Georgia will face Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs for first time

ATHENS, Ga. (TNS) — Later this month, Tennessee junior quarterback Josh Dobbs will play against Alabama for a third time and make a third start against Kentucky.

This Saturday, Dobbs will take his first career snap against Georgia.

After coming off the bench in relief of Justin Worley and Nathan Peterman the past two seasons, the 6-foot-3, 207-pounder from the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta is going the distance this year as Tennessee’s starter provided he stays healthy. Dobbs did not make his debut as a freshman or a sophomore until the Alabama game, which annually occurs after the Georgia game for the Volunteers.

“I guess that is a little unique,” Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said Tuesday. “This is about the time of year we play them every year, so it will be interesting. He definitely has our attention.”

Dobbs has guided Tennessee to a 7-4 record in his last 11 starts, with the Vols averaging 424 yards and 36.2 points in those contests. In the 28-27 loss at Florida 11 days ago, he became the first Bowl Subdivision player since 2003 to lead his team in rushing (136), passing (83) and receiving yards (58) in the same game.

The aerospace engineering major also became the first FBS player to collect at least 50 yards rushing, passing and receiving in a game since Indiana’s Antwaan Randle El in 1998.

“He is very good, and this year he’s been even more dynamic, in my opinion,” Richt said. “He’s got a very good grasp of what they’re trying to do offensively. If you judge him just as a passer, he’s really outstanding. If you judge him just as an athletic quarterback, he’s a threat.

“When you put it all together, you’ve got one of the greatest dual-threat quarterbacks in our league, and he’s got confidence. He’s got a bunch of big games under his belt.”

Dobbs had his busiest passing game of the season in last Saturday’s 24-20 loss to visiting Arkansas, completing 20 of 36 attempts for 232 yards. He scored on a 7-yard run midway through the first quarter, giving the Vols a 14-0 lead, but his other six carries against the Razorbacks netted zero yards.

That was in sharp contrast to his rushing performance in Gainesville, when he had six broken tackles and 138 yards after contact.

“Any time you have a running quarterback, it makes everything a little tougher, because you have to respect him in that aspect,” said Georgia inside linebacker Jake Ganus, who had 10 tackles in last Saturday’s loss to Alabama. “Even on pass plays, you have to be aware of where he’s at — whether he’s inside the pocket or not — so we just have to do a great job of trying to keep him contained and focus on locking in on him.”

Ganus grew up in Alpharetta before moving to Chelsea, Ala., and played youth football with Dobbs.

“My dad was our coach,” Ganus said. “As we grew up and stopped playing park ball, we got into middle school and were in different schools, but I still kept up with him. Then I moved to Birmingham and we kind of lost touch, but I saw when he signed with Tennessee. I’ve been keeping up with him.”

Worley started the last two Georgia-Tennessee games and performed well, completing 17 of 31 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown two years ago in Neyland Stadium, when the Bulldogs survived 34-31 in overtime. He was even better in last year’s 35-32 loss in Sanford Stadium, going 23-of-35 for 264 yards and three scores despite sitting out three second-half possessions due to injury and being replaced by Peterman.

Dobbs watched each of those games on the sideline with the possibility of redshirting, but that’s not the case this year as he finally faces his home-state team.

“He’s a guy for his size who can move exceptionally well, and you really have to factor that in when you’re rushing the quarterback,” Bulldogs outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins said. “He changes the whole way you have to rush and the whole way you prepare for the week. You have to adjust for his speed and come at a correct angle.”