5 Bulldogs to face Tennessee

ATHENS — It’s doomsday at Sanford Stadium for the Georgia Bulldogs.

The season will go “Thumbs up” or “Thumbs down” for coach Kirby Smart and this 2024 edition of UGA football.

First, a qualifier: The SEC scheduler did a job on Georgia by capitalizing on the program’s past success in the form of a ridiculously brutal schedule.

Life isn’t fair, and neither was this schedule, which featured road games against Top 10 teams Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas.

This while protecting rivalry games against Tennessee (another top 10 team) and Auburn (a rival that will crush you even if it can’t beat you.

Catching Kentucky on the road early in the season didn’t help, while the Wildcats still had something to play for (just ask Ole Miss, a 20-17 UK victim).

All that said…. Smart has built expectations to the point where Georgia is still “supposed” to win enough to at least make the 12-team playoff.

Here are five Bulldogs players who will need to step up for Georgia to beat a healthy Tennessee football team:

1. Carson Beck

It’s old news that Beck set himself up for criticism with self-promotion of NIL riches, but Beck himself is not old news. Beck has learned a lesson.

Beck has the talent to make every throw, but on Saturday against Tennessee, he’ll have to show the toughness.

Look for Beck to display the impressive athleticism and grit that NFL “winners” possess. The arm talent and football IQ will present themselves at the combine. More than anything, Beck needs to show he can lead.

2. Nate Frazier

That’s the dream scenario for Nate Frazier, a 5-star tailback from Mater Dei High School in Southern California. The top three backs are out with injuries, so now it’s Frazier’s time to shine and create an old game.

Frazier is no longer a rookie, by Smart’s definition, having played plenty of football at this point in the season to know how to pass block, understand the playbook and secure the football.

Frazier’s running talents – vision, power, burst, cutting ability and forward lean – can take care of the rest.

3. CJ Allen

The sophomore from Burnsville has had his moments, good and bad, but today has to be special.

It will be up to Allen to lead a linebacking corps that will be charged with shutting down one of the best running games in the country.

Expect to hear pads pop and helmets crack with Georgia’s season on the line. Anything less and it will be a dark November in Athens.

4. Michael Williams

Ole Miss neutralized Williams and had NFL scouts second-guessing their scouting reports. If Williams can’t impact a college football game — he was a non-factor against the Rebels — he won’t be able to do it at the NFL level.

Williams needs to strike fear into Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, and he’ll have 92,000 fans helping with pre-snap noise that will cut off Vols communications.

The season is upon us, and as Georgia’s most talented defensive player, it will be up to Williams to set the tone.

5. Malachi Starks

Starks’ has used the equity in his first two seasons, to the point where he needs to validate himself with some healthy physical football.

The fact is, Starks hasn’t had a stellar junior year, and his draft stock has slipped — along with the respect many have for his ability to bend and play physical football.

Starks hasn’t made many impact plays this season, outdone at times by the great flashes from true freshman KJ Bolden. The last thing nice guy Starks wants to be remembered as at Georgia is a “soft” player who made a few highlights.