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August 16,2023/Page 320 422^ 4255S^ ^SSB^ ^25^ ^223^ ^223^ 4J2S^ ^223^ lfr^ nC-0 ^225^ O O O O O ^282^ ^28^ ^8S^ pioskin preview/2023
Can UGA Three-Peat?
By Mike Branch
Sports Editor
sports 7 advance@gmail. com
The Buldlogs of the
University of Georgia will
be vying for a third straight
National Championship
this season, and they have
claimed the preseason #1
ranking heading into this
season. Georgia will have
to replace quarterback
Stetson Bennett and key
defenders like Jalen Carter
and Kelee Ringo, but they
have gotten used to reload
ing under Coach Kirby
Smart.
There is a stable of
quarterbacks that are try
ing to earn that starting
spot, but currently it ap
pears as if Carson Beck will
take that first team role.
They have replaced a few
transfers at the offensive
skill positions with players
like Rara Thomas and Do-
micic Lovett, but coming
back is the nation's best
tight end in Brock Bowers,
who should continue to
dominate defenses. They
will need to fill several de
fensive gaps, but they have
the talent to do so.
Offense
For the first time since
2016, Kirby Smart’s debut
season at Georgia, the
Bulldogs have a full-
fledged quarterback battle
on their hands. Carson
Beck and Brock Vandagriff
battled it out in the spring,
and they’ll likely continue
to do so even after the sea
son starts.
There are still plenty
of weapons on the outside
for the new quarterback.
The Bulldogs bring back
Brock Bowers, the nation’s
top tight end, and will also
still have at receiver Ladd
McConkey. UGA was able
to pick up Thomas from
Mississippi State and
Lovett from Missouri to
add to their offensive pro
duction.
The Bulldogs will also
return four guys on the of
fensive line, and have sev
eral more that have the tal
ent to start up front so
there should be a good ro
tation to keep the big guys
fresh.
UGA always produces
top notch running backs,
and this year that crew will
be led by senior Kendall
Milton, had big produc
tion even behind Kenny
McIntosh, who is now off
to the NFL. Daijun Ed
wards is another name that
you will hear on Saturdays,
along with Branson Robin
son.
Defense
Up front on defense
UGA will have Mykel Wil
liams back from an injuty
to lead the way in the
trenches. Zion Logue, Na
zir Stackhouse, Tramel
Walthour, and Warren
Brinson are all back up
front as well.
They will be young
this year at linebacker es
READ
Loran
Smith
Every Week In
pecially on the outside, but
inside they will return
Smael Mondon and Jamon
Dumas-Johnson. The sec
ondary returns three start
ers, including Peach Bowl
and National Champion
ship game MVT Javon Bul
lard, who may be moving
to Safety.
Special Teams
No more Jack Podle-
sny, who entered the NFL
Draft; Jared Zirkel is the
favorite to replace him. Re
turn specialist Kearis Jack-
son is also gone. The Bull
dogs do, however, bring
back McConkey at punt
returner and their punter
from Down Under, Brett
Thorson, who averaged 45
yards per punt last season.
Georgia will again be a
force to reckon with this
season. They have proven
under Coach Smart that
they have what it takes to
close out the big games,
and with excellent recruit
ing they continue to just
reload every season. The
keys to success this season
will start at quarterback.
They will need that posi
tion to step up if they have
any thought on making
history with a three-peat
National Championship.
Inexperience is an issue,
but they are confident in
the guys battling it out.
Georgia should field an
other elite defense to go
with a big-play offense and
what appears to be a very
manageable schedule.
Dawgs!
Sic 'em!
WOOF, WOOF,
WOOF
r
-i
y@A
BULLDOGS
FOOTBALL
SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Location
Sept. 2
UT Martin
Home
Sept. 9
Ball State
Home
Sept. 16
South Carolina
Home
Sept. 23
UAB
Home
Sept. 30
Auburn
Away
Oct. 7
Kentucky
Home
Oct. 14
Vanderbilt
Away
Oct. 28
Florida
Away
Nov. 4
Missouri
Home
Nov. 11
Ole Miss
Home
Nov. 18
Tennessee
Away
Nov. 25
Georgia Tech
Away
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