Georgia QBs JT Daniels, Stetson Bennett Will Share Time for Rest of Season, Says HC
Oct 21, 2021
ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 16: JT Daniels #18 of the Georgia Bulldogs warms up prior to the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Sanford Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Georgia quarterbacks JT Daniels and Stetson Bennett will share time for the remainder of the 2021 season, provided the former is healthy, Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart said Thursday, according to ESPN's Chris Low.
Bennett has started Georgia's past three games as Daniels has been sidelined with a sprained lat muscle.
"I'm not sure we know who the better one is based on which game plan we have," Smart said. "There are teams we play that we have to be able to use the quarterback in the run game. Well, that's Stetson. There are teams we play that you have to get the ball out quickly and be really accurate. That's JT. But the first thing with JT is that he's got to be healthy."
Daniels' injury was revealed following Georgia's 62-0 win over Vanderbilt on Sept. 25. He also missed a Sept. 11 matchup against UAB with an oblique injury. The 21-year-old entered the 2021 season as Georgia's starting quarterback, but his injuries have allowed Bennett the opportunity to prove he can be QB1.
Bennett has been impressive this season, too. In six games (four starts), he has completed 69.5% of his passes for 996 yards and 11 touchdowns against two interceptions. He has also rushed for 148 yards.
Daniels, meanwhile, has completed 76.1% of his passes for 567 yards and five touchdowns against two interceptions in three games. Although Daniels is completing more of his passes, Bennett is averaging more yards per attempt at 12.1 compared to Daniels' 8.0.
If the Bulldogs deploy both quarterbacks through the remainder of the season, they could have a chance to become the first since Florida's 2006 national title-winning team to claim a championship while rotating signal-callers. The Gators used Chris Leak as their starter that season, but Tim Tebow also ended up playing a significant role in the offense.
Georgia is currently the top-ranked team in the nation with a 7-0 record, including wins over unranked Clemson, No. 15 Kentucky and No. 18 Auburn. The Bulldogs have a fairly easy record the rest of the way, too, with matchups against unranked opponents in their final five games of the regular season.
4-Star DL Prospect Bear Alexander Commits to Georgia over Alabama, Texas
Oct 21, 2021
Bear Alexander, a defensive lineman from Fort Worth, Texas, will play collegiately for the Georgia Bulldogs.
Alexander affirmed his commitment to the Bulldogs on Thursday.
Alexander is a 4-star prospect and ranked 39th overall on 247Sports' composite national rankings and sixth among players in his position group.
The 6'3", 325-pound player received several high-profile offers, with Texas A&M, Alabama and Florida among the top-name programs looking to add Alexander.
Gabe Brooks, who is 247Sports' Midlands region recruiting analyst, wrote a scouting report in Jan. 2021 that pegged him as a future Day 3 NFL draft pick.
"Big-bodied interior defensive lineman with college-ready size. Requisite height accompanies significant mass. Missed sophomore year (transfer rules) but returned as a junior to aid a Texas 5A D-I state championship defense. Shows encouraging get-off quickness relative to size, as well as pursuit ability. Physical at the point of attack with expected play strength. Punchy and shows stack-and-shed ability vs. the run.
"Plays inside in a four-man front and is likely capable of fitting even or odd looks. Can expand move set and technical nuance. Balance and body control can also get better when engaged and in pursuit. Legitimate high-major interior defensive lineman who could become impact starter in college with potential to reach the pro level."
Alexander has been enrolled in four different Texas high schools: Terrell High School, Skyline High School (Dallas), Ryan High School (Denton) and Brewer. He was named to MaxPreps' Junior All-American second team after helping lead Ryan to the Texas 5A D-I state championship.
Now he'll move on and play for Georgia, which stands to benefit from Alexander being a bedrock of their defensive line.
Head coach Kirby Smart is doing outstanding work with his program right now. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 1 in both the Coaches Poll and Associated Press Top 25. They rank second in 247Sports' overall recruiting rankings for next season, behind only Alabama.
5-Star DL Prospect Mykel Williams Flips Commitment from USC to Georgia
Oct 20, 2021
Georgia's hot start to the 2021 season is paying dividends for next year's recruiting class.
