2018 Georgia Bulldogs football team

2018 Georgia Bulldogs football
Conference Southeastern Conference
Division Eastern Division
Ranking
Coaches No. 2
AP No. 2
2018 record 6–1 (4–1 SEC)
Head coach Kirby Smart (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker (3rd season)
Home stadium Sanford Stadium
(Capacity: 92,746)
2018 SEC football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
No. 11 Florida  4 –1     6 –1  
No. 8 Georgia  4 –1     6 –1  
No. 14 Kentucky  3 –1     5 –1  
South Carolina  2 –3     3 –3  
Tennessee  1 –2     3 –3  
Missouri  0 –3     3 –3  
Vanderbilt  0 –3     3 –4  
West Division
No. 1 Alabama  4 –0     7 –0  
No. 5 LSU  3 –1     6 –1  
No. 17 Texas A&M  3 –1     5 –2  
Ole Miss  1 –2     5 –2  
No. 22 Mississippi State  1 –2     4 –2  
Auburn  1 –3     4 –3  
Arkansas  0 –4     1 –6  
Championship: December 1, 2018
  • Ole Miss ineligible for postseason due to NCAA sanctions
As of October 16, 2018; Rankings from AP Poll

The 2018 Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulldogs play their home games at Sanford Stadium. They play as members of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference. They are led by third-year head coach Kirby Smart.

Previous season

The 2017 Georgia Bulldogs football team finished the regular season 11-1 with the only loss coming on the road to Auburn 17-40. Key wins included defeating Notre Dame on the road in week 2, 20-19. After winning the SEC East, Georgia won their first SEC Championship since 2005, defeating Auburn 28-7. Georgia was selected to play in the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history as the #3 seed to face the #2 seed Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl. In an instant classic, Georgia roared back from a 14 point halftime deficit to defeat Oklahoma 54-48 in 2 overtimes earning their first National Championship game appearance. In the National Championship, Georgia was defeated by Alabama 26-23 in overtime. Georgia finished the season 13-2.

Recruiting

2018 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Justin Fields
QB		 Kennesaw, GA Harrison 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 221 lb (100 kg) Oct 6, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 94
Tyson Campbell
CB		 Plantation, FL American Heritage 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 181 lb (82 kg) Feb 7, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 91
Zamir White
RB		 Laurinburg, NC Scotland 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jun 27, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 89
Jamaree Salyer
OG		 Atlanta, GA Pace Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 342 lb (155 kg) Dec 20, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 87
Cade Mays
OT		 Knoxville, TN Knoxville Catholic 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 327 lb (148 kg) Dec 20, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 88
Adam Anderson
OLB		 Rome, GA Rome 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 214 lb (97 kg) Oct 19, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 85
Brenton Cox
DE		 Stockbridge, GA Stockbridge High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 250 lb (110 kg) Dec 20, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 90
Trey Hill
OG		 Warner Robins, GA Houston County 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 346 lb (157 kg) Dec 11, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 87
Quay Walker
OLB		 Cordele, GA Crisp County 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 236 lb (107 kg) Feb 7, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 85
Otis Reese
OLB		 Leesburg, GA Lee County 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 206 lb (93 kg) Feb 7, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 82
Channing Tindall
ILB		 Columbia, SC Spring Valley 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 213 lb (97 kg) Dec 21, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 82
James Cook
RB		 Miami, FL Miami Central 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 182 lb (83 kg) Oct 26, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 85
Kearis Jackson
WR		 Fort Valley, GA Peach County 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 203 lb (92 kg) Aug 19, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 87
Luke Ford
OG		 Carterville, IL Carterville 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Dec 21, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 85
Azeez Ojulari
OLB		 Marietta, GA Marietta 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 222 lb (101 kg) Aug 17, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 81
Warren Ericson
OG		 Suwanee, GA North Gwinnett 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 317 lb (144 kg) Jun 2, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 81
Divaad Wilson
CB		 Miami, FL Miami Northwestern 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 208 lb (94 kg) Dec 20, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 81
Nadab Joseph
CB		 Miami, FL Miami Norland High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Dec 20, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 82
Devonte Wyatt
DT		 Decatur, GA Hutchinson Community College 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 300 lb (140 kg) Dec 20, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 80
Tommy Bush
WR		 Schertz, TX Samuel Clemens High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Feb 7, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 85
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 1   Rivals: 1  247Sports: 1  ESPN: 1
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

    [1][2]

    Preseason

    Award watch lists

    Listed in the order that they were released

    Award Player Position Year
    Lott Trophy[3] Deandre Baker CB SR
    Rimington Trophy[4] Lamont Gaillard C SR
    Chuck Bednarik Award[5] Deandre Baker CB SR
    Maxwell Award[6] Jake Fromm QB SO
    D'Andre Swift RB SO
    Doak Walker Award[7] D'Andre Swift RB SO
    John Mackey Award[8] Isaac Nauta TE JR
    Butkus Award[9] D'Andre Walker LB JR
    Jim Thorpe Award[10] Deandre Baker CB SR
    J.R. Reed CB JR
    Bronko Nagurski Trophy[11] Jonathan Ledbetter DE SR
    Outland Trophy[12] Lamont Gaillard C SR
    Lou Groza Award[13] Rodrigo Blankenship K JR
    Paul Hornung Award[14] Mecole Hardman WR/KR JR
    Wuerffel Trophy[15] Rodrigo Blankenship K JR
    Ted Hendricks Award[16] Jonathan Ledbetter DE SR

    SEC media poll

    The SEC media poll was released on July 20, 2018, with the Bulldogs predicted to win the SEC East Division.[17]

    Media poll (East)
    Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
    1Georgia1,977 (271)
    2South Carolina1,535 (8)
    3Florida1,441 (2)
    4Missouri1,057
    5Kentucky874 (1)
    6Tennessee704 (1)
    7Vanderbilt392

    Preseason All-SEC teams

    The Bulldogs had twelve players selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.

