What the Bulldogs are today, the Tigers once were. Will Georgia stay there? Is a comeback in Clemson’s future?
Quarterback Carson Beck (3,941 yards, 24 TDs, 6 INTs, 86.0 QBR) returns for his senior year to lead Georgia to another national championship. The Dawgs are ranked #1 and favored to win their third championship in four years.
But Beck will be without key pieces from those championship teams in the NFL, including RB Daijun Edwards, Pittsburgh Steelers, RB Kendall Milton, Philadelphia Eagles, TE Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders, Marcus Rosemy-JackSaint, Washington Commanders, WR Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers, and DB Tykee Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
So, it’s reloading time. Returning for UGA is senior wide receiver Dominic Lovett (613 yards, 4 TDs, 11.4 yd avg.), sophomore running back Roderick Robinson II (196 yards, 2 TDs, 8.2 yd avg), and senior linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. (68 tackles, three sacks, one pass defended).
— ””On the other side of the yield, the Clemson Tigers open the 2024 season ranked #14 but are looking to get back in championship form. The Tigers will return most of their team from a winning season. But they will have to do so without two major contributors to their team: running back Will Shipley (798 yards rushing, 5 TDs, 5.1 yd avg.), now with the Philadelphia Eagles, and Tigers’ leading tackler linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (87 tackles, 5.5 sacks, five passes defended, 2 INTs), also with the Eagles. The Tigers also lost an integral part of the offense to the transfer portal: senior wide receiver Beaux Collins (510 yards rec., 3 TDs, 13.4 yd. avg.), now showcasing his skillset in South Bend at Notre Dame.
The Tigers return quarterback Cade Klubnik (2,844 yards, 19 TDs, 9 INTs, QBR 55.0) from a 9-4 overall record and a 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) record. Taking up the full duties at running back is Phil Mafah (965 yards, 13 TDs, 5.4 yard average). Mafah played his junior year sharing carries with Shipley, and both players contributed over 1,000 yards of total offense. With Mafah receiving the lion’s share of the carries, don’t be surprised if he racks up 1,000 yards and 20+ TDs in 2024.
Rounding out the offense is sophomore wide receiver Tyler Brown (531 yards, 4 TDs, 10.2 yards avg.) and Tight End Jake Briningstool (498 yards, 5 TDs, 10-yard avg.) With Jeremiah Trotter Jr. playing on Sundays, the next-man-up linebacker, Barrett Carter (62 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 INT), continues as a defensive leader.
— ””Clemson at Georgia, AFLAC Kickoff Saturday, August 31, 12 pm on ABC/ESPN+ from Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia.
Georgia -13.5 (ESPN)