Defensive lineman Mykel Williams told Chad Simmons of On3.com he has flipped his commitment from USC to the Bulldogs:
Georgia has had my attention from the beginning, and nothing ever changed, but my love for Georgia now is stronger than ever. Even when I was committed to USC, Georgia never fully left my mind. I loved USC, and I liked them a lot, but Georgia was always there. They never went away. ... My love for Georgia is stronger now. I am locked in with Georgia.
The native of Columbus, Georgia, is a 5-star prospect and the No. 5 defensive lineman in the 2022 class, per 247Sports.
Williams committed to USC in June, with Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson among many schools that presented him with a scholarship offer.
"I have a great connection with the whole coaching staff," he told Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports about picking the Trojans. "Two, the players on the team, they want to be great and want to win and do something big. Three, the fans and the atmosphere, itās electric. Every time I talk about USC on Twitter and Instagram, it just feels great."
The strong-side defensive end recorded 69 tackles and 17 sacks in 11 games for Hardaway High School as a junior in 2020.
Andrew Ivins, the Southeast recruiting analyst for 247Sports, wrote in his scouting report that Williams is a "scheme-versatile big man with a projectable frame and one of the longest verified reaches out of any blue-chip prospect in the class of 2022."
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and his staff are pushing all the right buttons. The Bulldogs are the unanimous No. 1 team in both the AFCA Coaches Poll and Associated Press Top 25 with a 7-0 record.
The addition of Williams moved Georgia up to No. 2 in 247Sports' recruiting rankings for 2022. He is the program's second 5-star commit after linebacker Malaki Starks.
No. 1 Georgia Cruises Past No. 11 Kentucky to Maintain Undefeated Season
Oct 16, 2021
ATHENS, GA OCTOBER 16: Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith (4) and defensive lineman Zion Logue (96) react after a defensive stop during the NCAA football game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Georgia Bulldogs on October 16th, 2021 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs remained undefeated with a 30-13 win over the previously unbeaten No. 11 Kentucky Wildcats at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday.
Georgia's supremely talented defense was the star of the show again, as it held the Kentucky offense to just 244 total yards.
The Bulldogs also received impressive production from their running game, rushing for 166 yards as a team, while quarterback Stetson Bennett threw for three touchdowns.
Georgia is now a perfect 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the SEC, while the Wildcats fell to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play.
Notable Stats
Stetson Bennett, QB, UGA: 14/20 for 250 YDS, 3 TD, 0 INT; 3 CAR for 22 YDS
Will Levis, QB, UK: 32/42 for 193 YDS, 2 TD, 0 INT; 10 CAR for 12 YDS
Zamir White, RB, UGA: 12 CAR for 46 YDS, 1 TD; 1 REC for 15 YDS
James Cook, RB, UGA: 6 CAR for 51 YDS; 1 REC for 19 YDS, 1 TD
Chris Rodriguez, RB, UK: 7 CAR for 7 YDS; 4 REC for 10 YDS
Brock Bowers, TE, UGA: 5 REC for 101 YDS, 2 TD
Bennett Efficient in Georgia Victory
Bennett has often been referred to as a game manager, and while that was the case at times Saturday, he also showed he can make big plays when called upon.
With the benefit of a dominant defense and strong running game, Bennett seemed empowered Saturday to take some shots down the field and beat the Wildcats with chunk plays.
The first example of that came at the start of the second quarter with the game tied at 0-0 when he found running back James Cook for a 19-yard touchdown to put Georgia on top:
A touchdown run by Zamir White extended the Georgia lead to 14-0, but Kentucky cut it in half before halftime, which shifted some pressure onto Bennett and the Bulldogs offense.
Bennett answered the bell, as he orchestrated a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a 27-yard touchdown pass to freshman tight end Brock Bowers:
Bennett went back to his favorite target in Bowers once again during the fourth quarter for a 20-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 30-7 and essentially sealed the deal.
Georgia's regular starting quarterback, JT Daniels, has missed the team's past three games with a lat injury, which opened the door for Bennett to play.
While it was initially assumed Daniels would get his starting job back when healthy, Bennett is now making that decision supremely difficult for head coach Kirby Smart.
Kentucky Smothered by Bulldogs Defense
While Bennett did his job and then some, the story of the game was once again Georgia's defense, as has been the case throughout the season.
Facing a Wildcats team coming off a 42-point performance against LSU, the Georgia defense provided little in the way of running lanes or open receivers in the passing game.
