Tag: college football season news

Former Georgia football head coach Mark Richt is back in Athens

Former UGA football coach Mark Richt and his wife Katharyn are back in Athens. Details and reaction here.

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It looks like former Georgia head coach Mark Richt and his wife, Katharyn, have found a nice spot back in Athens, Georgia.

Richt spent 14 years as the leader of the Bulldogs, winning two SEC titles (2002, 2005) and playing for two more (2011, 2012) and finishing in 2015 with an overall record of 145-51. That’s a winning percentage of 74%, which was good enough to rank No. 8 among active coaches when Richt stepped down almost six years ago.

He led his alma mater Miami from 2015 to 2018, which included a 16-game winning streak in 2016-17 and a No. 2 national ranking in 2017. That earned him the 2017 Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award.

Richt works for ESPN’s ACC Network as an analyst, but his popularity among DawgNation still remains. UGA Twitter reacted fondly to the news of Richt’s return home to Athens.

 

 

Check out the “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” podcast here! J.C. is joined by Georgia legend Rennie Curran in this special episode.

 

UGA great Geno Atkins leads all NFL DT in this stat category

Check out this stat by Pro Football Focus on former Georgia Bulldog Geno Atkins. Details here.

Former Georgia Bulldog Geno Atkins has long been one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL. He was named to the 2010’s All-Decade Team, despite being an undervalued fourth round pick out of Georgia.

Atkins measured at six-foot-one, 293 pounds at the 2010 NFL Combine, significantly smaller than the prototypical NFL defensive tackle, but his size, or lack there of, has not mattered one bit.

Pro Football Focus recently released their list of defensive tackles with the highest amount of quarterback pressures since 2010 and, no it’s not three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron Donald.

Granted, Donald was drafted by the Rams in 2014, so Atkins has about a four-year head start, but regardless, Atkins has proved to be one of the best interior defensive lineman in this generation and looks to be on track for Canton one day.

Don’t forget the 8-time Pro Bowl selection got his start in Athens where he earned First-Team All-SEC honors in 2007 and Second-Team All-SEC honors in 2009.

Now, Atkins enters his 12th season for the Cincinnati Bengals in the third-year of a four-year, $65 million contract extension that he signed back in 2018.

Check out what Atkin’s opponents had to say about the two-time First Team All-Pro in this NFL Top 100 Players feature (2019):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isTi_molMVA

 

 

UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton: S1, Ep. 21: CFB Roundup and Dawgs in the NFL Draft breakdown

J.C. talks recent college football news, including UCF’s new hire, the NCAA dead period and more. Plus, Dawgs in the NFL Draft breakdown.

Your friends at “UGA Football Live” and UGA Wire present your one-stop shop for all things Georgia football!

This offseason we will be releasing episodes each Thursday with interviews, news and rumors and more!

In this week’s episode, I talk recent news, including UCF’s new hire, the NCAA dead period and some NFL news. Plus, I breakout a new segment: Dawgs in the NFL Draft, where I dig into where experts are projecting former Bulldogs will land in the 2021 NFL Draft.

 

Listen here on Spotify:

 

Or here, on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uga-football-live-with-j-c-shelton/id1533295384#episodeGuid=Buzzsprout-7952392

 

Also I talk,

  • CFB Roundup

I touch on recent news around the college football world.

  • Georgia Oklahoma Drill

If you had to choose an Oklahoma Drill lineup (RB, OL, DL, LB), featuring current Georgia players, who would be on the ticket?

 

Make sure to subscribe, rate and review! And check out our other episodes featuring former Georgia greats like Tavarres King (Ep. 3)  Keith Marshall (Ep. 4) Arthur Lynch (Ep. 6) Malcolm Mitchell (Ep. 7) Drew Butler (Ep. 9) Aaron Murray (Ep. 17) and Brandon Boykin with Chris Burnette (Ep. 18).

 

Watch: Former UGA WR Mecole Hardman celebrates Valentines Day with his mom

Former Georgia receiver, now Kansas City Chief Mecole Hardman celebrated Valentines Day

Former Georgia receiver, now Kansas City Chief Mecole Hardman celebrated Valentines Day this past Sunday by breaking out all of the stops to celebrate his mother, Danyell Hardman.

The celebration was held at the house Hardman bought his parents after signing his rookie contract with the Chiefs in 2018.

A very special moment for Hardman after helping Danyell through health scare in 2013 when a benign tumor was found in her brain. Hardman acted as Danyell’s chauffeur to treatments, which helped build the special bond they share today.

Hardman was an absolute blazer during his career at Georgia from 2016-2018. Besides running by defenders on deep balls, the former Bulldog receiver made his presence felt most on kick returns, earning ESPN first-team All-America honors in 2018.

