WATCH: Zamir White, Georgia strikes first against Arkansas
No. 8 Arkansas knew it would be put to the test this week, as Sam Pittman’s Razorbacks traveled to Athens to take on No. 2 Georgia. And they learned rather quickly just how difficult it would be to take down the Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs.
Arkansas in 2021 had not yet allowed a first-quarter score heading into its clash with Georgia; Pittman’s team held Texas A&M, Georgia Southern, Texas and Rice to scoreless first quarters. That streak ended very quickly on Saturday.
On the first possession of the game, Smart’s offense strung together a nine-play, 75-yard drive that burned over four minutes off the clock and resulted in a Zamir White three-yard touchdown rush.
Stetson Bennett starting for Georgia against Arkansas
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett got the start against No. 8 Arkansas rather than JT Daniels. After attempting to go through pregame warmups with the team, Daniels, Georgia’s typical starting quarterback, appeared to be in pain. He was a game-time decision heading into Saturday’s contest.
In Georgia’s first touchdown-scoring drive, Bennett completed two of three passing attempts for 22 passing yards and ran for nine rushing yards.
The Athletic’s Seth Emerson reported that Bennett took first-team snaps while Carson Beck worked with the second-team center, effectively removing Daniels from the conversation.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart first listed Daniels as a game-time decision Saturday morning on ESPN’s College Gameday.
“It all depends on how JT does during warmups,” Smart told ESPN’s Holly Rowe of Georgia’s quarterback status. “He’s been able to go some this week. We’re hopeful he’s able to go, but we’ll see.”
Daniels has dealt with a grade 1 lat strain for a week, which is unrelated to the Week Two core injury that kept him out against UAB in September. Evidently, Daniels’ lat injury was aggravated before the Arkansas game, ruling him out for Georgia.
Since the initial core injury, Daniels has played most of Georgia’s win against South Carolina and played one half against Vanderbilt before leaving with the rest of the starters to rest.
In his three early appearances, Daniels has thrown for 569 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. As the unquestioned offensive leader of Georgia, the No. 2 team in the country, he provides a steady presence in the backfield and on the sideline.