Georgia Football Spring Game: Live updates, scores, highlights
ATHENS, Ga. — G-Day is here. It’s our annual taste of Georgia Football in the spring, giving a glimpse into what the team might look like come the fall. Saturday between the hedges, Kirby Smart’s squad will split into two. The red team features the first team offense and will face off against the first team defense on the black team. With the winner getting a fancy steak dinner and the loser left to eat beanie weenies, there’s more than just bragging rights on the line.
Georgia returns Carson Beck – who is listed as a co-favorite for the Heisman Trophy – at quarterback, Smael Mondon at linebacker and has added talent around each of the two team leaders. On offense, running back Trevor Etienne (Florida) and wide receivers London Humphreys (Vanderbilt), Colbie Young (Miami) and Michael Jackson III (USC) each are additions from the transfer portal while defensively the Dawgs picked up South Carolina defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod and Alabama defensive back Jake Pope. That’s on top of the expected returns of underclassmen like Dillon Bell, Malaki Starks, Mykel Williams, Jalon Walker, CJ Allen and others that contributed to the success of UGA in 2023, plus guys like Nazir Stackhouse, Warren Brinson, Tate Ratledge, Dominic Lovett, Rara Thomas and Xavier Truss that passed on the NFL Draft for another season in Athens.
UGA also added to its team the nation’s top ranked recruiting recruiting class featuring five five-stars including three considered in the class’s elites by all outlets. Ellis Robinson, Justin Williams and KJ Bolden are all on campus already, as are others like Ryan Puglisi, Jaden Reddell and an impressive group of offensive linemen expected to contribute in the future. In total, 22 early enrollees participated in spring drills in some capacity and will see their first action in front of fans at Sanford Stadium on Saturday.
How to Watch
Kickoff Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network+ (Jay Alter – Play by Play, Aaron Murray – Color Commentator, Taylor Davis – Sideline Reporter)
As always, there’s one more way to keep up with the goings on in this game. In the space below, DawgsHQ will be providing live updates, scores, highlights and news from before and during the game. Just use the refresh button on your browser to see those updates as they roll in.
First Quarter
*** First quarter comes to a close with the Black Team leading 7-3. Carson Beck and Red Team will have 3rd and 5 to go when play resumes after a 12-yard pickup on a completion to Dominic Lovett.
*** Trevor Etienne shows some speed to the edge on a nice gain. Will come back because of holding, but a promising sign.
*** KJ Bolden with a nice play on third and short. Stops Anthony Evans short of the line to gain on a pass out into the flats.
*** First-team defense gets a stop, forcing a three-and-out. Jalon Walker with a nice pressure on Carson Beck before a third-down incompletion to Dominic Lovett, trying to pick up some bigger yardage. Black Team will take over after the punt at their 35.
*** Andrew Paul picks up 16 yards to the 1. Next play, he punches it in for the touchdown. (BLACK 7-3 6:14 1Q)
*** Gunner Stockton completes to Anthony Evans for a gain of 54 yards on his first play from scrimmage. Black offense at the 21 already.
*** Dillon Bell comes up with a catch but he is ruled out of bounds. Looked like a catch to me, but they won’t review it today. Peyton Woodring hits from 42 yards. (RED 3-0 8:18 1Q)
*** Carson Beck with completions to Dillon Bell and Trevor Etienne, and the red offense has it at the 25.
*** Roderick Robinson getting a lot of run early. Touches the ball on three straight plays including a third-down conversion and a reception out of the backfield.
*** JaCorey Thomas and Dan Jackson the starters at safety. Keep in mind, no Malaki Starks available today. Julian Humphrey opposite of Daylen Everette at corner. Joenel Aguero rounds out the secondary for the first-team defense (black).
*** Dillon Bell the first kickoff returner. First-team offense (red) will start with the ball moving right to left on your screen.
Pregame
*** Offensive line groupings (L to R): Earnest Greene, Dylan Fairchild, Jared Wilson, Tate Ratledge, Xavier Truss with the first team. Jamal Meriweather, Micah Morris, Drew Bobo, Daniel Calhoun and Monroe Freeling with the second team.
*** Georgia quarterbacks and centers came out early, as they usually do, to work on snaps. Jared Wilson, Drew Bobo, Tate Ratledge, Malachi Toliver and walk-on Gus Gammage were working as the centers.
*** Running back Branson Robinson is going through stretches with the team in full pads without a brace. Wouldn’t expect to see him participate in the game, but it’s a positive sign of his recovery from a torn patella tendon suffered during fall camp last season.
*** Bo Hughley and Kelton Smith also working with the injured players pregame while Chris Peal is not in a uniform, wearing a sling.
*** Couple of injuries of note: Ryan Puglisi arrived at Sanford Stadium on a crutch/cane. He’ll be sidelined completely alongside Smael Mondon and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, both of whom arrived with a boot on their left foot. It is worth noting however, Mondon has ditched the scooter he previously had earlier this spring.
*** Rosters have been set for the split squad scrimmage. The red team will feature the first team offense/second string defense while the black team is in the inverse (first team defense/second string offense). For a full look at the rosters, click here.
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