We’re back with an update from Athens. Kirby Smart spent this week taking some time to talk about Georgia’s defense and what makes a “Damn Good Dawg.” Gunner Stockton also raised some eyebrows surrounding Carson Beck’s transfer to Miami. Before we get into it, we were finally given clarity on the details surrounding G-Day.
G-Day 2025 will be held at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, April 12. The game will begin at 1:00 pm ET. Georgia shared that the game will not be televised or streamed live this year. At least, we will still have a Red and Black scrimmage, unlike other SEC teams that have canceled or changed their plans.
Between the Hedges: Georgia’s Defense and Carson Beck Tea
KJ Bolden’s Leadership
Where will the leadership come from Georgia’s defense in 2025? Smart shared how KJ Bolden has emerged as a leader. Despite being just a sophomore in 2025, Bolden made a significant impact as a true freshman in 2024. He played in all 14 games, earning starts against Florida and Tennessee, and was recognized on the SEC All-Freshman and FWAA Freshman All-America teams.
Smart emphasized that, despite his youth, Bolden has the potential to be a key leader for Georgia’s defense.”He’s kind of the veteran of the group without, I mean, he hadn’t been here but a year.” Smart said. “I’m proud of where he is. He has to be careful that he doesn’t become complacent or think that because he might know it the best that he’s where he needs to be.”
Bolden was a former five-star recruit from Buford, Georgia, who originally committed to Florida State but switched to Georgia in December 2023, during the early signing period. His decision made him a key addition to the Bulldogs’ 2024 recruiting class. Another top talent from Buford, quarterback Dylan Raiola, initially committed to Georgia but later flipped his commitment to Nebraska late in the process.
Emphasis on the Run
One of the areas of emphasis this Spring is the run game. Smart shared how it’s been a focus for both Georgia’s defense and offense. “We put a big emphasis on running and stopping the run because we feel like we lacked in both those areas last year. So, the Spring practice has been shifted or adjusted a little bit towards stopping the run and being able to run the ball. I don’t know if we’ve improved on it, but we’ve harped on it.”
For the offense, it will be about jump-starting the running back room after a lackluster 2024 performance. Trevor Etienne is off to the NFL. Branson Robinson and Roderick Robinson are dealing with “significant” injuries and are on ice this Spring. Nate Frazier will look to take a more prominent role as the feature back in 2025. Linebacker Justin Williams just explained how special Frazier is as a back and the challenge of tackling him in practice. “I’m on the same field, and I misfit a run, and Nate cuts. By the time he cuts and I turn around, he’s already 20 yards down the field.”
Georgia’s defense will need to refine its run fits to improve upon last season’s performance. Georgia’s 2024 rushing defense allowed an average of 127.8 yards per game, ranking 35th nationally in total defense. We all remember UMass rushing for 226 yards in last year’s November game. (The Horror, The Horror)
Carson Beck Tea
Carson Beck may no longer be Georgia’s quarterback, but he’s still on Bulldog Nation’s mind. Before the Sugar Bowl, stories surfaced comparing the cars of Beck and Stockton—Beck in a sleek, $300,000 black Lamborghini, while Stockton drove a rugged 1984 Ford F-150 with over 300,000 miles, no air conditioning, and manual locks and windows. Shortly after the Sugar Bowl, Beck announced he was taking his talents to South Beach, to join his “then” girlfriend Hanna Cavinder with the Miami Hurricanes.
The move came as a shock to Georgia fans and most of college football. Beck had initially declared for the NFL Draft, but the UCL injury jeopardized his draft prospects. Stockton was asked on Tuesday how much advance warning he had about Beck’s decision to transfer. “Like everybody, I saw it (being reported).” Reporters then followed up to clarify that Stockton was his backup after all. Did Beck mention he was leaving? Stockton’s answer spilled the tea. “No, he was busy.” Like any good soap opera, this tea is great for Spring Ball, but won’t mean much once we kick off this fall.
It wasn’t all negative for Beck, though. Stockton spoke about how Beck helped him prepare to be Georgia’s QB1. “I think there’s a lot of good things from Carson,” Stockton said. “Like I watched last night, I’ve been working on getting my footwork and everything honed in, and he has really good footwork.”
Let’s hope this is the last we hear of the Carson Beck drama, but we doubt it.
Main Photo: Melina Myers-Imagn Images
The post Between the Hedges: Georgia’s Defense and Carson Beck Tea appeared first on Last Word on College Football.