With more than just bragging rights on the line for Georgia on Friday afternoon, this year's edition of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate will be all about the game's two star quarterbacks: Gunner Stockton for Georgia and Haynes King for Georgia Tech. While Stockton has flourished in his first season as the UGA starter, King is a well-known commodity in Atlanta. His grit and toughness speak for themselves.
It is why in the lead-up to Friday's rivalry week game that Kirby Smart spoke so glowingly about King.
"He's extremely experienced, extremely tough. How many people understand how fast this guy is? He can run, and he was a great athlete in high school, track guy. The stories are all over his success and of where he's been and the injuries he's been through. You see the hits he takes, he just gets stronger with each hit."
Smart may have forgotten just how many years of college football King has played. Whether it is five or six years, the Yellow Jackets quarterback is more than good in most people's eyes. Watching him from afar, King is a special player, one who refuses to quit when the game gets tough. He may play for one of Georgia's biggest rivals, but King has the leadership traits Smart wants all his players to have.
King is finishing up his third season at Georgia Tech after spending his first three years at Texas A&M.
Kirby Smart has reasons to speak highly of Georgia Tech QB Haynes King
Over the last few years, Georgia Tech has been able to turn it around as a college football program in part for two reasons. The Yellow Jackets have the right head coach to lead them in one of their own in Brent Key. The former Georgia Tech offensive lineman also has the perfect leader to put all of his truth and faith into in the veteran King. Georgia Tech rarely wins games pretty, but they are 9-2 for a reason.
As far as Smart singing King's praises, all he has to do is look at the box score from last season's game vs. the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech took Georgia to eight overtimes at Sanford Stadium last year. King largely outplayed Carson Beck for most of the game. Stockton might be a better fit in Mike Bobo's offense than Beck ever was, but King fits what Buster Faulkner wants to do like hand in glove.
Overall, Georgia cannot take Georgia Tech lightly under any circumstance. While Georgia Tech has not beaten Georgia in Atlanta since King has been alive, that all can change in a heartbeat if Georgia thinks it can just walk into Mercedes-Benz Stadium and come out with a victory. Smart speaking highly of King should let Dawg Nation know that this year's game will not go down to the wire again.
As long as Georgia takes care of the football, the Dawgs should be able to improve to 11-1 on Friday.