ATHENS — Georgia won on Saturday. That was always going to be the case as the team held its spring scrimmage. To be more specific the Red team beat the Black team by a score of 31-26.

Arian Smith scored two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. Carson Beck got the start at quarterback and certainly looked the part of a starting quarterback as he finished with 232 passing yards. At times he looked like the best player on the field for Georgia.

Defensively, safeties Javon Bullard and Tykee Smith both made some impressive plays in coverage. Georgia wasn’t at full strength as a number of players were held out of the game. Freshman linebacker Raylen Wilson iced the game for the red team with a pick-6 off a tipped pass attempted by Gunner Stockton.

Carson Beck makes a statement

Georgia may go ahead and say that it is having an open competition. Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton will almost certainly continue to make plays and stress Kirby Smart for a decision.

But if Beck plays as he did on Saturday, it will be hard to envision a scenario where he isn’t the starting quarterback in 2023. He was that impressive while working with the first-team offense.

Beck piloted the offense to touchdowns on his first three drives of the game. He distributed the ball to all levels of the field and showed an impressive command of the offense. He completed 13 of his 18 pass attempts with the first team for 211 yards and a touchdown pass.

Vandagriff and Stockton both made plays with their legs, as well as their arms. Vandagriff and Beck switched teams for the second half. Vandagriff finished the game going 13 of 25 for 175 yards and two touchdown passes to go along with an interception. Stockton had a rushing touchdown as he completed 13 of his 22 pass attempts for 144 yards.

Georgia will certainly continue the quarterback competition through the fall. And while Beck’s star shined the brightest on Saturday, Vandagriff and Stockton had impressive moments as well. Vandagriff was intercepted in the third quarter by Tykee Smith.

Perhaps most encouraging was that it might not matter who ends up winning the quarterback job. It’s clear this offense is brimming with talent. The offensive line had a strong day, while multiple wide receivers made highlight plays. Arian Smith and Jackson Meeks both caught touchdowns, while Ladd McConkey, Zeed Haynes and Mekhi Mews also had big plays.

Georgia still found a way to highlight its tight ends as well, with Brock Bowers, Oscar Delp and Lawson Luckie all making plays.

Bear Alexander departure stresses defensive line

Beck’s strong performance on Saturday will be welcomed by Georgia fans. It will certainly help ease the sting of the news surrounding Bear Alexander. The talented defensive lineman entered the transfer portal on Saturday, just hours before Georgia’s spring game.

Alexander was unhappy with his playing time. The expectation is that he will end up transferring and USC is considered the front-runner to land the defensive tackle.

Related: Bear Alexander to enter transfer portal

Without him, Georgia’s defensive line continues to get thinner. A strength on the last two championship teams, Georgia still has plenty of talented veterans in Nazir Stackhouse, Zion Logue and Warren Brinson. Mykel Williams, perhaps Georgia’s most talented defensive lineman, was not dressed out on Saturday.

Georgia signed two defensive linemen in the previous recruiting cycle, as Jordan Hall an Jamaal Jarrett were both able to go through spring drills with the team.

The Bulldogs will need some of their younger players to step up following Alexander’s departure. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins had a strong spring by all accounts, while redshirt freshman Christen Miller had a sack on the afternoon.

Georgia was also without some of its top edge rushers on the afternoon. Freshman Damon Wilson had multiple pressures on the afternoon, while also getting credit for a sack.

The transfer portal opened on Saturday and will remain open through April 30. Georgia had 10 players enter the transfer portal in the earlier window, with nine of them finding new homes.

Special first play

Georgia’s first play of the game was a penalty. The Bulldogs took a delay of game as it honored Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy.

Georgia took the field with only 10 players, leaving the left guard spot open in honor of Willock. While this was a scrimmage, it was Georgia’s first public appearance since LeCroy and Willock passed away on Jan. 15.

Players took their helmets off and hugged while those in attendance gave a standing ovation for the moment.

Georgia football news and notes

The only players not dressed out on Saturday were Branson Robinson (right foot), Smael Mondon (left foot), Pearce Spurlin (collarbone) and Mykel Williams (right foot). Several Bulldogs dressed out but did not play in the game including Marvin Jones Jr., Kendall Milton, Jalon Walker, Rara Thomas, Andrew Paul and Dan Jackson.

As for the starting lineups, Beck started at quarterback. Nyland Green got the start at cornerback opposite Kamari Lassiter. Javon Bullard moved to safety and Tykee Smith was the starting star. On the offensive line, Earnest Greene got the first reps at left tackle, with Austin Blaske entering the game on the third series for the first-team offense.

Several newcomers got a chance to make plays on Saturday, with Dominic Lovett, Damon Wilson, Raylen Wilson, CJ Allen and Lawson Luckie all flashing on the afternoon. Georgia had 18 members of this 2023 signing class enroll early.

Georgia also took some time to honor members of the 2022 team with their championship rings. The ceremony took place at the end of the first quarter. Among those on hand included Stetson Bennett, Darnell Washington, Nolan Smith and Chris Smith.

The Bulldogs introduced their new mascot on Saturday, as Boom was collared shortly before the game. He will be UGA XI.

Georgia’s first game of the 2023 season will be in Sanford Stadium, as the Bulldogs take on UT-Martin on Sept. 2.

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