G-Day Recap: Eye Test PASSED
by Keegan Shinall
Dawgs OTL Writer/ Bleeds Red and Black
Spring football in Athens doesn’t come with too many answers but it does come with lots of hints, flashes, and just enough noise to get folks talking. On a warm day in the April sun between the hedges, this year’s G-Day had a little bit of everything: quarterbacks trading punches, young playmakers making their case, and a defense that bent early but found its teeth when it counted. It may just be spring, but you can already feel something brewing. We look fantastic. Eye test, Aced!
KEY DETAILS OF THE SCRIMMAGE
Game result: Red beat Black 27–17
~700 total yards of offense combined (wide-open spring feel)
7 QBs played → reinforces your “wide open room” take
Nate Frazier tweaked ankle on first carry and stayed out to play it safe.
Passing leaders:
Millender: 9/15, 103 yards
Beaver: 9/13, 101 yards, TD
Montgomery: 132 yards total
Dowdell: ~70 total yards + TD
Key splash plays you can reference:
Beaver → 43-yard bomb + late TD drive
Montgomery → chunk throws (48-yard to Heinrich, 23-yard to Roldan)
Reddell → 23-yard run + TD
Defense clutch moments:
Lonon stop on 3rd down
Stewart PBU on 4th
Tyriq Greene INT late
Analysis: A few guys clearly stood out today.. At quarterback, Hezekiah Millender and Bryson Beaver probably helped themselves the most. Millender looked composed and efficient, leading a scoring drive and finishing with over 100 total yards while making smart decisions. Beaver flashed upside accurate, mobile, and not afraid to push the ball downfield, including a late touchdown drive. Ryan Montgomery also had some strong moments with chunk plays and showed touch on his passes, while Gunner Stockton showed a couple of flashes of improved accuracy. One time specifically he climbed the pocket to show some growth in composure against pressure. Puglisi had some of the sharpest flashes of any as far as pure passing but he also had some question mark plays. If he can gain consistency he’ll anchor down QB2. The longer Puglisi leaves it on the table the more wide open the back up spot becomes. Someone like Millender with the athletic upside good pull a Stetson Bennett and be the wildcard player that has come to define the way the QB room shakes out at Georgia these last years of the Kirby era.
At the skill positions, Dante Dowdell was probably the most impactful back - he showed power and burst, scoring and ripping off one of the longer runs of the day. Dwight Phillips Jr. also popped with both a touchdown and explosive plays, while Jaden Reddell continues to look like a mismatch piece with his size and ability to move. The tight end group as a whole (Reddell, Heinrich, Prothro) was one of the most consistently productive units, which is very on-brand for Georgia. Craig Dandridge, Landon Roldan, Talyn Taylor, & Jeremy “ ✈️ “ Bell all have fans confidence that veteran producers Isaiah Canion and London Humphreys have help.
Defensively, I really liked the D-Line. At times Josh Horton was very disruptive. Also, a few younger players flashed in key moments. Chase Linton showed why he’s been getting name dropped by local press. He had an athletic pass knockdown on a rollout pass. AJ Lonon made a big stop on a critical down, and Blake Stewart had a clutch pass breakup. Tyriq Greene capped things with a late interception. The defense didn’t dominate early, but individual playmakers showed up when it mattered. The takeaway: the biggest “winners” weren’t the established names it was the fans getting to enjoy some glimpses of younger quarterbacks, versatile tight ends, and rotational defenders who flashed real game-impact potential. Another great G-Day in the books ! In 2026, the world’s our oyster. The sky is the limit.
Go DAWGS !
