Kirby Smart hands Georgia linebacker the ultimate compliment after win over Florida
Georgia Bulldogs linebacker CJ Allen continues to prove that he’s one player that his team can count on.
Georgia Bulldogs linebacker CJ Allen continues to prove that he’s one player that his team can count on.
In Saturday’s 24-20 rivalry win over the Florida Gators, Allen put up a career-high 13 tackles, including seven solo tackles.
After the win, head coach Kirby Smart gave Allen the ultimate compliment and called out his favorite tackle of the night, which was a solo hit on Gators quarterback DJ Lagway.
“Man, I wish he was out there every play,” Smart said. “I mean, he’s a machine, he erases things. Ball gets out, Lagway looks like he’s about to go. And I was like, he looks like he’s going to run for a long way. And CJ runs him down and tackles him right away. The kid practices so hard and wants to win so bad for Georgia.
“I don’t know that I’ve seen a kid that cared more about the team performance than CJ does. Now, a lot of people care about it. They’re not willing to practice like he does. He practices so hard that it comes across in his play. He’s a great leader, and I appreciate the work he puts into it.”
So far this season, Allen has posted 69 total tackles (39 solo), three sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and three passes defended.
Allen stepped up when Georgia needed him most
Allen really stepped up when Georgia needed him most, amid several key defensive injuries that occurred during the game.
Smart couldn’t go into details but told reporters afterward that defensive lineman Jordan Hall left early with a knee injury and never returned. Defensive back Demello Jones left in the fourth quarter with an apparent elbow injury, and linebacker Chris Cole suffered a knee injury.
“Well, we patched it together because we had to,” Smart said. “I mean, we have some depth on the D-line. I don’t know, Jordan’s injury is something to do with his knee. I don’t know the exact injury. Demello, something to do with his elbow. I don’t know how severe it is. And then Chris Cole, something to do with his knee. But I didn’t get a report before I came in here, so I don’t know. But that puts us a little bit down at several positions. We have to have guys step up and get ready to play. It’s all over our league right now. Florida was that way coming into the game with a lot of defensive guys they got back for this game.”
The Bulldogs will face Mississippi State on the road this week.
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