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Meet Jake Ganus, the transfer spurring Georgia’s defensive resurgence
By Alex Zorn
Published:
Heading into the 2015 season most had Georgia’s defense circled as one of the most talented in the nation.
Finally, in November, the Bulldogs are starting to show why.
Georgia has allowed just 455 total yards (163 passing) to begin November. In two games the defense has forced six turnovers — after just 11 turnovers in the first eight games.
After poor performances against Alabama and Tennessee earlier in the season, the defense is playing like one of the best in the SEC.
Talent was never the issue. The defense opened with several potential breakout stars, but the one player perhaps most responsible for Georgia’s emergence is the one who was virtually unknown outside of Athens to begin 2015: UAB transfer ILB Jake Ganus.
“I remember hearing everything about Jake, then I saw him in person. I’m like, ‘hey, wait a minute, this is the guy that was leading UAB?’” Georgia senior LB Jordan Jenkins told DawgNation earlier this week. “Jake Ganus is an example of how there’s really good players in every conference.”
Ganus led UAB in tackles (70), tackles for loss (16.5) and was second with 6.0 sacks. He transferred after school administrators decided to shut down the football program. (That decision was later rescinded, and the football team will begin play again in 2016.)
Coach Mark Richt and defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt took a shot on him and he now heads the middle of a stacked linebacking corps.
“Georgia welcomed me in with open arms and this has been by far the best year of my career. It’s been awesome,” Ganus said. “As of now I’m definitely a Bulldog.”
Ganus, who is 6-2, 227 pounds, leads the Bulldogs in tackles with 74, 14th most in the SEC, and sits second in the conference among active players with 300 career tackles.
It’s hard to remember another transfer who’s made this big of an impact in Athens, but Ganus has certainly stepped up where Georgia desperately needed it.
He’s quickly become a fan favorite. Not a week goes by without a Twitter shoutout wishing he could stay in Athens longer. And he’s picked up the pace recently.
The inside linebacker has 19 tackles in November, freeing linebackers Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd to rush the quarterback from the outside. Both potential first-round picks, according to CBSSports.com, sacked Auburn QB Jeremy Johnson on Saturday.
Ganus isn’t showing up on most mock drafts, but he’s trending in that direction.
“(LB coach Mike Ekeler) really turned me into the linebacker I am,” Ganus said. “Obviously, I do have dreams of going to the NFL. I definitely think this season has improved that.”
