Georgia gets surprise return from key defender ahead of Georgia Tech game
By Jacob Moss
Published:
The fourth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs will be looking to secure their fifth consecutive 11-win season on Friday when they take on their hated in-state rivals, No. 23 Georgia Tech. The Dawgs have dominated the Jackets since the turn of the century, winning 21 of the 25 meetings between the 2 sides since 2000, and they are currently riding a 7-game win streak dating back to the 2017 campaign.
Georgia will be attempting to stretch their current winning streak out to a record-breaking 8 straight over Tech, and the Dawgs will be getting a massive boost on defense that should help in that regard.
ESPN’s Katie George reported on Friday before the game that junior linebacker CJ Allen is expected to play.
This comes as a massive surprise, as Allen was expected to be out for at least another couple of weeks after suffering a knee injury against Texas. George reported that Allen was “adamant” about playing in the rivalry tilt.
“He had a procedure on his meniscus 11 days ago,” George reported during halftime of the Egg Bowl. “They went in, cut the meniscus, and removed a piece of it. … He was adamant that he wanted to play in this rivalry game. Now, how many snaps he plays, what his role is gonna be is still up for debate.”
It’s not yet clear what Allen’s role will end up being, but simply having him on the field against the Yellow Jackets is sure to be a massive boost for Kirby Smart.
The Butkus Award finalist is the Dawgs’ season leader in tackles (78), tackles for a loss (7.0), and ranks second in sacks (3.5). He has become the undisputed leader for the Dawgs on defense.
