Georgia TE Sounds Desperate to Beat Kalen DeBoer as He Remains Vary of “Physical” Task

Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs haven’t stumbled at home since ‘Joker’ topped the box office. Talking about that year’s Bulldogs camp? Jake Fromm was the quarterback, and Rodrigo Blankenship was still kicking while Dan Lanning was new at trying his hand at the defensive coordinator role. Smart and co.’s last home loss came to South Carolina on Oct. 12, 2019, and they’ve racked up 33 straight wins at Sanford Stadium since. But they have a new opponent coming to town. It’s now the pressure to beat Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama. One Georgia offensive player is hyped up about getting the chance to beat the Crimson Tide. Who is this motivated player?

It’s none other than Smart’s tight end Oscar Delp. Talking about the head coach’s confidence in him? “He’s got unbelievable physical toughness. He’s had really good health, knock on wood,” Smart sounded all confident. This must be enough motivational juice for Delp to carry on with his mission against Bama.

On September 23, Jordan D. Hill quoted what Delp said on crushing DeBoer’s team. “It’s a huge one. We want to win this game. The SEC runs through Georgia and Alabama since I’ve been grown up. … I want to keep that [home winning streak alive] and just play Georgia football this weekend,” said the tight end. Well, Smart’s Bulldogs also know that for DeBoer to earn back credibility, there is no better way than snapping Georgia’s streak as an underdog. 

Just a season ago, Smart’s program was running high with a 42 consecutive regular-season winning streak. They then went to Tuscaloosa and took an L from the Crimson Tide 41-34. Georgia’s 2023 march to another title also hit a wall. The Crimson Tide’s 27-24 victory in Atlanta not only won the SEC but punched their ticket to the CFP over the Bulldogs. All these years, the urge to seek revenge must have been brewing within Delp.  

Delp is filling two-time John Mackey Award winner Brock Bowers’ shoes. If Smart’s tight end had exceeded or even met his expectations last season, he would have definitely flown off to the NFL. So, now that Delp got his last chance to prove himself, can make the most of it? 

In their 2025 season opener against Marshall, he made the longest catch, a 28-yarder. Then, during their win over Tennessee, he caught one for 18 yards. Now, for Alabama, the Georgia tight end has already figured out where to focus.

Georgia has got to focus on Alabama’s physicality

Breaking down DeBoer and co.’s scheme, Delp said this about Bama’s defense, “They’re very physical. That’s just how Alabama always is. … You’ve got to use technique and bring it every play. You’ve got to bring it every play against this defense, especially this d-line.” Bama lost DL Tim Keenan III to injury before the season began, forcing the Tide to play without the senior team captain for three weeks. But he is returning to the lineup just in time for the Georgia game. Keenan will have the opportunity to clog up running lanes and be a tremendous help for the Alabama linebackers when Georgia runs the football.

Looks like someone from DeBoer’s offensive squad can also be Smart’s weakness. “What Ryan Williams did last year against Georgia and kind of that was, he had that game and he really has been good,” Rusty Mansel pulled the band-aid off Smart’s one-year-old wound. Last year, Alabama stormed to a 28-0 lead, Georgia fought back to 34-33, and then Williams flipped the script with a 75-yard touchdown from Jalen Milroe. Just like that, momentum shifted again.

So, what’s the advice for Kirby Smart’s boys? Jake Rowe said, “Georgia needs to get as much as they possibly can out of that both from stopping the run and rushing the passer… I don’t see them rolling into Athens and winning this game if they can’t really run the football.” It’s time to see if Oscar Delp and Georgia can match Alabama’s physicality on the field.