UGA Football OL Sedrick Van Pran: "It’s Going To Be A Trench War"
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ATHENS - UGA Football offensive lineman Sedrick Van-Pran previewed the upcoming game against Alabama with media on Monday and offered the following comments.
On playing Alabama…
“It’s going to be a trench war, absolutely. It’s going to be a hard fought, physical game. You’re going to win some battles and you’ll lose some battles, but I think the biggest thing is just making sure you continue to fight.”
On staying ahead of physical and mental exhaustion…
“I definitely think you get conditioned to it for sure. You get used to just going. I think that’s the biggest thing is just the repetition of it. I think that throughout the course of a season, of course, we’re human. Guys get tired and things like that. I think that’s why it’s so important to have that connection with your brother, to have guys that can check you and be like, ‘Hey Ced, today you don’t have it. I need you to step it up some.’ That happens. Leader, or no matter who it is, I know even coaches, they may not want to say it, but they have days like that as well. I think it’s just having a system of checks and balances to have everyone be able to respectfully correct each other.”
On stopping LB Dallas Turner…
“I think he’s a great pass rusher. I want to say he was a freshman the last time we played him. He was really good then. He was really explosive, great athlete, very twitchy guy. I would just say going into the game, as far as a mindset thing, is just accepting the challenge. Understanding that he’s another great edge that they have, much like Will Anderson, which they had when we played them then, and he was a great edge. They have guys like him that are game changers and can absolutely run games if you allow them too. For us, it’s accepting the challenge and understanding that God has given you some ability as well so just trust yourself.”
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WIN: What’s Important Now
Top-ranked Georgia (12-0, 8-0 SEC) will be looking to capture its 15th SEC title and second straight when it meets No. 8 Alabama (11-1, 8-0 SEC) Saturday in Atlanta. The Bulldogs completed their third consecutive perfect regular season, which is a school record. Also, the 2023 senior class has tied the school mark for victories as they enter the postseason now 49-3. The 2022 class went 49-5.
The Bulldogs are making their 11th appearance in the SEC Championship Game (SECCG) where they are 4-6. Georgia claimed the 2022 SEC crown when it beat LSU while the others came in 2002 (Arkansas), 2005 (LSU) and 2017 (Auburn). Georgia is making its sixth appearance in the SECCG in the Kirby Smart era where it’s 2-3. The Bulldogs are the visiting team this year.
Georgia’s 14 conference titles rank the second most in the SEC. Georgia will be aiming for its first win over Alabama in an SECCG after falling in 2012, 2018 and 2021. In the all-time series, Alabama leads 42-26-4. The Bulldogs won the last meeting, posting a 33-18 triumph in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game in Indianapolis, Ind.
SECCG Experience
The 2023 team features 14 Bulldogs who have started at least one SECCG and two (Sedrick Van Pran-C and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint-WR) who have started the past two championship games.
Offense (6): Sedrick Van Pran (C/21-22), Brock Bowers (TE/21), Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (WR/21-22), Ladd McConkey (WR/22), Tate Ratledge (RG/22), Xavier Truss (LG/22)
Defense (8): Dan Jackson (SS/21), Jamon Dumas-Johnson (LB/22), Kamari Lassiter (DB/22), Smael Mondon (LB/22), Tykee Smith (STAR/22), Nazir Stackhouse (DL/22), Malaki Starks (SS/22), Tramel Walthour (DE/22)
Did You Know? There have been five blocked field goals in SECCG history, and four of them by Georgia. Last year, Nazir Stackhouse blocked a 32-yard attempt and Chris Smith returned it 96 yards for a score.