Morning, y’all! And happy Friday!
Drum roll, please.
Today, we’re introducing FEATURE FRIDAYS. (OK, maybe that’s a tad anticlimactic since I’ve done a few of these before, but hear me out).
Beginning in fall camp through the season, my plan is to have a feature for y’all each Friday that asks a question to the DawgNation team. Some of these will be more football-centric, some will be a little more off-the-field focused, getting into tailgating, different funny experiences we’ve had while covering sports, that kind of thing.
I know y’all come to us for Georgia Bulldogs news, and we will still be supplying that in spades. But we’re also here for a little entertainment, and I think these will be super fun.
Our first official Feature Friday is definitely Bulldog-related... but not in the way you may expect.
As you can imagine, we’re dog people here at DawgNation. While we’re busy covering the Dawgs, meet the pups we come home to.
Never fear, we will also get into some football news at the end.
Thank you to everyone who is following along as this newsletter evolves. I’m really enjoying it, and I hope y’all are too.
First up, meet the newest member of the DawgNation family! This is team reporter Connor Riley’s black labrador puppy named Murphy. She is an adorable addition to the household and is settling in great.
From partnership account executive Farradeh Pippin: Buddy (aka the cutest dog in the whole wide world) is 7-and-a-half years old. He’s a Pomeranian/Papillon/Shih tzu mix. He is the sweetest, easiest, best dog EVER. He loves napping, sitting under Brooks’ chair while he’s eating to catch all the crumbs, and belly rubs. The “back to school” pic is my FAVE pic of him (shout out to Bark Dog Spa for their post-groom photos).
Next, meet Mate and Bunk (named for the character on The Wire).
DawgNation editor Caitlyn Stroh-Page: Mate is our grouchy old man and Bunk is just plain bad. But — he redeems himself by being the world’s most patient and gentle dog with small kids. Photo is about four years old because I quit taking photos of my dogs once I had kids!!
From associate producer and social media correspondent Makenzy Wolford: This is my dog Duke! While the newest member of the Wolford family, he definitely runs the house. He is very smart and is not afraid to let anyone know when it’s time to go outside or time for a snack. His bark is big and he loves to keep watch for any person he can see outside the window, but after a treat and a pat on the head he won’t leave you alone. We think he’s a Labrador/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, but we got him from a foster family, so we’re not quite sure — we love him all the same.
We’ve also got recruiting extraordinaire Jeff Sentell’s pup, Peaches. Peaches makes frequent appearances in the background of virtual DawgNation meetings and always steals the show.
Next up is two good boys from our intern Hunter DeLander: Introducing my English Bulldog Max and French Bulldog Spike. While I jokingly say they aren’t the brightest bulbs in the shed, they surprise me from time to time. They both love their midday naps, late-night tug-o-war sessions and watching tv with me on the couch.
Last but not least, meet Millie, my 5-year-old Australian Shepherd.
When she’s not at a dead sprint in our backyard, she’s “hiding” under a curtain for a quick nap and making for the cutest photo op. Even though she’s getting a tad bit older now, Millie has big-time puppy energy. But she is also a sweetheart and simply loves being with her people.
Trivia time
We’re sticking with kicking trivia after yesterday’s newsletter!
Which Georgia kicker holds both the school’s and SEC’s PAT percentage record for his career?
(Actually, one more “dog” before we move on to football news).
You may notice this dog is not exactly barking and wagging its tail.
From Mike Griffith: “Mason” arrived during the COVID year of 2020. Every other house in my neighborhood has a Georgia Bulldog on its front porch, so, wanting to maintain my objectivity, I opted for a different color and different breed to represent. As someone who travels frequently, having a live pet might prove a challenge. But Mason - the name of my hometown, and yes, they are the Bulldogs - does just fine alone whether inside or outside.
Georgia football injury report
OK, now back to football.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart provided an outlook on the team’s injury front as the Bulldogs begin fall camp.
Smart did share that defensive back Kyron Jones is still working his way back from a foot/lower extremity injury he suffered last season.
“He’s been on a pitch count,” Smart said. “We’re starting him in the same mode. He’s been increasing as the summer goes. It’s not that he’s not 100% healthy; it’s that he’s not at 100% of the reps. It’s a very sensitive injury. It’s frustrating for him.”
Jones missed the final eight games of last season while dealing with the injury last season. He was a starter at safety prior to the injury. He had 24 tackles in 2025.
Georgia does have to replace Jacorey Thomas at safety. The Bulldogs added Clemson transfer Khalil Barnes and ECU transfer Ja’Marley Riddle via the transfer portal. Georgia also signed six defensive backs in the 2026 recruiting cycle.
Smart did indicate at SEC Media Days that one of those signees, Justice Fitzpatrick, is still working his way back from an ACL injury he suffered in December.
As for the rest of the injury front, defensive end Gabe Harris and center Drew Bobo will both be limited in the number of reps they will take during practice.
Harris missed the College Football Playoff last year after having a toe injury that eventually required surgery.
“He’s out there doing everything now,” Smart said of Harris at SEC Media Days. “He did not do anything in the spring. and we need him to have a big year. But, yeah, he’s on a load-management deal, so he’s not like out there every day doing everything. But he’s healthy.”
Bobo suffered a broken foot that needed Lisfranc surgery. The Georgia center did note that he feels he’ll be ready to go to start the 2026 season.
Smart did note that while running back Dante Dowdell is doing better, he is still not with the team. Smart did not have a timeline for when Dowdell could possibly return.
Dowdell suffered an undisclosed injury in an ATV accident. Dowdell did spend time at the Sheppard Center in Atlanta, but Smart did not specify if Dowdell was still there.
Read the full injury report from Connor here.
Super 11 Kelsey Adams Jr. Q&A: The Georgia football commit is staying home
The AJC Super 11 has recognized Georgia’s 11 best high school senior football players every year since 1985. Football legends like Charlie Ward, Travis Hunter and Eric Berry headline a distinguished legacy that continues in 2026.
Offensive tackle Kelsey Adams Jr. now becomes the third Super 11 selection out of Langston Hughes in Fairburn.
That’s quite a feat for a program that started playing varsity football in 2009. Adams Jr. joins OL Bo Hughley (2022) and QB Air Noland (2023).
Adams was an immediate-impact transfer for Hughes from North Clayton last season. The first-team AJC all-state player and UGA commitment handled his Super 11 Q&A the same way he’d throw around defensive ends on Friday night.
Trivia answer
Rodrigo Blankenship, who went 100% (200-for-200) on PATs from 2016-19