    Schedule

    DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
    September 13:30 p.m.No. 22 (FCS) Austin Peay*No. 3
    		ESPNW 45–092,746
    September 83:30 p.m.at No. 24 South CarolinaNo. 3
    		CBSW 41–1783,140
    September 1512:00 p.m.Middle Tennessee*No. 3
    • Sanford Stadium
    • Athens, GA
    		ESPNewsW 49–792,746
    September 2212:00 p.m.at MissouriNo. 2
    		ESPNW 43–2958,284
    September 293:30 p.m.TennesseeNo. 2
    • Sanford Stadium
    • Athens, GA (rivalry)
    		CBSW 38–1292,746
    October 67:30 p.m.VanderbiltNo. 2
    • Sanford Stadium
    • Athens, GA (rivalry)
    		SECNW 41–1392,746
    October 133:30 p.m.at No. 13 LSUNo. 2
    		CBSL 16–36
    October 273:30 p.m.vs. Florida
    		CBS
    November 3at Kentucky
    November 10Auburn
    November 17UMass*
    • Sanford Stadium
    • Athens, GA
    November 24Georgia Tech*
    • *Non-conference game
    • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
    • All times are in Eastern time
    Schedule Source:[18]

    Game summaries

    Austin Peay

    1 2 3 4 Total
    No. 22 (FCS) Governors 0 0 0 0 0
    No. 3 Bulldogs 17 21 7 0 45
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    First meeting

    at South Carolina

    1 2 3 4 Total
    No. 3 Bulldogs 17 3 21 0 41
    No. 24 Gamecocks 7 3 0 7 17
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    50–18–2 2017 UGA, 24–10

    Middle Tennessee

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Blue Raiders 0 7 0 0 7
    No. 3 Bulldogs 14 28 7 0 49
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    1–0 2003 UGA, 29–10

    at Missouri

    1 2 3 4 Total
    No. 2 Bulldogs 7 13 13 10 43
    Tigers 7 0 15 7 29
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    6–1 2017 UGA, 53–28

    Tennessee

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Volunteers 0 0 6 6 12
    No. 2 Bulldogs 7 10 7 14 38
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    22–23–2 2017 UGA, 41–0

    Vanderbilt

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Commodores 3 3 0 7 13
    No. 2 Bulldogs 7 14 17 3 41
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    56–20–2 2017 UGA, 45–14

    at LSU

    1 2 3 4 Total
    No. 2 Bulldogs 0 0 9 7 16
    No. 13 Tigers 3 13 3 17 36
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    13–16–1 2013 UGA, 44–41

    vs Florida

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Gators 0
    Bulldogs 0
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    50–43–2 (per Florida)
    51–43–2 (per Georgia)    		 2017 UGA, 42–7

    at Kentucky

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Bulldogs 0
    Wildcats 0
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    56–12–2 2017 UGA, 42–13

    Auburn

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Tigers 0
    Bulldogs 0
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    58–56–8 2017 UGA, 28–7

    UMass

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Minutemen 0
    Bulldogs 0
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    First meeting

    Georgia Tech

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Yellow Jackets 0
    Bulldogs 0
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    66–41–5 2017 UGA, 38–7

    Rankings

    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
    NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
    Week
    Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final 
    AP 3 3 3 2 2 2 2  
    Coaches 4 3 3 3 3 2 2  
    CFP Not released Not released

    References

    1. ↑ "Rivals.com 2018 recruiting team rankings". Rivals.com. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
    2. ↑ "247sports.com 2018 recruiting team rankings". 247sports.com. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
    3. ↑ "2018 Watch List | Lott IMPACT Trophy | Honoring College Football's Defensive Best". lottimpacttrophy.org. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
    4. ↑ "Rimington Trophy Press Release". May 30, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
    5. ↑ "2018 Bednarik Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
    6. ↑ "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
    7. ↑ "2018 Doak Walker Award Candidates". July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
    8. ↑ "2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released" (PDF). July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
    9. ↑ "Butkus Award - 2018 Collegiate Watchlist". The Butkus Award. July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
    10. ↑ "Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Names 2018 Preseason Watchlist". July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
    11. ↑ "2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
    12. ↑ "22018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
    13. ↑ "Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2018 Preseason Watch List". July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
    14. ↑ "43 PLAYERS NAMED TO 2018 PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST". July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
    15. ↑ "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
    16. ↑ "Preseason Watch List - 2018 edition of the Ted Hendricks Award" (PDF). August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
    17. ↑ http://www.secsports.com/article/24148392/media-predicts-alabama-win-2018-sec-championship
    18. ↑ "2018 Georgia Bulldogs Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
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