During his career in Athens, the Bowman, Ga., native racked-up 59 catches for 950 yards with 11 touchdowns and added 25 yards per return on kickoffs and 15 yards per return on punts.

 

A new episode of “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” is up now! This week J.C. talks recent Georgia football news, gives out our 2020 defensive MVP and breaks down the linebacker room. Listen here:

 

Georgia football offers scholarship to massive 4-star DL Zxavian Harris

Georgia football has made its latest scholarship offer to Madison, Miss., defensive lineman Zxavian Harris. Details here.

Programs around the country are filling their recruiting boards after national signing day on Feb. 3 marked the end of the 2021 cycle.

Georgia football has made its latest scholarship offer in the class of 2022 to Madison, Miss., defensive lineman Zxavian Harris. 

Harris is huge at 6-foot-eight, 330 pounds, and is rated as the No. 2 prospect in Mississippi, the No. 7 defensive tackle overall and the 96th ranked recruit in the class of 2022.

In 2019, as a sophomore, Harris earned 6A All-State honors for Germantown High School. He finished the season with 62 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 17 quarterback hurries.

In 2020, Harris racked up 48 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, four sacks and two forced fumbles.

Watch Harris’ junior highlights here.

Georgia currently holds eight commits in the class of 2022, which is rated as the No. 2 class in the nation behind Ohio State and the No. 1 class in the SEC.

 

A new episode of “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” is up now! This week J.C. talks recent Georgia football news, gives out our 2020 defensive MVP and breaks down the linebacker room. Listen here:

UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton: S1, Ep. 18: Double Dawgs: Chris Burnette and Brandon Boykin

I’m joined by former Bulldogs Chris Burnette and Brandon Boykin to talk about their playing days in Athens and Under Further Review podcast

Your friends at “UGA Football Live” and UGA Wire present your one-stop shop for all things Georgia football!

This offseason we will be releasing episodes each Thursday with interviews, news and rumors and more!

In this special episode, I’m joined by former Bulldogs Chris Burnette and Brandon Boykin to talk about Georgia football, their playing days in Athens and their new podcast, Under Further Review:

 

I get the guy’s thoughts on Georgia’s 2020 finish and what they expect to see from the Dawgs in the fall and Burnette shares his favorite stories about rooming with former UGA quarterback Aaron Murray. Plus, we talk ants and kangaroos…

It’s a fun one! Listen here on Spotify:

Or here on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uga-football-live-with-j-c-shelton/id1533295384#episodeGuid=Buzzsprout-7548151

 

Make sure to subscribe, rate and review! And check out our other episodes featuring former Georgia greats like Tavarres King (Ep. 3)  Keith Marshall (Ep. 4) Arthur Lynch (Ep. 6) Malcolm Mitchell (Ep. 7) Drew Butler (Ep. 9) and Aaron Murray (Ep. 17).

PFF ranks Georgia football S Richard LeCounte ridiculously low on NFL Draft board

Pro Football Focus has the 2020 First Team All-SEC safety ranked as the No. 15 safety on their 2021 NFL Draft board. Details here

Georgia’s Richard LeCounte is headed to the NFL after a storied four-year career in Athens and surprisingly, Pro Football Focus has the 2020 First Team All-SEC safety ranked as the No. 15 safety on their 2021 NFL Draft board. 

LeCounte, the unquestioned leader of the Bulldogs defense for the last two seasons, reacted to PFF’s rankings via Twitter.

Those ranked ahead of LeCounte are:

  • Trevon Moehrig, TCU
  • Ar’Darius Washington, TCU
  • Hamsah Nasirildeen, FSU
  • Elijah Molden, Washington
  • Andre Cisco, Syracuse
  • Parris Ford, Pittsburgh
  • Richie Grant, UCF
  • Caden Sterns, Texas
  • Tyree Gillespie, Missouri
  • Jamien Sherwood, Auburn
  • Divine Deablo, Virginia Tech
  • Kolby Harvell-Peel, Oklahoma State
  • Talanoa Hufanga, USC
  • James Wiggins, Cincinnati

In 44 games played at Georgia, LeCounte racked up 176 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 18 passes defended, four forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and eight interceptions, one of the most productive defensive back careers in Georgia football history.

The former five-star recruit was named 2020 Preseason All-American, but his season was derailed after only five games when he was in a motorcycle accident on Halloween night. LeCounte went on to miss the rest of the Bulldogs season, except a one-play appearance in the Peach Bowl win versus Cincinnati.

