyatt had a field day with UT Martin’s defense.
Hooker posted 276 passing yards and three touchdowns, two of which belonged to Hyatt. Hyatt also racked in seven catches and 176 receiving yards to go along with his touchdowns. These totals came in two quarters before the duo was pulled from the game for the reserves.
The matchup between the Skyhawks and the Bulldogs has the potential of ending in a blowout that sees a majority of starters resting by halftime. Even with some returning prominent pieces on the offense for the Skyhawks, there’s a chance they won’t be able to compete with the Bulldogs.
The defense has two preseason first-team All-Americans in Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Malaki Starks in addition to Javon Bullard’s second-team nomination. Although those were just the All-Americans, there are other players like Nazir Stackhouse and sophomore Mykel Williams who were not named that could make a huge impact on the game.
Georgia’s offense will look slightly different from last season after former offensive coordinator Todd Monken departed for the NFL. Mike Bobo made his return as the play caller with the team, promoted from the offensive analyst position he held under Monken the season prior.
The number of Georgia players nominated to the Associated Press’ 2023 Preseason All-American Team
Preseason first-team All-American Brock Bowers leads the offensive charge, with Georgia pass catchers Dominic Lovett, Ladd McConkey and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint figuring to factor as prominent targets in Beck’s first start.
The ground game will be manned by multiple running backs. If Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards are available to play, they are expected to take a majority of the snaps in the backfield if the two are healthy enough to play.
The departure of offensive tackles Broderick Jones and Warren McClendon will be an adjustment for the team to overcome, but with returning talent in Sedrick Van Pran, Tate Ratledge and Xavier Truss, the group should adapt quickly. The new additions in line to replace the tackle duo will likely be Earnest Greene III and Amarius Mims with Austin Blaske serving as depth.
As the season approaches, eyes are falling on Georgia as the team chases its third national championship under head coach Kirby Smart. Although not the most contentious home opener, many compelling storylines are in place as UT Martin attempts to overcome the odds.
The question is on everyone’s mind: Could Georgia win a third consecutive national championship?
At every media outlet, in every newsletter, on every banner, people are asking if Georgia could go for three consecutive national titles, accomplishing something that hasn’t been done in nearly 90 years. The answer is … a little complicated.
Detractors have said a lot about the Bulldogs over the offseason. The team lost more than a dozen players to the NFL, and a few more in the transfer portal.
Georgia broke records at the 2022 NFL draft, then went undefeated the following season. There is talent up and down the roster, but it’s simply up to head coach Kirby Smart and his coaching staff to find the right combination of players to put on the field each Saturday.
Todd Monken departed from his role as Georgia’s offensive coordinator during the offseason, taking his talents to the NFL and leaving Smart with a vacancy on
the coaching staff. Within hours, Smart promoted Mike Bobo to replace Monken.
A decade ago, Bobo presided over some of former head coach Mark Richt’s best offenses during his first stint as Georgia’s offensive coordinator. He’s proven he can lead a team to success, and with the number of playmakers on Georgia’s offense, he’s got an opportunity to do it again in 2023.
There’s a lot going in Georgia’s favor this season. Multiple key contributors are returning on both sides of the ball, and the rest of college football’s contenders all have massive question marks.
Michigan ranked second in the Associated Press’ preseason Top-25 poll, but the Wolverines have consistently failed to win ‘the big game.’ The team hasn’t made a national championship since 1997, nearly 20 years before Jim Harbaugh took over as head coach.
Harbaugh has been great at getting Michigan to the postseason, but historically the team has been incapable of accomplishing much beyond that.
Ohio State clocked in at No. 3 in the
AP poll, and the Buckeyes are in a much more uncertain position than Michigan. The Buckeyes — aside from top offensive wideouts Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka — lost key offensive contributors during the offseason, with their quarterback situation still uncertain as of the last week of August.
To make matters worse, Ohio State has only advanced in the playoff once under Ryan Day — led by Justin Fields during the unusual 2020 campaign, which was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The final name in the AP’s preseason playoff field was a familiar one: Alabama. The Crimson Tide have earned their reputation as a perennial contender in college football, but they’ll still need to replace positional standouts like Will Anderson Jr. and Bryce Young.
Does Georgia have questions to answer?
Yes. That makes the Bulldogs just like every other team in the NCAA. Unlike everyone else, Georgia is coming off back-to-back national titles, and in a wide-open playoff landscape, there’s no reason to believe the Bulldogs can’t make it three in a row.
#11 #1 #8 #2 #97
UT Martin defensive end Daylan Dotson
Daylan Dotson led the Ohio Valley Conference with nine and a half sacks in 2022, earning a spot on the AllOhio Valley Conference first team. In the first game of his junior year, he could wreak havoc on a Georgia offense that lost both starting tackles and its starting quarterback in the offseason.
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith
Most Georgia fans are familiar with Arian Smith, one of the heroes of last year’s Peach Bowl. Smith pulled down a 76-yard touchdown to bring Georgia within striking dist ance of Ohio State, throwing the Bulldogs a lifeline when things were looking bleak. Now, the junior has a chance to give Georgia a boost once more, bringing an essential playmaking threat to a unit missing a decent chunk of its receiving talent from the prior season.
