G Day 2024 is in the books, with the Red team downing the Black 20-20. Or maybe it was the other way around. I’m just going to say the ‘Dawgs were undefeated on this day.

A few quick thoughts:

• CJ Allen looks just as quick and aggressive as he did during his standout freshman season. His interception of Carson Beck in the first half, reading the QB’s eyes then laying out to make the grab, was an elite play.
• Carson Beck threw 45 passes, which has to be a spring game record for a Bulldog starting quarterback. I’m not sure I’d expect to see him throw the ball on 75% of Georgia’s offensive snaps this season. But I would expect that Kirby Smart isn’t going to take the ball out of his veteran gunslinger’s hands if he needs to score points.
• Today Beck may legitimately have faced the toughest defense he’ll see all season. The first team unit is deep with experienced players at every level after some growing pains in 2023.
• I still can’t believe that Dominic Lovett touchdown catch. There’s every reason to think he’s going to have a big year.
• Trevor Etienne’s ability to catch the ball out of the backfield is going to come in handy. Make a note if that for the future.
• Colbie Young also looked as good as advertised, making a couple of tough catches including one for a touchdown. Young has a shot to become one of those Javon Wims-type receivers who’s as big and physical on the goal line as a tight end.
• We heard over the winter that Roderick Robinson has worked on getting in shape and quicker while still maintaining his power. He definitely looked it, running hard and trucking some defenders. Andrew Paul and freshman Chauncey Bowens also had physical runs. All told, the Red and Black backfield is stuffed with guys built like brick outhouses who I would not under any circumstance want to tackle. This makes me happy, and I bet Kirby Smart is pretty tickled about it as well.
• South Carolina Xzavier McCloud played with a great motor all day, finishing with three tackles and a sack. We know Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson give the Dawgs a solid interior starting lineup. But McCloud, Jamaal Jarrett, and Jordan Hall are going to round out a solid veteran unit up front. That group needed to get bigger and deeper, and I think it has.
• Consider me a “yea” vote on the question of whether moving Mykel Williams to linebacker was the right one. He was a tough matchup for tackles with his hand in the dirt. He’s a total mismatch with his length and speed coming up from the second level.
• Gabe Harris is another guy who looks like a next level athlete. The 6’4, 245 pound outside linebacker was hard to block today and is clearly going to be a factor in the pass rush plan this season.
• KJ Bolden still needs to learn the defense well enough to be able to play at full speed. But you can already see the tools are there for him to make an impact as a true freshman.
• Julian Humphrey got the start opposite Daylen Everette at corner for the first team defense, and is likely to hold off Daniel Harris and Ellis Robinson for that role. But I’d expect competition in the Bulldog secondary to go into fall camp.
• Christen Miller went out in the third quarter holding his shoulder but ultimately returned to the game. Unless something unexpected pops up post-game it looks like the Dawgs escaped with zero serious injuries. That’s the biggest win of all. Until later….

Go ‘Dawgs!!!