Through only five games played, LeCounte recorded 26 tackles, including a career high 13 stops in a win versus Kentucky, a tackle for a loss, fumble recovery, three interceptions and four pass breakups.

At least the SEC realized LeCounte’s prowess by recognizing him as 2020 First Team All-SEC, but PFF needs to take a step back here.

See what Georgia coach Kirby Smart and 2021 signee Kamari Lassiter said about LeCounte here.

 

Make sure and check out UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton. I sit down with UGA great Aaron Murray to talk college football, the Dawgs and his time in Kansas City with the Chiefs. Listen here:

ESPN has named its top 4 contenders for the College Football Playoff, is Georgia in?

ESPN has released its top ten contenders for the 2021 College Football Playoff. Find out if Georgia football made it here.

ESPN has released its top ten contenders for the 2021 College Football Playoff and Georgia football is named at No. 4, behind defending national champion Alabama at No. 1, Clemson at No. 2 and Oklahoma at No. 3.

Alabama, Clemson and Georgia are no surprise here. The Bulldogs return nine starters on offense, including their leading passer in quarterback JT Daniels, the leading rusher in running back Zamir White and leading receivers Kearis Jackson and George Pickens.

Georgia did lose six defensive starters, but retained the middle of the defensive front, featuring Devonte Wyatt and Jordan Davis. Experienced linebackers Channing Tindall and Nakobe Dean will be leading a young but talented secondary, including star safety Lewis Cine. 

The Crimson Tide are losing a large percentage of their production, but coach Nick Saban will reload behind the arm of Bryce Young, 2020’s No. 1 ranked dual-threat quarterback, paired with the nations No. 1 ranked recruiting class this year.

Clemson loses stars Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne to the NFL, but second-year quarterback D.J Uiagalelei steps in as the No. 1 ranked pro passer in the 2020 recruiting class and will be helped by a stout Tigers defense, who is set to return all 11 of its starters from last season.

The outlier here is Oklahoma, who finished second in the Big 12 in 2020 with a record of 9-2 on the year, 6-2 in conference play. The Sooners are most likely getting looks as a contender due to the play of young quarterback Spencer Rattler. The sophomore was the No. 1 ranked pro-passer in the 2019 recruiting class and put up good numbers as the starter in 2020. Rattler won’t be the problem, it is the Oklahoma defense that seems to always be a crutch. In 2020, Oklahoma ranked 83rd in passing yards allowed per game at 245 per contest.

Here is ESPN’s full list of title contenders:

  1. Alabama
  2. Clemson
  3. Oklahoma
  4. Georgia
  5. Ohio State
  6. Texas A&M
  7. North Carolina
  8. Iowa State
  9. USC
  10. Indianna

Make sure and check out UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton. I sit down with UGA great Aaron Murray to talk college football, the Dawgs and his time in Kansas City with the Chiefs. Listen here:

 

 

Georgia DC Dan Lanning to stay at UGA

Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning confirmed his return to Athens for the 2021. Details here.

Georgia football defensive coordinator Dan Lanning confirmed his return to Athens for the 2021 season after emerging as a favorite for the same position at Texas under new Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian.

Last year, Lanning led the 2019 Bulldogs defense to a No. 1 ranking in scoring defense, while ranking No. 3 in total defense and in 2020, led Georgia to the No. 15 scoring defense and the No. 13 total defense in the country with several key starters going down with injuries.

Coach Kirby Smart gave Lanning a raise last year, going from $750,000 to $1.25 million, making him the highest-paid assistant coach on the Bulldogs staff after Lanning was considered for the head coaching position at Memphis.

If Georgia continues its dominance on defense, which it most likely will with the talent coming in and Smarts eye for that side of the ball, Lanning will be a top coaching candidate every offseason and it’s only a matter of time before he takes on of those offers.

But, as Nick Saban has proved at Alabama, programs with the talent level like Georgia has can replace coordinators and not miss a beat.

Make sure and check out the new episode of UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton! This week I talk about Dawgs who are coming back for next season and give out more of our season superlatives. Listen here:

 

UGA Twitter reacts to Jack Podlesny’s game-winning 53-yard FG

Here’s how UGA Twitter reacted to Jack Podlesny’s big kick that gave Georgia the Peach Bowl win over Cincinnati.

Georgia sophomore kicker Jack Podlesny is not on scholarship, but he should be after his performance in the Bulldogs 24-21 win over Cincinnati in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl.

The St. Simons Island native nailed a 37-yard kick to get help the Bulldogs get back in the game and then made the 53-yard game-winning field goal with three seconds remaining to send Georgia into the New Year with a win.

Here’s how UGA Twitter reacted to Podlesny’s big kick: