Darnell Washington shares Georgia's mindset for Auburn game

The Georgia Bulldogs are shaking off a tough game versus the Missouri Tigers that cost them the top spot in the AP Poll this week. They pulled out the win but it required a fourth-quarter comeback. Going up against a desperate Auburn team on Saturday, the Bulldogs will need to put Week 5 behind them.

The rivalry between Georgia and Auburn is well-documented with Kirby Smart’s squad taking the win in the last five games, however, according to star tight end Darnell Washington, the team is approaching it like any other game.

“We know a little bit of the history of it, about the rivalry of this game,” Washington said. “We approach it as any other game, we don’t approach it from what happened last year or you know, first game of the season, we just approach it and attack it.”

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

Although Washington only had one catch for 25 yards against Auburn last year, the Bulldogs won comfortably 34-10. Given the way he’s played so far this season, the tight end is likely to out-do his 2021 performance. Through five weeks, the 6-foot-7, 270-pound pass-catcher has 10 catches for 184 yards, which is already 41 more yards than he had last year.

Depite out-pacing his 2021 numbers, Washington is still chasing his first touchdown of the season for the Bulldogs.

 Smart, Georgia preparing for a challenge against Auburn

Some of the SEC’s top defenders will face off this week when Georgia takes on Auburn. Kirby Smart knows the challenge at hand despite the Tigers’ up-and-down start to the season.

One year after boasting the nation’s best defense, Georgia is holding opponents to an SEC-best 10.8 points per game and looks primed for another big year on that side of the ball. But Smart pointed out Auburn has playmakers as well, led by EDGE Derick Hall — the No. 21 player in the latest On3 Impact 300.

Couple Hall with Eku Leota, who’s seventh in the SEC with five tackles for loss, and Smart said the Tigers have the talent to make some noise.

“They’re fast and physical, playing really hard, two elite edge guys, some athletic linebackers,” Smart said. “They play really, really hard. Just call it what it is. They scratch off and play with confidence, they’re flying around. I know almost every single player on that defense. They’re good football players.”

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.