Bio Blast: Georgia Bulldogs

Kentucky was hit with a haymaker from South Carolina in Week 2. The Wildcats are now behind the eight-ball and must show some resiliency early in the season after playing some embarrassing football on national television. The season is only going to get tougher.

The teeth of the SEC schedule begins right now. Kirby Smart is bringing his top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs to Lexington in Week 3 for the 78th all-time meeting between these conference foes. Kentucky will have their hands full on Saturday night.

KSR is now shifting our attention to game prep mode. The next challenge for the Wildcats will be a difficult one.

Kirby Smart might have college football’s QB1

Carson Beck waited three long years to become Georgia’s starting quarterback. The former four-star recruit was finally given his opportunity as a redshirt junior in 2023 and made it count. Beck got off to a fast start and didn’t slow down.

The pocket passer went over nine yards per attempt in three of his first four starts and threw for over 300 yards in four SEC games last fall. Beck was outstanding against Kentucky and looked like one of the top quarterbacks in college football in October and November.

The class of 2020 signee decided to return to Athens for his redshirt senior season and has not slowed down.

Through two games, Beck is completing 70.7 percent of his passes and averaging nine yards per attempt. In 15 career starts, the quarterback has thrown 31 touchdowns and only has six interceptions. Georgia is rebuilding some at wide receiver, but Beck is clearly one of the best players in college football and will likely be a Heisman Trophy contender this season.

Defensive star power

You can always pencil in Georgia to be a top-five defense under Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs have a boatload of talent and depth. Once again, there are NFL players all over this roster.

Malaki Starks is one of the top two safeties in college football and a likely first-round pick come April. The junior looks like the best player on the team through three games, but there are some other very talented players.

MALAKI STARKS pic.twitter.com/4yLDSscDbe

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) August 31, 2024

True freshman KJ Bolden is already making plays at safety, and Tyrion Ingram-Hawkins looks improved on the defensive front. There is excellent depth at off-ball linebacker, and the cornerbacks are experienced.

There are once again some future NFL players on this defense.

Perhaps the best offensive line in college football

Earnest Greene III might be this program’s next first-round pick at tackle. Tate Ratledge was a second-team All-American in 2023 and is one of the best guards in college football. Many believe Jared Wilson might be the best center in college football. Georgia’s offensive line continues to lose players to the NFL but almost seemingly never takes a step back.

Despite having some availability issues at tailback, this offense has remained efficient (No. 31 overall in success rate) thanks to an offensive line that consistently resets the line of scrimmage.

Georgia has one of the best offensive lines in college football.

Georgia is dealing with a pair of key defensive line injuries

The Bulldogs have gotten off to a fast start this season, but they have not been 100 percent on defense. Mykel Williams entered this season as the unit’s second-best player but was pulled from the Clemson game due to an ankle injury. Defensive tackle Warren Brinson is also dealing with an injury.

Georgia is hopeful that both players will practice this week.

Williams will have a chance to become a first-round pick in April, and Brinson is a starter at defensive tackle that UGA was going to ask a lot of this season.

Through two games, Georgia’s pass rush has produced only 21 pressures. That appears to be a weakness of the unit and might not improve until Williams returns.