Tag: Monty Rice Georgia LB

Pair of Georgia LBs make Butkus Award watch list

Two Georgia football LBs have been named to the Dick Butkus Award watch list for the 2020 college football season.

Georgia linebackers Azeez Ojulari and Monty Rice have recently been named to the 2020 Butkus Award watch list.

This award, named after legendary University of Illinois and Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus, is given annually to college football’s most outstanding linebacker.

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Since the award’s origination in 1985, only one Bulldog has won it, that being Roquan Smith in 2017.  Roquan coincidentally now starts at linebacker for the Chicago Bears.

The redshirt sophomore Ojulari saw time in eleven games in 2019, putting up 33 total tackles (14 solo), 5.5 sacks and one forced fumble.  He is a rising star in the SEC and a notable defender to look out for this season.

Rising senior Monty Rice has been a staple in the Dawgs’ recent ferocious defense.  It is no surprise that Rice is on this watch list.  Rice saw time in 8 games his freshman year, 9 his sophomore year and played all 14 his junior year.  He has racked up 170 total tackles (85 solo), 4 pass deflections, one sack and one forced fumble in his career at UGA.

These two will both play big roles in Georgia’s defense this year, a defense that ranked No. 1 in team defense in 2019.

LB Monty Rice on Georgia allowing 2 rushing TDs in 2019: ‘2many’

Georgia football LB Monty Rice says Georgia allowing 2 rushing TDs in the 2019 season was: ‘2many’, expects more this year.

The Georgia Bulldogs’ defense hunkered down in 2019, producing one of the greatest and most efficient defensive seasons in the school’s history.

Georgia finished last year ranked No. 1 in the country in overall team defense. It allowed just 12.6 points-per-game (1st in CFB), as well as 276 yards-per-game (3rd in CFB).

The Dawgs’ defense allowed two rushing touchdowns for the entire season, the best in all of college football. The next fewest rushing touchdowns allowed was more than double that: Oregon allowed five.

This is about the best you can possibly expect out of a defense playing against such a tough schedule, but for Georgia linebacker Monty Rice, it is two touchdowns too many.

Rice led the Bulldog defense last year with 89 total tackles, 50 of those solo. He also deflected three pass attempts.

Rice is still not satisfied even after a historic season by Kirby Smart’s defense. Georgia can count on veterans Jordan Davis, Malik Herring and Devonte Wyatt to lead, while Nakobe Dean and Nolan Smith are expected to take that next step as sophomores.  Eric Stokes, Richard LeCounte and Tyson Campbell will hold down a talented Dawgs secondary as another year of experience for defensive coordinator Dan Lanning will help out.

According to ESPN’s SP+ ratings, Georgia is expected to be the fourth-best team in college football next season, with the No. 1 defense.

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