We are less than 25 days from the dawning of a new era in Athens, Ga. I started going to Athens annually over 20 years ago. For the last 15, Mark Richt has been the leader of the Red and Black. He performed admirably and I will remain a supporter of the man because of what he did for us and what he stands for. Any true Bulldog fan knows and appreciates his contributions. His successor has huge shoes to fill. It should be applauded that he brought us two SEC titles, won 145 games, was conference coach of the year twice and came painfully close on a couple of occasions to taking us to the national title. Yet, there is the need for change. There is the ultimate prize that has eluded the Bulldogs. That change was inevitable and painful but the result has been met with resounding approval. That change is Kirby Smart.
Kirby is no stranger to Athens. I saw him play the first time I went to a game there. He was a member of the Bulldogs as a defensive back from 1995-1998 and has coached twice for them, once as a grad assistant and once as a member of the 2005 SEC Champs. He then went on to many successful years as a defensive coach and ultimately the defensive coordinator for Alabama. The last two times he has come to Athens have been embarrassing for the home team so I’m glad he’s on our sideline now. He’s also brought a renewed hope with him. Things had gotten stale, so to speak. The Dawgs seem to have been stuck with a 9-10 win cap over the last 10 years. And while that is nothing to be ashamed of, we have watched Alabama, LSU, Florida and even Auburn win the big game during that span. We have long thought we had enough talent. Now, we find out.
2016 opens with a tough test against the defending ACC Coastal champs in The Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Defensively, UNC will provide a challenge for the young offense that the Dawgs will suit up. The Dawgs will return 3 starting lineman (Brandon Kublanow, Isaiah Wynn and Greg Pyke), WR Terry Godwin, RBSony Michel and, potentially, Heisman candidate RB Nick Chubb in week 1. Other than those players, there will be several new faces. The anticipated game changer on offense is Jacob Eason. The question remains if he will start game 1, but even so, it will be his first collegiate football game. Two new linemen will be expected to make an impact early on as well. One of those should be graduate transfer Tyler Catalina, who started 33 games with Rhode Island. The other could be Ben Cleveland, Aulden Bynum or Pat Allen. Or someone else, who knows yet.
Back to Eason. He is one of the most highly coveted recruits in recent Bulldog history and will have the entire weight of Bulldog Nation on his broad shoulders over the next 4 years. He brings all the tools with his 6’5″, and now 245 pound, frame. Matthew Stafford, with discipline, is the comparison. I believe he starts week 1 if Nick Chubb is healthy. He will have some weapons to throw to in Godwin, Isaiah McKenzie, Jeb Blazevich and freshmen WR Riley Ridley and TE Isaac Nauta. The sky is the limit for this freshman but the games still have to be played. He showed his arm off in the spring game throwing for almost 300 yards and a couple of scores. While Grayson Lambert should be able to provide a steady hand at QB, he is not going to win any games by himself. Eason has that capability.
Nick Chubb is a Bulldog favorite and provided the running back stable with zero drop off after the loss of Todd Gurley, a feat almost impossible. By all accounts, his physical health has returned. There are still emotional hurdles to jump after a severe knee injury. However, he has shown superhuman strength and resolve in his short time at UGA. Not many 19 year olds skip spring break so they can work out every day. Along with Chubb, Sony Michel is returning from an arm injury but provided the Dawgs with more than sufficient coverage during Chubb’s 2015 injury. Brendan Douglas will once again be the bruiser when Chubb needs a break. Freshmen Elijah Holyfield and Brian Herrien figure to see the field early as well. Holyfield is an unbelievable specimen. His father, Evander, taught him the benefits of dedication in the gym. He is rumored to have won a push up competition during the summer, completing 100 push-ups in one minute. I know, right? But no matter what, when he’s healthy, this is Nick Chubb’s offense!
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs return several playmakers from an improving defensive unit. While losing Leonard Floyd, Jordan Jenkins and Jake Ganus from the linebacker corps is not ideal, there are some studs that have been waiting their turn. Lorenzo Carter, Natrez Patrick and Davin Bellamy headline that group. These three linebackers may be the most athletic trio in the country. Whether or not it results in pressures, sacks and wins, remains to be seen but these guys are strong, fast and scary. The most freakish of the group is Carter at 6’6, 242 LB’s. He spent some time in the doghouse, no pun intended, last year but all accounts are that he is working his tail off this summer. The linebackers should be very exciting and a continuous source of highlights. Also in the mix will be Reggie Carter, Roquan Smith, Jaleel Laguins and Twitter Sensation, Ryne Rankins.
The defensive line is one of the biggest question marks heading into 2016. Even with the return of the #1 recruit in the state of Georgia, Trenton Thompson, the unit is inexperienced. Thompson is just a sophomore. Retuning players John Atkins is dealing with a knee injury and Jonathon Ledbetter has been limited with the team following multiple off the field issues. Freshmen Julian Rochester, Mikhail Carter and Tyler Clark expect to play early and often. Rochester himself has a legal hurdle to jump before taking the field thanks to a BB gun incident but he should see the field soon. If Atkins can recover from injury and the freshmen learn quickly, the unit has the athleticism and strength to make an impact. The previously mentioned linebackers will be even better if the line can gel, fill gaps and create pressure.
The unit on the defensive side of the ball that returns the most experience is the secondary. Safety Quincy Mauger has the most game experience of anyone on defense and is one of my favorite Dawgs. I will miss him after this year. Dominick Sanders is a very athletic safety that got his start playing corner. The corners, Malkom Parrish and Juwaun Briscoe are both talented, hard hitting, in your face corners. In addition, 5-Star Mecole Hardman joins the group. He may prove to be too good to keep off the field. Adding to the experience of the secondary will be Kirby Smart’s expertise from his tenure as DB coach and current DC Mel Tucker’s leadership. The Junkyard Dawg defense made popular by Erk Russell may be making a resurgence. It has been missing over the last several years.
The recruiting class was a big worry when the decision was made to move on from Richt. Coaching fluctuations make hanging on to prize recruits very difficult. To their credit, the two remaining coaches from last year, Kevin Sherrer and Tracy Rocker did a magnificent job working the trail and hanging on to the class during the change. With Eason being the perceived (and real) prize as a QB, of equal importance, we were able to land Big Ben Cleveland, Mecole Hardman, Isaac Nauta, Elijah Holyfield, Julian Rochester, Riley Ridley and several others to finish solidly in the top 10. The momentum has continued as we are currently sitting on a top 3 class for 2017. Championships are not won on signing day mind you, but having a top 5 class enhances the odds. Several freshmen will be counted on as new coaches are installed across the board, with the exceptions of Sherrer and Rocker. Jim Chaney takes over as OC with Sam Pittman joining as OL coach, Dell McGee as RB coach and James Coley as WR coach. Mel Tucker takes over as DC (and DB’s) with Sherrer and Glenn Schumann coaching linebackers and Rocker coaching the D line. A very underrated hire has been Shane Beamer, son of Frank Beamer, as special teams coach. You read right Georgia fans, we have a special teams coach.
In my unprofessional opinion, we finish 10-3. I’d love to see 11-2 but I just don’t know. It’s year one for Kirby. I think the 2-3 losses on the schedule are among Tennessee, Ole Miss and Florida. Don’t mistake my prediction for my desire. 14-0 is the desire. There is a lot of excitement in Bulldog Nation this August. More so than ever before. We welcome home a son that now becomes the father. We welcome back a heisman candidate that rushed his way into our hearts. We welcome a golden arm from the West Coast. We welcome a son of a boxing legend who can out push-up all of us. We welcome in the new era. The Kirby Smart era. I can’t wait to get it started!
As my man, Quincy Mauger, said to this nerd from Atlanta…..Goooooo Dawgs! Sic ‘Em!!!!!!
J-Dub