Brock Bowers’ return to the field for Saturday night’s game just 26 days removed from TightRope surgery didn’t come as a surprise to teammates or head coach Kirby Smart.

Just how badly Bowers wanted to play, however, wasn’t truly known until Smart’s comments following the Bulldogs' 52-17 rout of No. 9 Ole Miss.

Smart told reporters that “people,” presumably sports agents, actually called and suggested to the tight end that he “take the rest of the year off” to protect his health for next year’s NFL draft.

“People called him and told him that. Those people will not be representing him, I can promise you that because all it did was piss him off,” Smart said. “He said ‘Coach, I’ve had people call me and say I shouldn’t play. That just drives me crazy, and makes me want to play more to prove them wrong. Why am I in this game if I’m not going to come back and play?’”

Play, he did.

So much for the notion that Bowers would only play a handful of reps or perhaps even be a decoy for Georgia Saturday night against Ole Miss.

He did a lot more than that, playing the entire game, catching three passes for 34 yards and a touchdown.

“He’s not risking millions, guys. He’s got the opportunity to get more millions,” Smart said. “The NFL knows people heal. They have tons of those injuries in the NFL, and all he did was stamp himself as a warrior and said I’m going to practice Tuesday in front of 15 scouts. He said I’m going to practice on Wednesday in front of 12 scouts, and all of a sudden, I’m going oh my God, he’s got a chance to move up, because of who he is.”

The fact Bowers was dressed out at all would give the Bulldogs a welcomed boost even if he had not played.

When his injury first occurred on Oct. 14 at Vanderbilt, many speculated it might be many weeks before the reigning Maxwell Award winner would return.

The junior actually began jogging prior to the Missouri game—as far as back as before the Florida game. After doing dry land runs earlier last week, Bowers quickly checked his doctor’s prescribed boxes to make it back on the field.

With Georgia up 38-14, Beck found Bowers streaking to the back of the end zone for an easy score.

“First of all, it’s just ridiculous. What was it, a month ago?" Beck said. “For him to come back that fast and obviously be able to still play at the level he plays is super impressive.”

Bowers was not available for post-game interviews. But others, including Smart, had plenty to say in his stead.

“He was hellbent to get back,” Smart said. “He’s different. He took a path that no one had taken on that injury, and said this is what I’m doing.”

Now that Bowers has returned, the Bulldogs are as close to full health as they’ve been all year.

Although Ladd McConkey left the game in the third quarter with what appeared to be a minor ankle injury, the thought of Georgia having two of its biggest weapons for its next three games is a comforting one for the Bulldogs, thanks to Bowers’ determination to return.

“His protocol was matched up with other people who’ve done it,” Smart said. “He matched that of all the kids we’ve had with the same injury, because he was too stubborn to not do it. And he did a great job."