Kentucky punted on each of its first four drives of the game, mustering just 38 total yards on those four drives.
Dan Wolken of USA Today, Kyle Tucker of The Athletic and Clint Lamb of Bama On3 were just a few of the journalists and analysts who were blown away by Georgia's defensive performance:
Whew Georgia defense is just freaking relentless. Kentucky has no chance of doing anything today.
Despite the defense's dominance, Kentucky surprisingly entered the half trailing by just seven points.
That was because the Wildcats put together a 13-play, 75-yard drive late in the second quarter that ended with a one-yard touchdown pass from Will Levis to Justin Rigg:
For just the third time this season, Georgia's defense gives up a touchdown.
— CBS Sports College Football š (@CBSSportsCFB) October 16, 2021
It marked only the third touchdown allowed this season by a Georgia defense that entered the game allowing an average of just 5.5 points per game.
Kentucky nickel and dimed Georgia down the field on that drive, which was impressive considering the lack of success other teams have had against the Bulldogs.
Georgia could have backed down after getting figuratively punched in the mouth, but it stepped up instead by forcing three consecutive punts after the touchdown drive, followed by a blocked field goal.
Ultimately, Georgia made a talented Kentucky offense look ordinary, which is why the Bulldogs are the No. 1 team in the nation and the favorites to win a national championship.
What's Next?
Georgia is on the bye next week before returning to action Oct. 30 in a home game against the No. 20 Florida Gators.
Kentucky will also have a bye next week and will then have a chance to bounce back Oct. 30 against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on the road.
Stetson Bennett, No. 2 Georgia Dominate Bo Nix, No. 18 Auburn 34-10 in SEC Action
Oct 9, 2021
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) carries the ball against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Auburn, Aal. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
No. 2 Georgia remained undefeated with a 34-10 road win over No. 18 Auburn. The Bulldogs were led by quarterback Stetson Bennett, who threw two touchdowns in the victory.
It's Georgia's fifth straight win in Deep South's Oldest Rivalry. The Bulldogs have won eight of the last 10 meetings over the Tigers.
Notable Performers
Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia: 14-of-21 for 231 YDS, 2 TD; 6 CAR for 41 YDS
Zamir White, RB, Georgia: 18 CAR for 79 YDS, 2 TD
Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia: 5 REC for 135 YDS, TD
Stetson Bennett More Than Just a Game Manager
With starting quarterback JT Daniels nursing a lat injury, Stetson Bennett got the start for Georgia on Saturday. Despite his reputation as a "game manager," Bennett outplayed that label and was a key part of Georgia's victory.
Bennett faced some early adversity after sustaining a hit to his helmet on a run, but he showed his toughness and remained in the game.
Serious question: Is Stetson Bennett OK? Or is he running off adrenaline? That was harsh hit to the head
Georgia fell behind 3-0 in the first quarter, which was its first time trailing all season. Bennett led the Bulldogs to 17 straight points, including back-to-back touchdown drives.
Bennett was particularly great on the second scoring drive. He threw for 73 yards, including a 45-yard strike to Ladd McConkey.
Midway through the third quarter, Bennett and McConkey connected on another big play, a 60-yard quick-strike touchdown on the first play of the possession.
Entering Saturday's game, Bennett made four appearances this season with two starts. Despite throwing for less than 100 yards twice this year, Bennett has proven that he's capable of big performances.
He threw five touchdown passes in the first half of Georgia's Sept. 11 win against UAB, tying the school record. Daniels sat out that game with an oblique injury. He's now missed three games this year.
Bennett's 231-yard performance against Auburn was his second highest total this season. As Georgia's dominance continues, the Bulldogs should feel comfortable with Bennett under center until Daniels fully recovers.
Auburn Falls Victim to Georgia's Defense
The Georgia defense has demoralized many teams this season, and Saturday's game against Auburn was no different.
The Tigers entered Saturday's game averaging 38.8 points, 478.0 yards offense and 238.2 on the ground. Against the Bulldogs, they were held to 46 rush yards and 318 total yards.
Auburn quarterback Bo Nix was under duress throughout the game and was sacked three times.
