Georgia Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart Gives Update on AD Mitchell
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ATHENS - Georgia Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart gave an update on WR Adonai Mitchell Tuesday night.
Mitchell has not had a catch since the Samford game in early September. He played against Auburn during the Bulldogs’ blowout win over the Tigers, but he did not have a catch. Kirby said he was slightly optimistic heading into the final regular season game of the year.
“Yeah, he’s practiced some,” Kirby said of Mitchell Tuesday night. “He’s been out there to take some reps and things. He took a few today, I wouldn’t say that he’s 100%, I wouldn’t even say that he’s close to playing, but he’s done more this week than he has any other week. He’s closer than he’s ever been, so I’m hopeful.”
Georgia heads into the Georgia Tech game with one of the best offenses in the country - even without Mitchell. The Bulldogs are considered 35.5-point favorites to beat their in-state rivals Saturday. That game will be broadcast by ESPN at noon.
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SENIORS AIM TO LEAVE THEIR MARK
Top-ranked Georgia (11-0) enters the Tech contest aiming to complete a second straight perfect regular season. The Yellow Jackets (5-6) are riding high following a 21-17 upset of No. 13 North Carolina (9-2) in Chapel Hill. Georgia became just the third SEC team since 1992 to complete back-to-back 8-0 campaigns in conference play after a 16-6 road win over Kentucky. Tech overcame a 17-0 second-quarter deficit to eliminate UNC’s hopes of making the College Football Playoff.
Behind the running of senior Kenny McIntosh, who had a career-high 143 yards including a touchdown, three field goals by Jack Podlesny, and a stout defense, the Bulldogs claimed the SEC Eastern Division title outright in Lexington. With its top two quarterbacks sidelined, Georgia Tech relied on the duo of Zach Gibson and Taisunh Phommachanh as they shared playing time in the win over UNC. Meanwhile, the Tech defense pressured Heisman Trophy candidate Drake Mayo all day, and the Tar Heels had their worst offensive showing of the year. They had been ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring (40.1 ppg) and total offense (505.5 ypg). UNC finished with 17 points and 365 yards.
The Bulldog seniors will be recognized before the Tech game. This Bulldog class has an opportunity to set the school record for the most career wins. They tied the mark set by the 2021 national champions with their 45th last Saturday. The 2021 class finished 45-8 while the 2022 seniors are 45-5.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart is now 77-15 in this his seventh season of leading the Bulldogs. Tech’s interim coach, Brent Key, now has a pair of road wins over ranked teams in his first seven games. The first road win came over then No. 24 Pittsburgh, a 26-21 decision, in his first game at the helm.
The Bulldogs lead the Tech series 69-39-5 including 31-14-1 in Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium. Georgia has won the last four meetings with Tech upsetting the Bulldogs 28-27 in Athens in 2016. The teams did not play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic where only conference contests were held. Last year in Atlanta, Georgia completed a 12-0 regular season with a 45-0 shutout of Tech. The 45-point margin of victory tied for the largest in the series history, matching the 2019 outcome in Athens when the Bulldogs cruised to a 52-7 win.
FLASHBACK: TOP-RANKED DOGS BLANK GEORGIA TECH 45-0
Georgia scored at least a touchdown in all four quarters to beat Georgia Tech for the fourth consecutive time. While Jack Podlesny initiated the scoring with a 38-yard field goal in the first quarter and Daijun Edwards completed the rout with a three-yard scoring run in the final period, a total of six Bulldogs scored as UGA wrapped up a 12-0 regular season.
Stetson Bennett finished the game 14-for-20 for 255 yards and four touchdowns and Brock Bowers had 100 receiving yards on three catches to go along with two touchdowns. Georgia outgained the Yellow Jackets 463-166 and Georgia Tech never made it past the Bulldog 27 yard line. Former Bulldog and current Philadelphia Eagle Nakobe Dean was the team leader in defense with six stops.
BULLDOG BITES
*Georgia is aiming to complete its sixth undefeated regular season in school history and second straight under Kirby Smart. These special seasons came in 1896 (4-0), 1946 (10-0), 1980 (11-0), 1982 (11-0) and 2021 (12-0).
*The Bulldogs are looking to go undefeated at home for the fifth time in seven seasons under Smart.
The Georgia Bulldogs WIN the 2021 NATIONAL TITLE!
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