COLUMBIA, S.C. - Georgia fans have been waiting for James Cook to have that breakout game. Saturday night against South Carolina, he did just that.

In fact, it was a career night for the south Florida native, who rushed for a career-high 104 yards and two scores.

“My O-line gave me a lane to run in,” Cook said. “They laid it on, and I ran with physicality. They did a GREAT job.”

There were times Cook made it look easy. A career-long 44-yard sweep in the first quarter set up Georgia’s second touchdown, which Cook scored from 5 yards out. The junior was not done.

In the second quarter, Cook scored again, this time untouched from 29 yards out right up the middle.

“Every opportunity I get, I just try to take advantage of, it” Cook said.

With the game well in hand, Georgia rolled out a new offensive line.

The most noticeable name was true freshman Broderick Jones, who made his Bulldog debut at right tackle, with Warren Ericson taking over at center.

They were not the only ones.

Xavier Truss, who replaced Jamaree Salyer earlier in the contest, took over again at left tackle, with Clay Webb getting reps at right guard.

True freshman Sedrick Van Pran would soon get his opportunity, with Ericson sliding over to right guard.

"We were able to get Broderick in the game; Darnell (Washington) played a lot. We played a lot of guys on the defensive line who didn't have a real good series there. We subbed out, put some threes in, and didn't play really well that last drive they scored on," Smart said. "But that's the way you learn. I've been around it for years, at places when you get a lead, put them in, and you find out a lot about a kid. You find out, hey, he might still be a year away, but getting that experience under his belt is invaluable.”

During the same possession, Van Pran took over for Ericson, who slid in for Justin Shaffer at right guard for the Bulldogs, who finished the drive in the victory formation with the Bulldogs at the South Carolina one-yard line.

“It’s so unfortunate you don’t get a chance to do that (play a lot of youngsters) but that’s the world we live in. The conference schedule has made it tough, and our inability to get a big lead has made it tough. But I was proud of those guys,” Smart said. “I wish we could play them more. That’s what kids do—they come to Georgia to play in the games. The games we’ve been in, we haven’t been able to do that.”

Bulldog fans pining for their first real look at freshmen speedster Arian Smith got an eyeful on the first play of the fourth quarter.

After getting one rep last week against Mississippi State, Smith shot down the middle of the field and was wide open for quarterback JT Daniels, who drilled the Florida native in stride for his first career catch and score.

“I was proud of Arian Smith,” head coach Kirby Smart said.

With good reason

It's been a frustrating first year for Smith, who, after suffering a wrist injury in the spring, missed most of the preseason due to a knee that kept him out of the lineup until last week.

After missing the previous two games against Florida and Mississippi State, junior nose guard Jordan Davis was back with the team Saturday.

Davis, who injured his elbow in the first half at Kentucky, worked out with trainers prior to the game. However, Davis did not start, or get in the game. Devonte Wyatt got the call at nose for the third straight game.

…Georgia had a scare in the second quarter when left tackle Jamaree Salyer appeared to injure his ankle and had to be helped from the field. The injury initially looked to be more serious than perhaps it was, but after returning from the injury tent, Salyer was seen walking behind the Bulldog bench. Redshirt freshman Xavier Truss replaced Salyer at left tackle, before the junior returned during Georgia’s next offensive series.

…Neither junior cornerback Ameer Speed nor freshman cornerback Jalen Kimber made the trip. Reasons are currently unknown. Safeties Daran Branch and Hugh Nelson took their places on the roster.

Both Speed and Kimber had dressed in all seven of Georgia’s previous games.

…Georgia’s starting offensive line remained the same Saturday, with Jamaree Salyer at left tackle, Justin Shaffer at left guard, Trey Hill at center, Ben Cleveland at right guard, and Warren McClendon at right tackle.

…Richard LeCounte (concussion, ribs) made the trip but did not dress out. He still counted against Georgia’s 70-man roster limit.

…On Georgia’s third offensive play, Zamir White picked up six yards for a first down while running behind the lead block of Clay Webb, who lined up at fullback.

…Tre McKitty’s first quarter touchdown was his first touchdown since Sept. 29, 2018 against Louisville, when he was still a member of Florida State's Seminoles.

…James Cook’s first quarter touchdown was Georgia’s first by a running back in 2020 not named Zamir White.

…Speaking of White, his 22-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to make the score 21-0 gave him touchdowns in seven of Georgia’s eight games. White’s run also gave Georgia four explosive runs of 12-plus yards, after he got zero all game against Mississippi State.

… The longest active starting streak on offense belongs to center Trey Hill, now with 26, while the longest streak on defense belongs to junior cornerback Eric Stokes at 23.

...Saturday night marked the first time Georgia had a pair of players with two touchdown rushes in a game since 2018 against Tennessee (D’Andre Swift and Justin Fields).

…Tyson Campbell’s interception in the third quarter was the first of his career.

…Kearis Jackson’s 52-yard punt return was his career best, topping his previous high of 19 yards in the season-opener at Arkansas.

…The victory was Smart’s 50th as head coach.

…Saturday’s attendance at Williams-Brice Stadium was 16,444.