Auburn finally broke through in the third quarter with a six-yard touchdown run by Tank Bigsby. It was Georgia's first time allowing a touchdown since the fourth quarter of its Sept. 18 win over South Carolina. It was also the first time a team scored points in the third quarter against the Bulldogs all season.
The Tigers likely will not face a defensive front as strong as the Bulldogs for the rest of the season, so the team can find some solace in that.
What's Next?
Georgia returns home next Saturday to face No. 16 Kentucky. The Wildcats will be the Bulldogs' third straight ranked opponent. Auburn will be on the road against No. 13 Arkansas, which lost Saturday to No. 17 Ole Miss.
This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.
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No. 2 Georgia Dominates No. 8 Arkansas in Battle of SEC Unbeatens
Oct 2, 2021
ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 02: KJ Jefferson #1 of the Arkansas Razorbacks is wrapped up by Devonte Wyatt #95 of the Georgia Bulldogs in the first half at Sanford Stadium on October 2, 2021 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
In an SEC clash between undefeated Top 10 teams, the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs crushed the No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks 37-0 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday.
Georgia was without starting quarterback JT Daniels because of a lat injury, but Stetson Bennett managed the offense well. Meanwhile, Arkansas starting quarterback KJ Jefferson played despite a sprained PCL, but he struggled against the Bulldogs' smothering defense.
Head coach Kirby Smart's Bulldogs stifled the Razorbacks offense, allowing just 162 total yards and nine first downs in the shutout.
Georgia also excelled at running the football on offense, rushing for 273 yards and three touchdowns as a team.
Arkansas fell to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in SEC play on the season with the loss, while Georgia improved to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the conference.
Notable Stats
Stetson Bennett, QB, UGA: 7-of-11 for 72 YDS, 0 TD, 0 INT; 3 CAR for 16 YDS
KJ Jefferson, QB, ARK: 8-of-13 for 65 YDS, 0 TD, 0 INT; 8 CAR for 5 YDS
James Cook, RB, UGA: 12 CAR for 87 YDS
Zamir White, RB, UGA: 16 CAR for 68 YDS, 2 TD; Blocked Punt Return TD
Dominant Defense, Special Teams Carry Bulldogs
Defense has been Georgia's hallmark throughout the 2021 season thus far, and that was the case once again Saturday against Arkansas.
The Bulldogs defense suffocated the Arkansas running game and never allowed Jefferson to get anything going in the passing game either.
Entering Saturday's contest, Georgia had the best defense in the nation in terms of both points allowed per game (5.8) and passing yards allowed per game (115.8). The team proved against Arkansas that those numbers were far from a fluke.
A host of college football experts and analysts marveled at the play of the Georgia defense Saturday against an Arkansas team that was averaging nearly 36 points per game entering the day.
ESPN's Peter Burns, Ryan Clark and Matt Miller were among those who tweeted about the Bulldogs' defensive excellence:
Georgia 2021 reminds me of LSU 2003 where you don't want to miss a single play when they are playing defense.
As good as Georgia's defense was, its special teams were arguably just as effective in the one-sided victory.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of rushing touchdowns, but it was a special teams play that essentially put the game out of reach early.
Dan Jackson blocked an Arkansas punt and running back Zamir White recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown, extending the Georgia lead to 21-0 before the first quarter was over:
Teams with dynamic offenses tend to get much of the attention and praise, but Georgia continues to show there are other ways to win.
The Bulldogs have a more high-powered offense when Daniels is under center as well, but the fact that they were able to win so convincingly without him bodes well for their chances of perhaps winning the SEC and a national championship this season.
Jefferson, Arkansas Run into Georgia Buzzsaw
Arkansas undoubtedly played poorly Saturday compared to how it played over the first month of the season, but that may have had more to do with its opponent than anything.
Georgia entered Saturday having won three straight games in blowout fashion, including a 27-point win over South Carolina and a 62-point thrashing of Vanderbilt.
It didn't help matters that Jefferson was less than 100 percent from a health perspective, and it was clear that the Georgia defense set out to take advantage of that fact.
ESPN's Bomani Jones, Aaron Torres of Fox Sports Radio and Michael Bratton of That SEC Podcast all referred to Georgia as either an elite team or the best team in the country Saturday:
georgia is kickin arkansas' ass, and i don't think it's an indictment of arkansas. uga is in a different class.
Losing to Georgia is nothing to be embarrassed about, although Arkansas learned that it remains far away from truly being a top-flight team.
On the other hand, Georgia made a strong case to potentially supplant Alabama as the No. 1 team in the nation regardless of how Alabama fares against Ole Miss on Saturday.
What's Next?
Georgia will look to continue its winning ways next Saturday when it faces No. 22 Auburn on the road.
Meanwhile, Arkansas will attempt to bounce back next Saturday in a tough road game against No. 12 Ole Miss.
JT Daniels, No. 2 Georgia Dominate South Carolina 40-13 for SEC Win
Sep 19, 2021
ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 18: Luke Doty #4 of the South Carolina Gamecocks is pressured by Tramel Walthour #90 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Sanford Stadium on September 18, 2021 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
No. 2 Georgia continued its strong start to the 2021 season Saturday night, blowing out South Carolina 40-13. It was yet another dominant performance from the Bulldogs defense, which has made a very strong case for being the stingiest in the nation.
Through three games, the Georgia defense has given up just one touchdown, and it came in garbage time Saturday night. No surprises thereāa season-opening 10-3 win over Clemson showed off what this defense was all about.
There it is: Georgia's defense gives up its first touchdown of the season. It took until the fourth quarter of Week 3, a 36-yard pass to Josh Vann, who now has 128 receiving yards on just three catches.
With the exception of three turnovers, it was a complete performance for Georgia against South Carolina (2-1), with JT Daniels expertly running the offense after returning from an oblique injury that kept him out of last week's 56-7 blowout of UAB.
All in all, Georgia looks the part of a national championship contender thus far. While a number of top teams around the country struggled against inferior competition Saturday, the Bulldogs rolled.
Key Stats
JT Daniels, UGA: 23-of-31 for 303 yards, three touchdowns and an interception
Adonai Mitchell, UGA: Four receptions for 77 yards and a score
Jermaine Burton, UGA: Three catches for 70 yards and a touchdown
Luke Doty, USC: 13-of-26 for 153 yards, a touchdown and a pick
Josh Vann, USC: Three catches for 128 yards and a score
Kevin Harris, USC: 16 rushes for 31 yards
Georgia Can Safely Scrap Any Two-QB Experiments
Daniels was humming along nicely in the first quarter, completing 8-of-9 passes for 119 yards and a score, when Kirby Smart decided to give Stetson Bennettāwho threw for five touchdowns last week in relief dutyāa snap at quarterback center.
That proved disastrous, as Bennett threw an interception.
Obviously, Daniels is the starter so long as he's healthy. He has earned as much. But Bennett's early appearance Saturday night called into question whether Georgia might occasionally experiment with playing both quarterbacks.
If so, it's probably time to put that idea to rest. The two-quarterback platoon very rarely works, and it's hardly necessary with a player as good as Daniels leading the way. Georgia has the best defense in the country and plenty of talent on offenseāno need to get cute.
Georgia's Defense Just Keeps Living Up To The Hype
The Bulldogs held South Carolina to just 296 total yards, and 96 yards on the ground (34 attempts). They forced two turnovers. They constantly hassled Doty when he dropped back to pass. They registered a safety.
This group is ferocious. Nothing comes easy against Georgia.
What's Next?
Georgia travels to face Vanderbilt on Sept. 25 at noon ET on the SEC Network, while South Carolina hosts Kentucky that same day at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Report: JT Daniels to Miss Georgia's Home Opener vs. UAB with Oblique Injury
Sep 10, 2021
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 04: JT Daniels #18 of the Georgia Bulldogs drops back to pass against the Clemson Tigers during the first half of the Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
No. 2 Georgia's starting quarterback J.T. Daniels is likely to miss this weekend's home opener against UAB with an oblique injury, according to Maria Martin of 11 Alive News in Atlanta.
#UGA News According to our UGA insider's sources, JT Daniels will not start against #UAB Saturday because of an oblique strain. Daniels has been held out of practice this week. @UGASportscom@RadiNabulsi#11Alive#Dawgs
Backup Carson Beck, a redshirt freshman, will likely start if Daniels remains unavailable, per Clint Buckley of 247Sports. The Jacksonville native was the No. 9 pro-style QB in the class of 2020 and held offers from Alabama, Florida and Boston College before signing with the Bulldogs.
