JACKSONVILLE — Jarvis Jones declined repeated interview requests from multiple media members this past week. Their interest — besides Jones having played very well to this point in the season — was his nomination as one of 12 semifinalists for the Butkus Award.
After Saturday’s performance against Florida, he may have played his way into a finalist role.
The 6-foot-3, 241-pound sophomore was a one-man wrecking crew in Georgia’s 24-20 win at EverBank Field. He recorded four of the Bulldogs’ six sacks for minus-27 yards and also forced a fumble as Georgia suffocated the Gators’ offense. The four sacks is tied for second in UGA history for a single game. Freddie Gilbert (1983) has the record with five.
“I’m sorry about avoiding y’all,” Jones said with a smile. “I don’t have a problem talking to the media. I think y’all are some great people and do some great stories on us. But I just wanted to be focused on this game.
“I knew it was going to be a big game, and I knew our coaches and our seniors wanted to win it. So I just made it my business to be focused coming into it and to give everything I had.”
Jones was basically unblockable most of the game, using his speed to outflank Florida’s tackles at times, his mobility to cut inside or spin out of blocks and occasionally overpowering blocking backs. Once he got into the clear, there was little hope for Florida quarterback John Brantley, who was playing his first game since suffering a severe ankle sprain against Alabama three weeks ago.
“[Defensive coordinator Todd] Grantham just put me in great position to make some plays,” Jones said. “This is my first year at this position and I watched a lot of film for this game. I caught a couple of their weaknesses that Coach Grantham pointed out, and I just made it my business that I was going to use it against them.”
Jones now has eight sacks, 14 tackles for loss and is second on the team with 44 tackles.
Wideouts come through
Not only was Georgia without leading wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell on Saturday, but it also was without Israel Troupe and Rantavious Wooten.
That left the Bulldogs precariously thin in their receiving corps. Just four scholarship players suited up for that unit: Juniors Marlon Brown and Tavarres King and freshmen Michael Bennett and Chris Conley. Walk-ons Taylor Bradberry and Rhett McGowan completed the group. Georgia usually plays a six-player group.
“I kind of liked us being really thin,” Bennett joked. “That meant some of us got to play more.”
Bennett and King each had touchdown catches on fourth-down plays. Bennett’s came on a 20-yard pass from Aaron Murray 1:28 before halftime. King’s came from 14 yards out with 6:00 left in the third quarter.
King had led the wideouts with three catches for 44 yards, followed by Conley (3-38), Bennett (2-25) and Brown (2-20). McGowan had one catch for 11 yards.
Mitchell, a freshman who emerged as a star play-maker this season, was a late scratch to the travel roster because of a pulled hamstring. Georgia did not have a pregame explanation for Troupe’s absence. The senior from Tifton has played only sparingly this season, but remains one of the Bulldogs’ more experienced receivers.
‘Scary’ special teams
Richt summed up Georgia’s special-teams play succinctly after Saturday’s game. “They’re scary,” he stated flatly.
Georgia gave up yet another special-teams touchdown as Jeff Demps returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown at the 13:16 mark of the second quarter. Demps’ touchdown was the second in as many games Georgia has given up off a kickoff this season.
The Gators had 200 yards on five kickoff returns. The Bulldogs also have allowed a punt-return touchdown and a fake punt for a touchdown this season.
Even dependable punter Drew Butler, a Ray Guy Award winner, was not sharp. He averaged 34.2 yards on six punts, including two for less than 30.
Brantley starts at QB
Coach Will Muschamp and the Gators displayed some gamesmanship before the game. Senior John Brantley started at quarterback, but he did not warm up with the team beforehand and wasn’t even announced as the starters over the stadium PA before the kickoff.
“Yeah, I watched him,” Grantham said. “We knew he was going to play.”
Brantley had been out the past two games with a severely sprained ankle. He was 12-of-34 for 245 yards and one touchdown. Trey Burton and Jacoby Brissett also took snaps in the game.
Etc.
Starting left guard Dallas Lee suffered a broken fibula bone in his right leg. He was replaced by Kenarious Gates, who took over for following an injury earlier this year. ... Isaiah Crowell said his shin injury is not serious, and he should be able to play Saturday if needed. ... Georgia is now 7-for-13 on fourth-down conversions this season.
