ATHENS — Georgia’s defense figures to have a few big names emerge this season, including the name of the biggest player of all.

Bulldogs nose tackle Jordan Davis was ranked the No. 2 interior defensive lineman in the SEC by ESPN analyst Cole Cubelic, second only to LSU’s Tyler Shelvin.

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The complete list:

1. Tyler Shelvin, LSU

2. Jordan Davis, Georgia

3. Christian Barmore, Alabama

4. Quinton Bohanna, Kentucky

5. Glen Logan, LSU.

Davis, a 6-foot-6, 330-pound junior from Charlotte, N.C., started eight of 14 games last season. A former FWAA Freshman All-American, Davis was named the co-winner of the team’s “Up Front” Award accounting for 18 tackles.

“Jordan is the prototype interior defensive lineman,” Cubelic told DawgNation. “He can eat space with his size, but he also has the quickness to be able to disrupt in other ways.

“He has a ton of power and he made strides with his technique last fall.”

The nose tackle in the Georgia offense is responsible for filling inside gaps and forcing ball carries to bounce runs outside and ensuring quarterbacks under pressure don’t have an escape route up the middle.

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Because of that, the nose tackle’s sacks and tackle numbers aren’t as impressive as other defenders, such as the linebackers, who aren’t as inclined to get blocked if nose tackles like Davis are requiring double teams to root him out of the desired run lane.

Georgia has a case to have two interior defensive linemen recognized, though it appears senior defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt is flying under the radar for now.

Wyatt, a 6-3, 301-pound senior from Decatur, led the Bulldogs’ defensive linemen with 30 tackles last season and he was second on the team with 27 quarterback pressures.

Wyatt was seen on UGA team video earlier this year leading calisthenics, and indicator he could be in the leadership position for the Bulldogs this season.

 

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