GEORGIA BULLDOGS
QUARTERBACK
Jacob Eason had misfires but also passes dropped in his 11-of-20, 204-yard showing. Those Bulldogs fans who mock Greyson Lambert may want to thank him for helping avoid the biggest upset in college football history.
RUNNING BACKS
Nick Chubb had 80 yards on 20 carries, marking the first time he had double-digit rushes without a 100yard game. Chubb had mixed results picking up blitzes, but backup Brian Herrien looked good again.
RECEIVERS
Isaiah McKenzie had a 66-yard touchdown that was aided by a block by Javon Wims, but there were drops as well. Kirby Smart said afterward that perimeter blocking was not nearly as good as last week.
OFFENSIVE LINE
This group never managed to dominate a Football Championship Subdivision defensive front. The Bulldogs only committed three penalties, but two were holding infractions by right guard Dyshon Sims.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Saturday’s close call definitely overshadowed the play of sophomore tackle Trenton Thompson, who set career bests with 11 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. Nicholls State rushed for 125 yards on 40 carries.
LINEBACKERS
Lorenzo Carter had a 24-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Reggie Carter had seven tackles and Natrez Patrick six, but where was everybody on Chase Fourcade’s 18-yard keeper that set up Nicholls’ first score?
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Dominick Sanders collected his 10th career interception, while Aaron Davis slammed into Devin Powell to cause the fumble that Carter returned for the touchdown. The Colonels passed for just 111 yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS
McKenzie had a 55-yard punt return and Marshall Long a 52-yard punt, but McKenzie fumbling away a punt and fumbling a kickoff out of bounds during the game’s final five minutes nearly got the Bulldogs beat.
COACHING
Never should Georgia’s talent be taken to the wire by a perennial Football Championship Subdivision doormat, and Kirby Smart’s “turn a battleship” image wasn’t great given that the Bulldogs won 50 games in Mark Richt’s final five seasons.