Hayes enjoyed Georgia debut with second team,
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia defensive lineman Jay Hayes did not start or make any tackles during last Saturday’s 45-0 win over Austin Peay, but that wasn’t about to dampen the smile he repeatedly revealed during postgame interviews.
“It felt amazing to experience the atmosphere with the guys out there,” Hayes said. “I think we did pretty well. There are still things we need to improve on, but it’s always great to have a win.”
Hayes was making his Sanford Stadium debut as a graduate transfer from Notre Dame, where he signed in 2014 and excelled the past two seasons. The 6-foot-3, 289-pounder from Brooklyn, New York, started all 13 games last season for the Irish and had 27 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss.
His most active performance a year ago occurred in the second game, when he amassed seven tackles in the 20-19 loss to Georgia.
“That was an awesome game,” he said. “I don’t really think about it anymore, because I’m just focusing on the now.”
The now for Hayes is this week’s trip to South Carolina and arguably this year’s biggest game in implications for the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division race. The Bulldogs and Gamecocks finished 1-2 in the East last season and have been projected to wind up in the same slots this year.
Hayes is not expected to start inside Williams-Brice Stadium, but he is expected to play quality minutes on a sizzling afternoon, having already won over his new teammates.
“He came in ready to work,” junior safety J.R. Reed said. “He wasn’t a younger guy, so he didn’t come in and fall behind. He stood in the front of the line and took charge.”
The former four-star signee decided in April that he would be finishing his college career at Georgia. Hayes first committed to Oklahoma after announcing his departure from South Bend, but he changed his mind after attending a G-Day spring game with 82,000 estimated fans.
Though the decision to join Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs was made, there was still the matter of blending in and receiving his share of ribbing from last year’s Georgia-Notre Dame outcome.
“Coming from another program has challenges, but he is attacking it very well,” senior defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter said. “He is a great player and a great athlete, and we noticed that last year when we were watching his tape from Notre Dame. We wanted to bring him into the family, and he is fitting in perfectly.
“We still joke around with him, whether in practice or when we’re getting dressed. He’s a great guy, and he’s part of the family now.”
Hayes cites senior outside linebacker D’Andre Walker as the player who gives him the most grief — “It’s all out of love,” Hayes said — while Reed believes Hayes is still having a tough time moving on from the result.
“We’ve talked about that game and how everything went,” Reed said, beginning to smile. “He talks about a couple of plays here and there and how they had us.”
Georgia could experience a similar close call this week, as everyone is expecting a much stiffer challenge compared to Austin Peay. The Bulldogs held Will Healy’s Governors to 91 yards on 29 rushes and to 152 total yards, but South Carolina has proven experience with quarterback Jake Bentley, running back Rico Dowdle and receiver Deebo Samuel.
It’s the first big test for Georgia and the first big step as to why Hayes chose to leave a program that went 10-3 last season and defeated LSU in the Citrus Bowl.
“I just wanted to win a national championship,” Hayes said.
Relaxing opener
Last week’s dismantling of Austin Peay resulted in a slew of players participating and a lot of starters receiving significant sideline time. Sophomore Andrew Thomas said he played just 38 snaps in his first start as the left tackle.
“It was pretty easy compared to a practice,” Thomas said. “I don’t know how many snaps I get during practice, but after practice it feels like a full game. When I came out at halftime, I wasn’t that tired.”
Odds and ends
Smart said in a news conference following Tuesday’s practice that junior defensive back Tyrique McGhee, who broke a bone in his foot last month during the first scrimmage, took about 25 percent of the reps and is hopeful he can play Saturday. … Smart on redshirt junior kicker Rodrigo Blankenship, who went 8-for8 on touchbacks last week against Austin Peay: “He was a weapon, and I hope he continues to be.” … South Carolina coach Will Muschamp discussing Georgia’s lack of a depth chart in the game notes: “I’m sure it didn’t have anything to do with Kirby.”