Daniels, meanwhile, saw his stock soar following a season-opening 10-3 victory over No. 3 Clemson last week. The Heisman candidate passed for 135 yards with an interception but completed 22 of 30 passes against a stout Tigers defense that limited UGA's offense to 256 yards total.
DraftKings Sportsbook lists Daniels +1800 (bet $100 to win $1800) to capture the Heismanāthe sixth-best odds behind Bryce Young, Matt Corral, Spencer Rattler, CJ Stroud and DJ Uiagalelei.
If Beck isn't the option at QB, the job would fall to fellow backup Stetson Bennett IV.
Both Beck and Daniels are pocket-oriented quarterbacks. Beck may be a bit more daring with his throws, which could mean more downfield shots, but he's also more raw, so it could mean a few more mistakes. Georgia was likely to try more downfield throws anyway, but unless receivers Kearis Jackson and Dominick Blaylock play on Saturday, there are still limitations to what the passing game can do in the short term.
Bennett, a senior who is more mobile than Daniels and Beck, started five games last season including wins against Auburn, Tennessee and Kentucky. He threw for nearly 200 yards per game in his five starts and often extended plays with his legs.
Even with UAB coming off a 31-0 victory over Jacksonville State to open the season, oddsmakers don't appear too concerned about Daniels' health. The Bulldogs are listed as 23.5-point favorites at FanDuel, with odds currently suspended on DraftKings.
Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET at Sanford Stadium.
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Georgia Football at 'Highest Spike' of Positive COVID-19 Cases, per HC Kirby Smart
Sep 6, 2021
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 04: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs watches his team play against the Clemson Tigers during the second half of the Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
The Georgia Bulldogs are dealing with more than just game preparation ahead of Saturday's home opener against UAB.
Head coach Kirby Smart told reporters that three or four of the team's players tested positive for COVID-19 and may not be able to play in Georgia's second game of the 2021 season:
I'll be honest with you, I'm as concerned as I've ever been, because we have three or four guys out with COVID and we have a couple staff members that have been out with COVID here recently. For us, we're at our highest spike. And people are talking about vaccinations, well these are people that are vaccinated. We're talking about breakthroughs, and so that concerns you not only for the players on your team that are unvaccinated, that are playing and not playing, because we want everybody to be safe. But it concerns me for the players that are vaccinated that we could lose them.
Smart also said Ron Courson, who is Georgia's sports medicine director, is "doing good" after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 and did not travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, for last Saturday's 10-3 win over Clemson at Bank of America Stadium.
Mark Schlabach of ESPN noted the head coach also previously said more than 90 percent of the SEC program's players, coaches and staff members are vaccinated.
While Smart explained the players experienced breakthrough cases, they are statistically safer because they were vaccinated. A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that those who are vaccinated are 29 times less likely to be hospitalized or killed as a result of the virus (h/t Katia Hetter of CNN).
On the field, the Bulldogs started their season off with a high-profile win over Clemson in a marquee nonconference clash that could have implications on the College Football Playoff down the line.
They start SEC play with a home game against South Carolina on Sept. 18 after the contest against UAB.
Kirby Smart Says 'You're Either Elite or You're Not' After Georgia Upsets Clemson
Sep 5, 2021
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 04: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs tallks with his players during the first half of of their game against the Clemson Tigers in the Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Fresh off a 10-3 victory over No. 3 Clemson, No. 5 Georgia head coach Kirby Smart had some stinging words for the higher-ranked Tigers.
"You're either elite or you're not," the Bulldogs coach said.
Without Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne and Amari Rodgers leading the offense, Clemson was very much not elite.
Georgia's defense proved that in just about every way. The Bulldogs allowed 180 yards total, including just two yards on 23 rush attempts, spoiling the debut of DJ Uiagalelei as the Tigers' QB1.
Lawrence's successor completed 19 of 37 passes for 178 yards and an interception, while no Clemson rusher had more than 10 yards. Lyn-J Dixon reached the mark on one carry. Uiagalelei, meanwhile, lost 22 yards on 14 carries. He also took seven sacks and had four of his passes deflected.
All of that added up to a simple result for Smart: Clemson doesn't have it.
Now the coach of one of the College Football Playoff favorites will just have to hope his declaration doesn't come back to haunt him later in the season.
