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One of the most unlikely stars of Georgia’s team this season was without a program only 10 months ago.
A football refugee after the UAB program was shut down, LB Jake Ganus was arguably the Bulldogs’ most-consistent player and at the team’s gala last week was voted the team’s MVP. Ganus was also named defensive captain after he led Georgia with 96 tackles and was 10th in the SEC.
Those numbers were even better than Ganus’ career stats with the Blazers — he had 226 tackles and six sacks in three years.
“That was my goal,” Ganus said. “That was something I worked for. That was one of the first goals I had — to start. Some things happened, and the door opened.”
The timing worked out for Georgia, which needed an inside linebacker, and Ganus, who had a year of eligibility remaining. Ganus adjusted to playing linebacker after he began his career as a safety.
“We knew we needed some help there at the position,” former coach Mark Richt told the Macon Telegraph in September. “When you watch the tape, the guy’s an elite tackler. When you meet him, you realize he’s a real sharp guy. He can pick things up quickly. If nothing else, he’s a great addition on defense but can do some things on special teams for us.”
Even before the season ended, it was an eventful year and on and off the field. After the South Carolina game, he proposed to his girlfriend Peyton Thomas on the G at Sanford Stadium.
Then against Georgia Tech, Ganus was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after a third-down incompletion that turned a Tech fourth down into a first down. It led to Tech’s only touchdown, but Ganus insisted that he didn’t say anything to draw the flag. Fans and coaches could forgive Ganus given the fact that the Tech game was his third straight with double-digit tackles and fifth of the season.
Ganus fared better than fellow transfer, QB Greyson Lambert, but Richt noted how remarkable it was that neither was on the program’s radar a year ago.
“You think about (Lambert) and you think about Jake Ganus, here’s two guys that were not with our program a year ago, and they both jump into offensive and defensive leadership positions,” Richt said. “It’s pretty special what those guys were able to do. I’m just glad they chose Georgia and I’m proud of what they did.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