UT Martin quarterback Kinkead Dent
Kinkead Dent has a tall task ahead of him entering the first start of his collegiate career. The senior has only thrown four passes in college after enrolling at Ole Miss as a three-star prospect. Dent transferred to UT Martin this past offseason, only to be faced with the defending national champions in his first game at the helm. He’ll need to exploit the holes in Georgia’s depleted secondary if he wants to make this game competitive.
After losing notable names such as Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said this year’s defensive line has less “pop” than previous seasons. Senior defensive lineman Warren Brinson pushed back on that notion on behalf of himself and his teammates. Brinson and the defensive line will get their first opportunity to prove themselves right on Saturday against UT Martin.
UT Martin running back Sam Franklin
UT Martin will be starting a new quarterback in the season-opener, but if the team wants to take some pressure off of him, the Skyhawks could rely on running back Sam Franklin. Franklin was the team’s second-leading rusher last season, and looks poised to assume a bigger role after the team’s leading rusher, Zak Wallace, transferred to Arkansas State.
CULTURE EDITOR Nava Rawls
ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR Isabelle
Manders
DIGITAL CULTURE EDITOR Avni Trivedi
EAT & DRINK
EAT & DRINK EDITOR Jayden Henson
ASSISTANT EAT & DRINK EDITOR Katie Hughes
DIGITAL EAT & DRINK EDITOR Jessica Lin
OPINION
OPINION EDITOR Carson Barrett
ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR Gabby
Gruszynski
MULTIMEDIA
PHOTO EDITOR Landen Todd
ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Laney Martin
CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHERS Felix Scheyer, Mady Mertens
VIDEO EDITOR Ty Young
PODCAST EDITOR Asya McDonald
DESIGN
DIGITAL DESIGN EDITOR Abbie Herrin
PRINT DESIGN EDITOR Blake Campbell
DIGITAL
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Tee Dickinson
ASSISTANT SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Hitanshi
Shah AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Sophie
Davenport
RECRUITMENT RECRUITMENT MANAGER Jayden Henson
GUIDES & MAGAZINES
SENIOR GUIDES EDITOR Melanie Velasquez
ASSISTANT GUIDES EDITORS Ellis Goud, Anna Kapustay
706-433-3001
ADVERTISING
STUDENT AD MANAGER Claire Han
DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Ava Sim
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Lucia Tomicick
COMMUNICATIONS & CREATIVE SERVICES
706-433-3021
CREATIVE SERVICE MANAGER Keren Sahar
MULTIMEDIA DESIGNER Sidney
Chansamone
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Alexis
Derickson
ALUMNI COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT
Phoebe Bagby
MARKETING ASSISTANT Katherine White
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Charlotte Varnum 706-433-3009 | publisher@randb.com
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Melissa Mooney 706-433-3007 | mmooney@randb.com
NEWSROOM ADVISER Kayla Renie 706-433-3026 | krenie@randb.com
CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR Brandon Dudley 706-433-3021 | production@randb.com
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Carter Webb 706-433-3012 | cwebb@randb.com
GUIDES & MAGAZINES SUPERVISOR Maddie Daniel 706-433-3046 | adaniel@randb.com
ABOUT US
Publishing online daily at redandblack.com and in print each month of the academic year by The Red & Black Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions: $84. All rights reserved. Reprints by permission. Opinions expressed are those of contributors and not necessarily those of The Red & Black Publishing Company Inc. The Red & Black has covered the University of Georgia and Athens since 1893. Independent of the university since 1980, The Red & Black is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit company with the dual missions of training students for future careers in journalism and serving our community as an independent news source. We receive no funding from the university and are self-supporting through advertising, events and donations.
As
If
Owen Warden
Sanford Stadium has received a full facelift for the 2023 season. In step one of a two-step, $68.5 million renovation plan, the UGA Athletic Association has renovated the south side of Sanford and added new quality-of-life changes to the rest of the stadium.
The biggest change was the expansion of the concourse between Gate 6 and Gate 9. The entire area has doubled in width and is adorned with a variety of Georgia football-themed murals.
“The south side was probably our biggest pinch point we knew our fans complained about — its tightness, the way the restrooms, concessions [and] everything worked,” said the associate athletic director of facilities and capital projects, Tanner Stines.
Stines, who led a tour for attending media around Sanford alongside the senior associate athletic director of internal operations, Matt Brachowski, said that by opening up the space between Gate 6 and Gate 9, the flow should be cleared up and allow fans to easily access their seats.
A brand-new sensory room was also added to that hall in section 128. The room, Stines said, is the first sensory needs space in a college stadium.
“We are a certified sensory needs stadium, which means 50% of our staff is trained to handle people with sensory needs. In all of our first aid stations, we have sensory bags,” Stines said. “This is a specific room so that if someone is having an episode or issues, they can go into that space.”
The room is fit with soundproof padded walls, consistently set to 66 degrees, and fits about six to eight people.
The concourse also features new family bathrooms and new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant platforms
to help those sitting in highboy chairs properly interact with those that might be bound to a wheelchair. Additionally, a new row was added after the 60th row on the south side, which will be called row 62 rather than 61 to honor the late Charley Trippi, who wore No. 62 for the Bulldogs in the 1940s.
Gate 9 will be split into two levels: upper Gate 9 and lower Gate 9. This gate, alongside Gate 1, will now be a portion of the bridge on the West side. Fans who enter through upper Gate 9 will be at the top of the 100 level, and those who go through lower Gate 9 will enter at the new Gate 9 plaza.
The upper level also has new TV compounds. A lot of the work done near the lower Gate 9 is in preparation for the eventual phase two part of the project, including an elevator to access the new suite level and press box.
Stines said certain changes should alleviate some of the condensed flow of people coming into the stadium. Gate 10 was re-done to allow easier access to other parts of the stadium.
The final current addition to Gate 9 is a new women’s restroom and concessions. The portable stand is the first of two, with the other planned for phase two of renovations. The new women’s restroom is significant due to its size, as it holds about 80 toilets, Brachowski said, and will require people working in the bathroom to direct what toilets are open.
Near Gate 6, new concession stands and bathrooms were added to provide the same amenities on the north side.
While the student section wasn’t particularly expanded, a wall was opened up to create a new access point to alleviate congestion.
The construction was completed in August in time for
the season. The final step was for television and internet providers like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile to increase cell phone coverage, which Stines said they do every year. The plans for phase two are to begin in November and will likely finish before the start of the 2024 season.
A rundown of changes made to Sanford Stadium:
X A new sensory room was added to the hall in section 128 and according to the associate athletic director of facilities and capital projects Tanner Stines, it is the first sensory needs space in a college stadium
X New family bathrooms were added to the concourse
X New Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant platforms were added to the concourse
X A new row was added after the 60th row on the south side, named row 62 in honor of the late Charley Trippi
X A new women’s restroom and grab-and-go concessions area were added to Gate 9
X New restrooms and concessions were added to Gate 6
X A wall in the student section was opened up to alleviate congestion
Bo Underwood
Week 1 is a time of hope around the college football world. It’s a time before embarrassing upsets, catastrophic injuries and the realization that your team isn’t gonna cut it this year.
This is why fans are so captivated by a great individual performance in Week 1; there’s no other evidence that suggests they won’t win the Heisman, or that the team won’t go all the way this year.
With that said, here are five of the best season opening performances in the history of Georgia football.
Nick Chubb vs. North Carolina (2016)
This was Nick Chubb’s first game in his return from a devastating knee injury he suffered against Tennessee the year prior, costing him the rest of the 2015 season. There were many questions entering 2016 on whether Chubb could return to form after the injury.
In Kirby Smart’s first game as Georgia’s head coach, the tailback put those questions to rest. Chubb carried the ball 32 times for 222 yards and two touchdowns against North Carolina in the season
opener. He punctuated the day with a monster 55-yard touchdown run to make it a two-score game with under four minutes to go, sealing the deal against the Tar Heels. The sentiment after this game was clear — Chubb was back.
Todd Gurley vs. Clemson (2014)
Georgia’s 2014 season opener was Chubb and Sony Michel’s first game as Bulldogs, but it’s more known for when Todd Gurley single-handedly beat Clemson. Gurley
ran for 198 yards and three touchdowns on just 15 carries and returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Gurley’s 293 all-purpose yards set a single-game Georgia record that still stands today.
DJ Shockley vs. Boise State (2005)
DJ Shockley finally got his chance as Georgia’s starting quarterback in 2005 after three years as a backup and his first start went well. Shockley laid waste to No. 18 Boise State, throwing for 289 yards and five touchdowns in the 48-13 Georgia victory. He also added 85 yards and a touchdown on the ground and finished as the game’s leading rusher. Shockley is still one of just five Georgia quarterbacks to ever throw for five touchdowns in a game — and he did in his first ever start.
Terrance Edwards vs. Utah State (1999)
Arguably the most productive receiver in Georgia’s history just happened to have his most productive day in Week 1. Terrance Edwards put on a clinic against Utah State in 1999, as he brought in 10 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns. It was his first ever college game — and his first game ever
playing wide receiver after switching to the position from quarterback once he arrived in Athens.
Then-head coach Jim Donnan described the performance as watching “a human highlight film.” Edwards went on to become Georgia’s all-time leading receiver and his first career game was a pretty good indicator of where he was headed.
Greg Waters vs. Southern Mississippi (1984)
The list’s lone defensive performance comes from someone who didn’t actually start: Greg “Muddy” Waters. The defensive end came off the bench for three sacks in a narrow 26-19 victory over Southern Mississippi in 1984.
An honorable mention goes to kicker Kevin Butler — he made four field goals and broke Georgia’s all time scoring record during the game.
However, it was Waters’ constant disruption off the edge that helped the Bulldogs tough out the win. Waters’ 59 tackles on the season is an unofficial school record for most tackles in a season without making a start, yet his best performance of the season came in the first game.