ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Kearis Jackson insists he and his Georgia teammates will not be content material even after including this 12 months’s Southeastern Convention championship to final season’s drought-breaking nationwide title.
The Bulldogs are motivated to maintain successful.
In reality, Jackson, a senior huge receiver, insists No. 1 Georgia is working more durable than presently final 12 months as they search a brand new purpose — back-to-back nationwide championships. The Bulldogs received their first nationwide title since 1980 final season.
Jackson says motivation isn’t a difficulty because the Bulldogs put together for his or her Peach Bowl School Soccer Playoff semifinal towards No. 4 Ohio State on Dec. 31. He says some observers will suppose Georgia gamers is perhaps glad following their 50-30 win over LSU for the the SEC championship.
It’s a change from one 12 months in the past, when Georgia gamers had additional incentive following a loss to Alabama within the SEC title recreation.
“Final 12 months after the SEC championship, it was like we got here in with a chip on our shoulder due to the loss,” inside linebacker Smael Mondon mentioned. “This 12 months, I really feel like we got here with that very same depth, with out coming off of a loss. We nonetheless have that very same fireplace and depth that we usher in follow.”
Jackson additionally says successful the convention championship hasn’t taken away the crew’s starvation as they enter one other playoff.
“I really feel like this 12 months coming off a convention win I believe we are going to work more durable than we did final 12 months coming off a loss,” Jackson mentioned. “It’s loopy as a result of folks can take a look at it and suppose they’re complacent, they’re comfortable about their win.”
Jackson was thrilled and relieved after Georgia’s first SEC title since 2017. He was a member of three groups that misplaced within the SEC championship recreation.
“Shoot, that’s simply one other checked field that we needed as one among our targets,” he mentioned. “I imply, our season is just not full but. We nonetheless have targets we need to attain.”
The win over LSU left the Bulldogs (13-0) undefeated and the highest seed within the CFP. They’ll return to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the location of the SEC championship recreation, for the Peach Bowl as they pursue their greatest purpose.
No Georgia crew has received back-to-back nationwide titles, and the Peach Bowl winner will earn a spot within the Jan. 9 nationwide championship recreation in Los Angeles towards No. 2 Michigan or No. 3 TCU.
“We’re excited we get that chance to play in that recreation,” mentioned Jackson of the Peach Bowl. “Simply know that we’re motivated as a result of we haven’t accomplished something larger than what we already need.”
Georgia’s protection is motivated by the problem of dealing with quarterback C.J. Stroud, a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, and the high-scoring Ohio State offense.
Coach Kirby Sensible’s Bulldogs posted their second consecutive undefeated common season regardless of shedding a file 15 NFL draft picks, together with 5 defensive gamers within the first spherical. Former walk-on quarterback Stetson Bennett grew to become an unlikely Heisman Trophy finalist and the protection reloaded to rank second within the nation in factors allowed.
Defensive deal with Zion Logue mentioned the Bulldogs prevented a letdown through the season by sustaining focus.
“We deal with every single day like a recreation,” Logue mentioned. “You attempt to make follow more durable than the sport in order that by the point Dec. 31 will get right here, we’ve seen every part and carried out every part to prepare for that second.”
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