Multiple Players Shine In Georgia Football Debuts

Numerous players made their first appearances for the Georgia Bulldogs against UT-Martin, but some really stood out.

Author:
Kyle Funderburk
Sep 3, 2023 2:25 PM EDT

Saturday's 48-7 win over UT-Martin saw the debut of several Georgia newcomers, some of whom had breakout performances that have Georgia fans excited about their potential for this season.

Roderick Robinson - RB

Injuries at the running back position created opportunities for true freshman Roderick Robinson, and he made the most of them rushing for 50 yards on just eight carries.

His best run was a 23-yarder in the second quarter in which he showed a bit of speed to get to the edge. He later scored his first touchdown as a Bulldog, walking into the end zone in the third quarter.

Dominic Lovett - WR

The transfer from Missouri was targeted several times by quarterback Carson Beck, though all of his 25 yards came on catch. It was an impressive catch though, leaping and turning towards a back-shoulder throw from Beck. He made the catch at UT-Martin's two-yard line to set up a field goal before halftime.

RaRa Thomas - WR

The transfer from Mississippi State wasn't targeted nearly as much as Lovett, but he still made an impact with a 56-yard grab from Brock Vandagriff in which he beat two UT-Martin defenders. His catch led to Georgia's fifth touchdown of the night.

Sophomore Report

The debut of several Bulldogs didn't overshadow the breakout performances of these second-year players:

Oscar Delp - The sophomore from Forsyth County impressed at times last year, but he showed he was ready for the starting role Saturday night with a pair of catches for 21 yards, including one wide open touchdown catch from Vandagriff.

Mykel Williams - The sophomore edge rusher registered 4.5 sacks as a backup freshman last year, and he's off to a hot start this year. He was a terror in the backfield each time he was on the field, leading to his first sack of the season in the second quarter. Williams is on track to register the 13th double-digit sack season in Georgia football history.

Christen Miller - Georgia assistant coach Tray Scott continues to churn out stellar defensive linemen, Christen Miller is the latest to that list. He made three tackles Saturday, all around the line of scrimmage, and made an impact on plays he didn't get credit for.

Mehki Mews - Don't let the small stature fool you, Mehki Mews is a bad man. His blazing speed and unmatched agility make him a threat to score whenever he touches the ball. UT-Martin found that out the hard way, giving up a 54-yard touchdown on a short slant pass. Mews had another quick catch-go for a 20-plus yard gain, and he nearly broke off a kickoff return for a score after halftime.

C.J. Smith - On the other end of the wide receiver spectrum is C.J. Smith. He's much larger than Mews, but he proved he can be just as dangerous in the open field. His first catch was a tunnel screen where he trucked a defender for extra yardage to get a first down. On his second catch, he ran a great route to get wide open in the middle of the field, and ran for an additional 30 yards.

How to Listen

The Georgia Bulldogs Radio Network is readily available with Scott Howard on the call.

Other Georgia News:

Join the Community:

Follow Brooks Austin on Twitter: @BrooksAustinBA

Subscribe to our YouTube Page HERE.

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @BulldogMaven & follow us on Twitter at @DawgsDailyFN