Rece Davis shares what surprises him about 2023 Georgia team

College GameDay host Rece Davis was surprised at the new ways Georgia was able to figure out how to win in 2023.

Once again, the Bulldogs are undefeated going into the SEC Championship Game. The No. 1 team in the country can clinch a spot and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff with a win over Alabama.

But instead of smothering teams like that last two seasons, Georgia is doing it slightly differently.

“I think growth and winning a different way,” Davis said. “I mean, this defense is still really, really good. But the last two years all those guys are playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. They’re not as good as they were the last couple of years. They’re still really good. That’s not some kind of slight or insult.

“So instead, they just now cut you to pieces on offense with this explosive offense. And even when Brock Bowers has been hurt and Ladd McConkey has been out, they just find another weapon.” 

Who would’ve thought Dillon Bell would be a tremendous weapon, at least in this sort of fashion? 

His stats don’t jump off the table, but he makes plays every time he touches the football. Bell has 25 carries, 157 yards, two touchdowns, 6.3 yards per carry, 22 catches, 254 receiving yards, two touchdown receptions and 11.5 yards per catch.

“I’ve been absolutely mesmerized watching Dillon Bell,” Davis said. “He’s like a secret weapon, like when you have an emergency: break glass and use Dillon Bell … So they’ve got so many weapons on offense. And Carson Beck is the epitome of what happens when you stay the course.

“You know, not unlike (Jalen Milroe) but in a different way. Because Carson had a chance a couple years ago and a lot of people in Georgia like to downplay this, but he had a chance to take over when JT Daniels got hurt.”

Beck had a resurgent year, albeit his first as a starter. It wasn’t smooth sailing, but Beck at one point got Heisman buzz this year.

This season, Beck has 3,495 yards, 22 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 72.4% completion percentage.

“Didn’t go as well as perhaps he would have hoped in practice that winter, the winter Stetson and everybody knows what happened after that. Guys would get discouraged after that or say this is not for me. They’re not handing me the reins. (Carson) just kept getting better. And now man, he’s a dude.”