Dawn of the Dawg
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Three sensational defenders Georgia football need to return

By Savannah Leigh

Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs hugs Nolan Smith #4 of the Georgia Bulldogs after the Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 33-18 in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs hugs Nolan Smith #4 of the Georgia Bulldogs after the Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 33-18 in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Robert Beal Jr. sacks Bryce Young in the fourth quarter of the 2022 CFP National Championship Game. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Georgia football linebacker Robert Beal Jr.

Why not use a COVID-19 year if you got it? Georgia football senior Robert Beal needs to do just that as he finally understands his role and flat-out shine through the last stretch of the season. Beal’s ceiling continues to rise as he gets more and more playing time. He was the one who stepped in for Adam Anderson and never missed a beat.

He was a big piece of the puzzle in the national title game, earning one sack and three pressures on Bryce Young.

Beal is a senior this year, but with COVID-19, he can take an extra year, making him a super-senior. We saw how that helped so many other programs this year, and it would only help the Dawgs if he and a couple of other guys joined him. Christopher Smith is the only one who decided to come back, but Beal would be another that wouldn’t surprise us.

When no one expected him to take over Anderson’s role, he did and finished the season as the Dawg’s sack leader with 6.5, recording one sack in five of the last six games. Beal also recorded 23 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and 19 quarterback hurries.

Imagine what he could do with an entire season now that he has the confidence to put up these numbers. Beal’s experience would benefit the linebacker room as the Dawgs are losing Nakobe Dean.

If anyone needs to stay for a super-senior season, it would be Beal because having a full year like he finished the season would elevate his draft stock.

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