ATHENS -- Georgia senior safety Christopher Smith was named the SEC’s co-defensive player of the week Monday for his performance in the Bulldogs’ 49-3 win over No. 11 Oregon on Saturday.
Smith led the Bulldogs with six tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception. He also made a bone-jarring, pass breakup that resulted in Smith being sidelined for a short while with a pinched nerve in his left shoulder. He was able to return to the game and reportedly will play this week.
Smith’s interception Saturday -- the fourth of his career -- came one play after he was flagged for an unnecessary-roughness penalty. His pick thwarted one of the Ducks’ best scoring opportunities in the game.
“He embodies that next-play mentality,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “That’s what we talk about, next play. We have a guy jump offside; next play; we had a guy hold; next play. That’s the way you’ve got to play the game.”
Said Smith: “Just being a DB, period, that’s just the way I am. Next play. ... One of our four pillars is resiliency.”
Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com
Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com
Smith also was named the SEC’s defensive MVP of the week after last year’s season opener, when he returned an interception 74 yards for a touchdown in a 10-3 win over then-No. 3 Clemson.
Smith shared this week’s award with Arkansas linebacker Bumper Pool. Pool had a team-high 13 tackles and two tackles for loss in the Razorbacks’ 31-24 win over Cincinnati.
Smith is one of only three starters returning from Georgia’s 2021 national-championship defense. Anchored by Smith in the back end, the Bulldogs held Oregon without a touchdown for the first time in a game since 2017.
Georgia (1-0) takes on Samford (1-0), a Southern Conference member and FCS opponent, on Saturday at Sanford Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m., and SEC Network will televise the matchup.
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