#1 TENNESSEE (8-0) at #2 GEORGIA (8-0); 3:30 PM ET; CBS … Let’s face it! There is only place to be in college football this weekend and that’s Athens, Georgia when #1 Tennessee meets defending national champion Georgia, currently the second-ranked team in the country on Saturday afternoon. Obviously, the #1 ranking will be on the line; so will the SEC East’s spot in next month’s conference championship game, although it is also very likely that this weekend’s loser will still get an invite to the CFP playoff assuming that they take care of business over the final weeks of the season.
The Vols-Bulldogs match-up also has a 1 versus 2 feel with the Tennessee offense, the top-rated unit in the country going against the Georgia defense, the #2 rated D in FBS. The Vols’ offense is led by QB Hendon Hooker (#5, 6-2, 215) who has gone from a virtual unknown at the start of the campaign literally to Heisman front runner. Hooker has completed over 70% of his passes so far this fall for almost 300 yards per game along with 21 scores against just one pick. In the process, Hooker has also gone from draft afterthought to a possible top ten pick as he appears to have joined CJ Stroud of Ohio State, Alabama’s Bryce Young and Will Levis of Kentucky at the top of most pro team’s QB board.
Hooker’s job is made easier with the presence of WRs Cedric Tillman (#4, 6-3, 215) and Jalin Hyatt (#11, 6-2, 205), both of whom have at least some first-round potential of their own. Hyatt, in particular, has been another Tennessee revelation who wasn’t on anybody’s draft radar at the start of the campaign but has emerged as the top big-play receiver in the country. Indeed, Hyatt, who has 45 overall catches, is averaging over 20 yards per catch and has a remarkable 14 TD catches in the Vols’ 8 games, including a team-record 5 in Tennessee’s huge win over Alabama last month. At the same time, the Vols have several other interesting pro prospects including mammoth RT Darnell Wright (#58, 6-6, 335), DE Byron Young (#6, 6-3, 245), and LB Jeremy Banks (#33, 6-1, 225), each of whom has at least some late-second day potential, while OG Jerome Garvin (#75, 6-5, 325), C Cooper May (#63, 6-2, 300), TEs Princeton Fant (#88, 6-2, 245) and Jacob Warren (#87, 6-5, 250), and safeties Trevon Flowers (#1, 5-11, 200) and Jaylon McCollough (#2, 6-1, 205) are solid third-day candidates.
Meanwhile, just in case anyone has forgotten the Bulldogs won last year’s national title thanks in large part to one of the most dominating defenses in recent college history. That unit did take some hits at the 2022 draft where 5 former Bulldog defenders were selected in the opening round including DE Travon Walker, the first player picked overall, but still return at least three top 15 prospects for this year’s draft including DT Jalen Carter (#88, 6-3, 300), CB Kelee Ringo (#5, 6-2, 210) and ER Nolan Smith (#4, 6-3, 235). The good news for the Bulldogs is that Carter, who could very well be the first non-QB from other than Alabama off the board this coming April, is back in the lineup and reportedly 100% after missing several games with a sprained knee. The bad for UGA is that Smith, the team’s leading sacker won’t play as he is now out for the year with a torn pec. And its a big game for Ringo who hasn’t played up to his standards so far this fall, but will get a chance to rectify things going against the talented Tennessee wideouts. Other Georgia defenders pro scouts will be watching in this one including MLB Robert Beal (#33, 6-3, 250) and safeties Chris Smith (#29, 5-11, 200) and Tykee Smith (#23, 5-10, 200.)
The Georgia offense doesn’t get the pub, but its also a very efficient unit which ranks 6th in the FBS ranks in total offense. Its led by underrated Stetson Bennett (#13, 5-11, 190) who is a little undersized for a pro prospect, but is a gamer who gets the ball where its supposed to be. For the record, Bennett has completed 68% of his pass attempts this fall for almost 300 yards per game including 9 TD passes with three picks. The strength of the UGA offense are the TEs including Brock Bowers (#19, 6-3, 230), who is arguably the best at the position in college football but won’t be draft eligible until 2024, Darnell Washington (#0, 6-6, 270) and Arik Gilbert (#7, 6-5, 255). The Dawgs are also set at RB with Kenny McIntosh (#6, 6-0, 210) and Kendall Milton (#2, 6-0, 220) both of whom are considered to be second day prospects, although junior Daijun Edwards (#30, 5-10, 205, actually leads the team in rushing. They work behind a very good OL that includes OTs Broderick Jones (#59, 6-4, 310) and Warren McClendon (#70, 6-3, 300) and C Sedrick van Pran (#6-3, 310).
Enjoy!!
