Nolan Smith, one of the more vocal members of the 2021 Georgia defense, and a starting edge rusher whose sack was the final play of the national championship, has announced his plans for the 2022 season.

Smith will be part of a defense that will have key returnees who made plays down the stretch in cornerback Kelee Ringo and safety Christopher Smith.

Smith is the leading returning tackler (56) after he led the Bulldogs with 2 tackles-for-loss in the national championship. Smith also had 3 QB hurries and a sack, as Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was sacked 4 times and intercepted twice.

Smith played in 14 of 15 games, and finished with 9 tackles for lost yardage, which was second on team, 3.5 of those coming on QB sacks, along with 27 QB pressures. He led the Bulldogs in tackles (8) in the Orange Bowl win over Michigan, and also had a career-high 7 QB pressures vs. the Wolverines.

Smith has been one of the more vocal and emotional leaders on the Georgia team, including his full-throated defense of Stetson Bennett in the middle of the season. In a press conference following the SEC Championship Game and leading up to the College Football Playoff, Smith offered candid comments.

“Want the honest-to-God truth? I cried,” Smith said. “I’m 20 now. I’ve been playing football since I was 4 — 16 years, haven’t won anything. Haven’t won a championship. I won a couple of bowl games but anything big, any championship, I never won yet. And that’s one thing that keeps me going.”

 

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