⚡ CFB Dashboard

Welcome to Rise and Grind, a daily series where I start every morning by sharing what's on my mind about Georgia football. If you want to start your mornings the right way, wash your face, start your coffeemaker, and join us as we Rise and Grind. Georgia's mission to revive its pass rush in 2026 took a couple of hits this offseason, as outside linebackers Amaris Williams and Chase Linton sustained injuries. As disappointing as it is to be without both players, Saturday's game showed that all hope is not lost for the Bulldogs. Georgia registered 3 sacks in its Week 1 win against Tennessee State, which tied the team's high mark for a single game last season. While the competition on Saturday was far from fierce, the fact that Georgia created havoc with some established veterans and some new faces should leave fans excited. When asked specifically about the outside linebacker room without Linton and Williams, Kirby Smart said he felt good about the position's other options.  "Those guys have kind of been that way for a while in terms of getting reps, growing," Smart said. "Q [Quintavuis Johnson] does a good job leading that group, helping them out. Amaris is doing it in the meeting room, and Chase has been in there with them as well, done most of the camp. And all those guys are getting better: Khamari [Brooks], PJ [Dean], and Darren [Ikinnagbon]. Even Duncan Carpenter got to jump in there and get some reps Saturday and did a nice job." Johnson was quiet on Saturday, though the expectation is that the starting outside linebacker won't be in the team's biggest moments. Instead, it was the newcomers Brooks and Dean who stole the show. Brooks and Dean made the most of their first game as Bulldogs. Brooks racked up 3 tackles in the victory, which left him tied with six other players for the team lead. Dean, meanwhile, was arguably the most consistent pass rusher. He ended his UGA debut with a pair of tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.  Brooks and Dean, being regular contributors, would help the cause for a Georgia pass rush that still has other options. Defensive end Gabe Harris only had 2 tackles against Tennessee State, but he pressured the quarterback multiple times and appears set for a big junior season. The same can be said about inside linebacker Chris Cole, who earned 0.5 sacks alongside Dean while also putting up 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 pass break-up. Cole looks like the latest in a string of Georgia inside linebackers who the team turns loose in passing situations. It is easy to compare Cole to the likes of Quay Walker and Jalon Walker, but Smart made it clear he's far from a carbon copy. "He's probably a little faster and has a little more length than them. Probably doesn't have the density and the size that they have, but he's sideline-to-sideline faster," Smart said. "He's really good on the edge just like Jalon was. Probably hasn't played as much inside 'backer as Quay has, but we don't really do many comparisons around here. We kind of keep it to he's his own person. He's a tremendous leader, and he's one of the hardest workers, practice guys we've had." Georgia's hopes of counting on Williams were dashed with his knee injury this spring, and Linton's plans of helping were put on hold as he is considered "week-to-week" with a lower leg injury. The Bulldogs have no choice but to turn elsewhere in their absence. If Week 1 was any indication, they don't lack for people to turn to.