Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia's top 4 performers vs. Tennessee

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs mascot UGA shown during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Georgia Bulldogs nearly pulled out an upset over the now-No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday. They lost 34-31 after a completed hail mary pass from Josh Dobbs with no time on the clock.

But expectations were low for Georgia going into the game, and most did not expect the Bulldogs to hang in the game with Tennessee, let alone lead the game with four seconds left.

The Bulldog Nation has a few players to thank for that, so here are the top four performers from Georgia’s near victory over Tennessee.

Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Sony Michel (1) runs for a touchdown against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

4. Sony Michel and Brian Herrien

Since the two of them were used equally to keep the other fresh, they should be mentioned together. Georgia has struggled for weeks to get the running game working, and they finally found some success Saturday against Tennessee.

Michel rushed for 91 yards on 16 carries with one touchdown. Herrien added 74 yards on 15 carries. On Georgia’s last scoring drive of the first half, the duo was unstoppable. They ran the same play, just switching direction for the entire possession and ended with a touchdown that gave Georgia a 17-0 lead.

Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Riley Ridley (8) catches a touchdown pass against the Tennessee Volunteers during the last half minute of the game to give Georgia the lead during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

3. Riley Ridley

You have to feel bad for this kid. He made the catch that sparked one of the loudest eruptions of noise in Sanford Stadium history. Eason delivered a perfect throw, but Smith got open, ran under the ball, made the catch and trotted into the end zone.

He should be walking around campus with an ear-to-ear grin on his face knowing he scored one of the most memorable touchdowns in Sanford Stadium history. Instead, he gets over shadowed by a hail mary just moments later.

He had the game won. He did his part, and you can’t ask for anything more. The future looks bright for Ridley; his catch Saturday will not be the only memorable catch in his career in Athens.

As for his stats, Ridley had 59 yards on two catches, in yardage he was second only to…

Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Isaac Nauta (18) runs for a touchdown after catching a pass against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

2. Issac Nauta

We’ve waited to see Nauta look like the 5-star everyone from 247 Sports to ESPN touted him as and against Tennessee, he lived up to all the hype.

The true freshman tight end had a team-leading five catches for 83 yards including a 50-yard touchdown catch, where he got wide open and then outran the Tennessee defense to the end zone.

After the debacle in Oxford, Georgia and Jacob Eason needed some receivers to step up. The pair of freshmen Nauta and Ridley did just that against Tennessee.

Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) passes the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

1. Jacob Eason

Did you know he is a true freshman? It is hard to tell sometimes, and it is getting increasingly difficult to remember he was in high school ten months ago.

Sure, at times he shows his lack of experience such as when he pump faked in the end zone rather than slinging the ball to prevent a sack, which led to a defensive touchdown for Tennessee. But at a moment of a game where Georgia could not afford anything less than perfect, he was more than that.

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He felt the pressure coming, stepped up in the pocket, kept his eyes down field and threw the best possible pass to Riley Ridley. That should have been the second game winner in the first five games of his career.

Eason went 17-of-28 with 211 yards and two touchdowns against Tennessee. He completed passes to eight different receivers.

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