Somewhat lost in Georgia’s big win over Notre Dame was a big contribution from a big man.
Isaiah Wilson came off the bench in the second half and gave the Bulldogs some much needed push and protection on the right side of the offense. The regular starter and a preseason All-American at right tackle, Wilson had missed the previous two games with an ankle injury and was questionable for Saturday night’s top-10 matchup at Sanford Stadium.
The No. 3 Bulldogs came from behind to win 23-17, and much of that had to do second-half offensive surge that Wilson helped spur on after taking over at right tackle.
“He was big for us,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said of the 6-foot-7, 340-pound sophomore. “We couldn’t tell (how healthy he was). He practiced a little bit, but didn’t get to do a lot during the week. But in pregame warm-ups he looked pretty good. We were a little worried about putting him in there, but we felt like we needed to in the second half, and he wanted to (go in).”
First-half and second-half numbers show the difference. The Bulldogs managed just 55 yards rushing and 114 yards overall as the Fighting Irish stacked the box with defenders and Georgia tried to dink and dunk its way around them.
In the second half, the Bulldogs finally wiggled free for 225 yards – including 97 yards rushing – and running back D’Andre Swift gained 65 of his 98 yards on the ground after halftime.
“I just think we locked in a little bit and started playing our brand of ball,” Wilson said after the game. “I don’t think there was any change in the calls or anything like that. I think we just started to play ball.”
Wilson’s presence helped the Bulldogs get back to basics. Sophomore Cade Mays, the regular starter at right guard, started in Wilson’s spot, as he did in the previous game. But Mayes struggled to contain Notre Dame’s veteran defensive ends, Khalid Kareem, Julian Okwara and Daelin Hayes. Georgia tried sophomore Jamaree Salyer there as well, with similar results.
At halftime, the decision was made to put in Wilson at right tackle and move Mays back guard. Between that and other adjustments, Georgia scored on four of its next five possessions.
Wilson said he didn’t know going in whether he would play.
“My plan was to do whatever the team needed me to do to help win,” he said. “If that meant sitting on the sideline cheering the team on and helping everybody out with their looks and stuff, I was gonna do that. If I needed to get into the game like I had to today, then I did that. I just wanted my team to win and I’m happy we did because it was a great team win.”
Compounding Georgia’s issues up front was losing starting left guard Solomon Kindley to a significant ankle injury with 4:53 remaining in the second quarter. Junior Justin Shaffer replaced Kindley and played there for the remainder of the game.
Smart is expected to provide updates on Kindley and other injured players when he briefs the media Tuesday evening after the Bulldogs’ first practice since Saturday night’s game.
Wilson, for one, said he felt fine afterward and should be available for the next game, which is at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 at Tennessee (1-3, 0-2 SEC).
“I would say I’m healthy,” Wilson said. “I felt good out there. Of course, I’m going to keep getting treatment and doing everything I need to do to maintain my health. But I should be fine.”
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