Georgia football returns to the Sugar Bowl this Tuesday against Texas. This is Georgia’s first game in New Orléans since 2008.
The Sugar Bowl is less than a week away, and while it’s not a national championship bowl game, many players on the Georgia football roster still have a lot to prove. Whether they need one last great performance before heading off to the pros, or need a good showing to build momentum for the 2019 season, here are the Bulldogs with the most to prove.
D’Andre Walker
Georgia’s pass rush was pretty mediocre in 2018. The Dawgs only sacked opposing quarterbacks 22 times, down from 34 in 2017. But D’Andre Walker did his part this year, making 7.5 sacks, bringing his career total to 13.5. Without a powerful inside presence on the line and from linebackers this year, Walker struggled to be the dominating pass rusher we all knew he could be after last season. But he has one more chance to remind scouts what kind of force he can be in the NFL.
Tyson Campbell and Eric Stokes
With Deandre Baker sitting out the Sugar Bowl, a lot more pressure falls on Georgia’s two freshmen corner backs Tyson Campbell and Eric Stokes. Both played surprisingly well in 2018 considering how tough it is to play corner in the SEC, especially for freshmen. Add the fact that Baker shutdown the other side of the field, meaning Campbell and Stokes had passes thrown their way a lot.
Now without Baker, we’ll see just how good the two of them can be. Did they benefit from opposing quarterbacks only seeing one side of the field? Or are Campbell and Stokes two superstars in the making? Against Texas’s great group of receivers, we’ll find out the answer to that question this Tuesday.
Terry Godwin
Once upon a time, Terry Godwin was a household name in the SEC. With 639 yards and six touchdowns as a junior last year, Godwin’s future was bright. But then he injured himself in the preseason, missed a lot of playing time and didn’t seem to return to his true form until late in 2018. He did show flashes of his former greatness at times, like when he scored long touchdowns against Vanderbilt and Auburn.
Texas isn’t exactly known for their stunning defense. The Sugar Bowl is the perfect place to remind scouts why he was the no. 1 athlete coming out of high school in 2015. He’s got the hands and the route running to be a solid receiver, he just needs to prove that one more time.