The Georgia Bulldogs had 13 true freshmen play in their Week 1 34-3 win over the Clemson Tigers last Saturday.
On the outside looking in, that's a cool stat.
However, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart doesn't want to lean too heavily on the young guys moving forward, because they're simply not ready. But in today's world, Smart does have to worry about the transfer portal, and playing freshmen more often than not could help keep them from leaving.
"They're having to play out of necessity," Smart said. "They're having to play out of the fact that we got more transient rosters. They're not anymore ready to play physically, mentally, disposition. Not many freshmen are -- let me say this: in our league, playing in our league, SEC to SEC, if you're playing with a lot of freshmen, you're in trouble because they're not physically developed. That doesn't mean one can't do it, but you don't want to be out there playing with a lot of freshmen."
Smart noted that there may be some instances where he would play more freshmen depending on the opponent and the score differential, but overall, that decision is on a game-by-game basis.
When asked if any of those 13 freshmen showed "toughness," Smart was quick to shut that question down.
"I don't know. I didn't see, had a couple freshmen go in and get knocked off the ball. So, no, I wasn't real proud of that," Smart said. "But I had some guys, I don't know that a freshman got to show toughness. There was not enough snaps. I mean, what freshman took the most snaps? K.J. Bolden? He didn't have to show a lot of toughness. He went up there in the trenches, and he had some nice tackles, he had some nice plays, but he didn't have to show toughness. Nate Frazier had some nice holes and made some nice cuts, but he didn't have to show toughness."
At the end of the day, Smart is going to play his best players -- even if they are freshmen.
However, he did share some advice for true freshmen everywhere looking to break into the game at the collegiate level too often and too early.
"I think so many freshmen across the country right now are so caught up in am I going to play? Am I going to play this week? Am I going to travel? What am I doing? Did I make the right decision? Because all they've got to think about is the alternative of where I can go, and if you just be where your feet are and get better, you'll come out on top in the end," Smart said.
13 Georgia Freshmen Who Played vs. Clemson
Here are the 13 freshmen who saw action in the team's win over Clemson:
- S KJ Bolden
- RB Chauncey Bowens
- OT Daniel Calhoun
- ILB Chris Cole
- RB Nate Frazier
- TE Colton Henrich
- OT Jahzare Jackson
- OLB Quintavius Johnson
- DL Joseph Jonah-Ajonye
- TE Jaden Reddell
- CB Ellis Robinson IV
- ILB Justin Williams
- TE Jordan Thomas
Related: Kirby Smart hints at Georgia's plan for freshman RB Nate Frazier moving forward
Local News
Comments / 0