Georgia football is set to open SEC play with a tough road test against No. 15 Tennessee, and Tuesday’s media session provided plenty of insight into how the Bulldogs are approaching the challenge. Head coach Kirby Smart, defensive back Kyron Jones, and offensive lineman Monroe Freeling each spoke about where the team stands and what it will take to get a win in Neyland Stadium.
Here are three key takeaways from Tuesday’s media availability.
1. Physicality and mental toughness set the tone
Smart made it clear that Georgia is pushing its physical limits in practice to prepare for Tennessee’s relentless front.
“They've [Tennessee] got a physical defensive line that comes off, hits you, and we've been physical at practice,” Smart shared via 247sports.com. “I think it's important. I don't think you can say, all right, well, let's go out here and rest up and take it easy for the game. If you want to have physicality, you've got to reflect it.”
Smart also emphasized the importance of building mental resilience amid the chaos of a road environment.
“Loud affects your offense. It affects your ability to communicate,” Smart continued. “The communication goes down the line a lot of times, and you got to talk all the way out, and there's communication between parts of the offense that have to happen. Loud most certainly affects that and Neyland is one of the loudest. We played in some loud places last year, and it affected communication, so you have to be smart.”
2. Kyron Jones: Growth and System Savvy
Redshrit sophomore Kyron Jones earned his first career start earlier this year, and now he’s preparing for his first SEC road game as a key piece of Georgia’s secondary. Jones has been playing through a hand injury that required him to wear a club, but he’s not letting that slow him down.
“Football is a game of, you’re gonna be hurt,” Jones said via on3.com. “You’re not gonna be feeling 100 percent all the time. So just being able to play through even when something’s hurting, I guess it’s part of the game.”
He brings not just physical ability, but experience and leadership, which is especially important when facing Tennessee’s explosive, one on one style of offense.
“The main thing is just staying in our system, playing our true defense.”
3. Monroe Freeling: Fundamentals in the spotlight
Junior offensive lineman Monroe Freeling spoke about how the unit has been treating every practice with game day intensity, and now it’s time to put that work to the test. Freeling admitted that while the group has shown progress, especially in fundamentals and run blocking, they still haven’t played to their true potential.
“We’re attacking everyday like it’s just a game, we really ramp up the intensity,” Freeling shared via 247sports.com.
Progress is being made, but there’s still room to flex those improvements under pressure.
“We probably still haven’t played to our best, better on fundamentals, shoulder angles, first steps”.
Final thoughts
Georgia enters Knoxville with confidence rooted in physical, technical, and mental preparation. From Smart’s insistence on toughness, to Smith’s leadership on defense and the offensive line’s continued growth, Georgia looks ready to meet Tennessee’s intensity head on.