Georgia native Justin Eboigbe looking forward to SECCG battle of 'two Goliaths'

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe hails from Forest Park, Ga., which is roughly 10 miles south of Atlanta, where the Crimson Tide will play this week.

No. 8 Alabama (11-1, 8-0 SEC) will face top-ranked Georgia (12-0, 8-0) in the SEC title game on Saturday, Dec. 2, and while every game is special to Eboigbe, who is more than a year removed from a season-ending neck injury, he is looking forward to playing in his home state.

“It’s special because you’re going back home, playing in Atlanta, going against the best team in college ball right now to many,” Eboigbe said on Tuesday. “It means a little bit more because a lot of those guys recruited me and recruited a lot of guys on our team.”

A member of the 2019 recruiting class, Eboigbe was rated as the nation’s 69th-best prospect, No. 8 defensive lineman and 10th overall player from the state of Georgia, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He ultimately committed to Alabama over the Bulldogs, as well as Arkansas, Florida, Miami and Tennessee and is now in his fifth year with the Crimson Tide.

Prior to his 55th college game, Eboigbe looked back on his recruitment.

“(Georgia) recruited me very hard,” the redshirt senior said. “One of the biggest things, they don’t like seeing talent leave the state, but for me, I wanted to go somewhere a little bit further from home but close enough. I wanted to come to Alabama to go against the best each and every day and push myself to become the best player I can be.”

Eboigbe has contributed in each of his five seasons in Tuscaloosa, but none more than this year, along the defensive line. The 6-foot-5, 292-pound defensive lineman has registered 57 tackles, which is the fourth-most on the team, in addition to 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. Eboigbe is tied for 10th place in the SEC in sacks and 13th in the league in tackles for loss.

He and the rest of the Alabama defense will be facing a Georgia offense that has been effective this fall. The Bulldogs have a balanced attack with 310.8 passing yards per game (2nd in SEC) and 185.58 yards on the ground (4th). Quarterback Carson Beck is on pace to break the school record for completion percentage (72.4), and he has had plenty of time to throw.

Georgia leads the SEC and is tied for sixth nationally with only 10 sacks allowed this season.

“They do a lot of good things in pass protection,” Eboigbe said. “… One of the better O-line units, which just means we have to affect the quarterback. Affecting him doesn’t always mean sacks. It can be batted balls, getting him off where he originally wanted to throw, getting him to escape the pocket, not being comfortable in the pocket. 

“A lot of things can go into affecting the quarterback. That’s something we know we have to get to.”

Eboigbe feels “extremely grateful” to have a chance to go back home and win an SEC title. But he knows Saturday’s matchup with Georgia will be the most challenging yet for the Tide.

“They have a lot of things going on their side for their team at UGA, and we have a lot of things going for our side that we look forward to going against them,” Eboigbe said. “It’s going to be a great game. Two Goliaths going at it, and we’re going to see who comes out on top.”

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