Georgia Football: What Bear Alexander brings to Georgia’s defense

Where 2022 Georgia football commit Bear Alexander fits in its defense.

Keithian Alexander is a 6-3 325 pound defensive tackle from Denton, Texas who goes to Ryan High School. He is currently rated as a 0.9426 four-star athlete by the 247Sports Composite. Alexander made it public that he has committed to Georgia football on National Signing Day. So just what are the Bulldogs getting in this Bear of a man?

Well, they are getting a replacement for Jordan Davis who will graduate at the end of this season. Davis has been a huge cog in Georgia football’s defensive machine. That machine bogged down a considerable bit the games that Davis missed due to an arm injury this season. The Dawgs really missed him in the game against the Gators’ high-powered offense.

According to Sec Stat Cat, without Davis, the defense’s three and out rate dropped from 43.93 percent to 33.33 percent, their turnover rate dropped from 2.85 percent to 1.30 percent, and their opponent scoring rate went from 28.97 percent to 37.50 percent.

This is why having a big, talented nose guard in the middle of Georgia football’s defense is paramount to its success. This is where Bear Alexander comes in. He is another big man that can take on double team blocks, freeing up the linebackers to plug the opponent’s run lanes as well as being able to bring some pressure on passing downs.

The Bear should also be able to improve Georgia’s rankings in these areas: 

• Line yards: 2.41 (No. 30)
• Standard Downs Line Yards: 2.29 (No. 20)
• Passing Downs Line Yards: 2.42 (No. 23)
• Opportunity Rate: 41.0 percent (No. 9)
• Power Success Rate: 82.6 percent (No. 110)
• Stuff Rate: 16.2 percent (No. 88)
• Sack Rate: 7.8 percent (No. 35)
• Standard Downs Sack Rate: 6.6 percent (No. 30)
• Passing Downs Sack Rate: 10.9 percent (No. 24)

Tray Scott has done a great job building Georgia football’s defensive line over the last four years. He was the primary recruiter for Travon Walker, Tyre West, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, and Alexander. This level of talent hasn’t been seen on Georgia’s defensive line since the early 2000s, which should get fans excited.

Scott was able to take a three-star in Davis and make him a monster that will more than likely be picked in the first round of next year’s NFL Draft. If he can do that with a three-star, imagine what he can do with an even more polished incoming four-star (possibly five-star by 2022). No knock against Davis at all, but there is a good chance Alexander takes the torch and pushes the bar even higher than where Davis will leave it.