Georgia’s George Pickens makes history, plus 7 more observations from Sugar Bowl win

The trumpeter on the corner of Bourbon Street can give Georgia’s jazz music a different tune.

Once the dark notes of disappointment, now the sweet melody of a season-capping Sugar Bowl victory. Georgia (12-2) made its return to Mercedes-Benz Superdome and stomped over seventh-ranked Baylor toward a 26-14 win for the third bowl victory in four seasons under Kirby Smart.

“We worked really hard and really physical,” Smart said. “They bought into that. I thought our coaching staff did a great job.

Fortunes flipped. Georgia enacted its revenge and made up for a stale loss to Texas. In every aspect, this appearance contrasted the last.

Is this 2008? Was Georgia playing Hawaii?

Maybe this wasn’t that extreme, but the Bulldogs won convincingly over a Baylor opponent that had many chances to win a Big 12 title and appear in the College Football Playoff. Georgia sent a reminder that it remains in prominence despite questions that continue to linger.

Eighteen scholarship players didn’t play Wednesday night. Leading playmaker D’Andre Swift barely saw the field while nursing a shoulder injury. Nonetheless, Georgia looked like the team it should resemble in many ways.

With that, this contest which could be regarded as a consolation and the early start to spring practice, had significance to Georgia. As the Bulldogs hoist a championship trophy, here are eight observations from the win over Baylor.

1) George Pickens enters history-book territory. Week after week, many had been calling for the freshman receiver’s so-called “coming out party.” He might’ve flashed at times, but a dominant game never came to fruition. That is, until, his season finale.

Georgia’s offense was Pickens. Seemingly, the duo of the 6-foot-3 playmaker and quarterback Jake Fromm could’ve matched up with 11 Baylor defenders at times. Fromm’s first eight completions went the freshman’s way, and Pickens had 11 first-half receptions. He outgained Baylor as a team by 68 yards at the intermission and finished with 12 catches for 175 yards and a touchdown. He tied the bowl record for receptions — set by Hines Ward (12) in the 1998 Outback Bowl.

“He’s a really good player,” Baylor head coach Matt Rhule said. “When we left him one-on-one, he made the plays. When we played off him a little bit, they threw it out there and he made guys miss.”

2) He did it for his friend. Richard LeCounte has been a ball-hawking turnover machine this season. To close it out, he had an extra edge with his former high school teammate and lifelong friend Raekwon McMillan (who played at Ohio State) on the sidelines decked out in Georgia gear. LeCounte picked off Bears’ backup quarterback Jacob Zeno, wore the coveted turnover spikes and turned toward McMillan with a grin that never faded.

“That’s how we play,” LeCounte yelled to his lifelong friend.

LeCounte finished the evening with two interceptions, and later said he spoke the night into existence over a game of Madden with linebacker Monty Rice. For LeCounte, it’s whatever it takes, and a pair of turnovers served as a result of preparation.

LeCounte savored the moment inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. It might be his last in a Georgia uniform. He’s still mum on a decision on declaring early for the NFL draft.

3) Still nothing from Swift. Georgia’s star running back wasn’t supposed to play in the Sugar Bowl. He begged Smart while fighting an injury. An opportunity to play for his team wasn’t going to be passed up. He saw the field three times and received one carry.

And it could be his last at Georgia, but he’s not ready to make it a sure thing. Swift insists a decision hasn’t been made, and will discuss it over the coming days.

“(Some factors are) where I would get drafted, how high. Injuries. Stuff like that,” Swift said. “There are a lot of things to think about.”

4) Absences didn’t faze Georgia’s defense, especially early. Nothing seemed different for a half. Reed’s absence didn’t cause a dropoff, nor did Tyler Clark’s. Baylor’s offense, which has struggled throughout the year, had only 97 yards through 30 minutes of play. Safety Richard LeCounte hauled in an interception — which now seems ho-hum for the Bulldogs’ turnover machine.

Scoreless through a half, it seemed like Georgia could rout the Bears. Baylor, however, used second-half adjustments to give its SEC foe a bit of a test. Quarterback Charlie Brewer led two touchdown drives with a touchdown pass to Denzel Mims and a one-yard touchdown run. Georgia’s offense did enough, though, to stave off the second-half push.

5) Zamir White shines as Georgia pieced together running back rotation. Swift did in fact play, but three snaps didn’t amount to much for Georgia. But, the Bulldogs’ depth at the position came into play, and the player fans call “Zeus” got his long-awaited chance. The former five-star prospect who suffered two ACL injuries played sporadically throughout the season. He also looked hesitant at times.

With a heavy volume of carries, that changed. White displayed ability as a power runner and broke off a 13-yard touchdown run to highlight a 92-yard night on 18 carries.

“He’s a hard worker, committed and tough mentally,” Swift said. “There’s a bright future there. He had to be ready when his number was called.”

6) If this is indeed it for Fromm, he briefly quieted the doubt. Amidst all of the chatter around a completion percentage lower than 50% and season-long regression, Georgia’s quarterback had one of his best performances in quite a while. Granted, most of his targets went the way of one receiver, Fromm looked a tad more comfortable against Baylor.

“There was a big focus. Our guys were committed, focused and we had a really good plan going in,” Fromm said. “This was the opportunity for a few guys to have their coming-out party, and we all had the common goal.”

Fromm had to carry a significant portion of the offensive load with a weaker rushing attack, and posted 250 yards. He did it at a more-efficient rate, too, by finishing 20 of 30 (although he did take three sacks with a decimated offensive line). Georgia now awaits a decision on whether Fromm will forgo his senior season to enter the NFL draft. The Bulldogs signed one quarterback — Carson Beck — for the 2020 class through the early signing period.

7) He was once nameless. Lewis Cine, the freshman safety who has now emerged for Georgia over two postseason games, opened the season by wearing No. 28. He played against Arkansas State and Murray State in cleanup duty, and his jersey didn’t have his name printed on it. He hauled in an interception against the Red Wolves, and I remember asking “Who is the guy without a nameplate?”

Now wearing No. 16 and starting in place of injured senior J.R. Reed, many are beginning to realize Cine. He’s emerged as a force for Georgia while recording four tackles and helping contain Baylor’s offense in the victory.

8) A perfect farewell for Rodrigo Blankenship. Those famed specs are officially retired. Georgia’s fifth-year place-kicker received a per-usual roaring ovation for his first appearance in the contest. Blankenship lived up to the ceremonious applause, too, with a perfect 2-for-2 night. He converted from 24 and 31 yards, and his teammates celebrated with more energy than they normally would on an intermediate conversion.

Blankenship’s storybook became fairly easy to finish. He finished 2019 with the Lou Groza Award and being recognized nationally. Blankenship opened 2020 by closing his Georgia career.

“I’m going to need a little bit of time to think about it,” Blankenship said. “I’ve had such an incredible time here. Each year has taught me something different and given me motivation to improve as a kicker.”

This story was originally published January 2, 2020 at 12:35 AM.