The Georgia-Clemson game carries extra meaning for Jordan Davis.

The senior defensive tackle bypassed the NFL draft to return to Georgia. He’ll be looking to improve as a pass rusher, as a more productive year likely vaults him into the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

He also returned for a chance to play in his hometown. Davis is a native of Charlotte, where the Georgia-Clemson game will be played.

Davis shared some of that sentiment on Twitter on Tuesday, after it was announced the game will start at 7:30 p.m ET.

Davis though won’t be the only talented defensive lineman in the game. On the Georgia side, there’s Travon Walker, Devonte Wyatt and Jalen Carter. Walker and Carter were both 5-star prospects, while Wyatt had a strong G-Day performance for the Bulldogs.

Related: Devonte Wyatt perfectly illustrates why defensive line is Georgia’s strongest position

Clemson though has its own stable of standouts. Tyler Davis has been an impact player when healthy for Clemson Then there are former 5-star prospects Bryan Breese, Xavier Thomas and Myles Murphy. Breese was the No. 1 player in the country in the 2020 recruiting class and notched 4.0 sacks last season.

Jordan Davis by comparison has just 5.0 sacks in his career. He’s been far more dominant as a run defender, as he’s been the lynchpin of the No. 1 run defense in each of the past two seasons.

He has shown flashes though of being an impactful player against the pass. In the final game of Georgia’s 2020 season, Davis picked up a key sack while also blocking a field goal attempt.

If Davis is going to pick up more sacks, he’s going to have to be on the field more often in 2021. Last season, Georgia used Walker and Carter as the defensive linemen in obvious pass rushing situations.

For Davis to get more pass-rushing opportunities, he’ll need to show up for the Clemson game in what head coach Kirby Smart calls “the best shape of his life.”

“Jordan’s biggest issue is conditioning and weight control,” Smart said. “He knows that and we’ve got to get him to cut some more for him to be elite. It’s harder for him to be a contributor when the ball game speeds up.”

The game in Charlotte did play a part in him returning for another season. But Smart also added that Davis wants to show he can be an every-down defensive lineman. To be the absolute best defensive line in the country, even on a field that will be littered with future NFL players, he’ll need to impact both the run and the pass.

Davis cutting even more weight will help him get there. And if he does, that will go a long way in helping Georgia beat Clemson in what should be one of the best college football games of the 2021 season.

“It’s critical that he gets in the best shape of his life,” Smart said. “Part of the reason he decided to come back was to get in great shape so he could create some more value and that’s what he is working on.”

Georgia-Clemson opener carries special meaning for Jordan Davis

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