Kirby Smart opens up on Rian Davis' growth, his journey to get here

No. 1 Georgia hasn’t really missed a beat defensively so far in 2022 despite losing a boatload of talent off last year’s national championship team to the NFL Draft. Each week it seems like there’s a new player emerging, with linebacker Rian Davis‘ growth affording him the chance to be that guy Saturday in a 42-10 win over Auburn.

Davis finished second on the team in tackles in the game, notching four stops and a quarterback hurry.

“Had a very significant injury last year that prevented him from being able to contribute in other areas on special teams, and this year he’s been able to do that,” coach Kirby Smart said. “He got his opportunity Saturday and he made the most of it.”

It’s been a long time coming for the fourth-year junior.

Davis has seen his involvement expand as the season has gone on. He’s recorded seven tackles and three quarterback hurries on a defense that has rotated players liberally.

Smart credited the learning experience Davis has been a part of with his leap in 2022.

“He’s a core special teams guy, he practices hard, he played behind those other guys last year,” Smart said. “If you were a fly on the wall in that room you got talent just oozed. He was blessed to be with those three guys that left and watch how they worked and practiced. He was a part of that, too.”

Rian Davis’ growth occurring on and off field

The thing about Georgia’s defense right now is that there aren’t a ton of statistical standouts on paper.

The team’s leading tackler, linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson, has just 29 tackles. Rather, it’s been a collective effort by the Bulldogs. But it takes individuals taking care of their own business first to become part of that collective effort, and that’s where Smart has really seen Rian Davis’ growth over the past year or two.

“No. 1 thing Ryan’s done is he came in and there was times he would slack academically and maybe not do what he was supposed to do,” Smart said. “Every academic report we’ve been getting, for the most part, has been good with him. He’s grown up.

“You see these guys as coaches as a freshman and sophomore and you think, ‘Man, is this guy going to make it?’ And their third or fourth year it hits them. … They realize it’s much easier to do it right on the front end. And he’s done that. He’s also done that with a lot of injuries. Football’s a tough sport. Not many of you guys in this room played it, but it’s physical and it’s hard. You’re not always healthy and it makes you question what you believe in sometimes. I think he’s been through that and he’s come out on the good side of it.”

Davis got an opportunity to play more against the Tigers on Saturday and took full advantage.

That’s the kind of reward Smart loves to see, because it shows his younger players what’s possible with the right attitude and work ethic. He’s been stressing that approach to his team all along.

“It shows resiliency. He talked all offseason about he stands in front of the team and talks about what he’s been through and how tough it’s been, and you keep plugging away,” Smart said. “I can still remember when he came in my office the COVID year and said, ‘Coach, I’m going to sit this thing out.’ And I said, ‘No you’re not, you’re staying with it and you’re going to stick it out, you’re going to keep playing, you’re going to keep practicing.’

“He was ready to just shut it down. I’m so glad that he did because he’s become a better person.”