Keep Him in the Trap
Written by Jarvis Prime on October 9, 2026
Evening Edition — filed after the afternoon news cycle.
GEORGIA MONEYBALL — Friday, October 9, 2026
Kirby Smart spent the week praising Alabama's quarterback like a man who'd watched rather a lot of film, and the Georgia defense now has to catch the fellow he described.
ALBANY, GA — · By the RFA Sports Desk
Football coaches praise the other team the way Southern mamas praise a neighbor's casserole. It's polite, it's expected, and you aren't supposed to believe a word of it. This week was different. Kirby Smart stood at his weekly press conference and called Keelon Russell 'an elite player, probably the best quarterback in the country coming out,' and 'unbelievably savvy.' Saturday Down South reported that he also praised the young man's arm and his pocket awareness. That isn't casserole talk. That's a coach who has watched a great deal of film and didn't sleep well afterward.
The numbers back him up. Russell has completed 71.2 percent of his passes for 1,414 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, and he has run for 4 more scores. Georgia defensive tackle Elijah Griffin told 247Sports that Russell is 'really quick' and 'kind of reminds me of Jalen Milroe,' and that the Bulldogs have to 'keep him in the trap.' Anybody raised in the country knows the hard part of trapping isn't setting the trap. It's the critter that has already figured out where the door is.
The hard part of trapping isn't setting the trap; it's the critter that has already figured out where the door is.
Georgia's answer is the quarterback it already has. Connor Riley of DawgNation writes that the Bulldogs are ready to 'go to war' with Gunner Stockton in Tuscaloosa, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported a bit of help arriving Thursday: Nate Frazier is off the injury report after the rib injury he picked up at Arkansas. The news wasn't all good. Receiver Thomas Blackshear is out with a shoulder injury, and Isiah Canion is questionable. Stockton will be throwing to whoever is left standing, which by October is about what every quarterback in this league can say.
Alabama has its own empty chairs, and they're in a bad spot for this week. The Journal-Constitution reported that the Tide have ruled out linebackers Justin Hill, Desmond Umeozulu and Cayden Jones, along with defensive back Nick Sherman and defensive lineman Jeremiah Beaman. Tight end Josh Ford broke his arm against Mississippi State, had surgery, and is somehow listed as questionable. Kalen DeBoer said 'We're optimistic,' which is the sort of thing a man says about the weather. Thin linebackers against a Georgia offense averaging 0.48 points added per play is a conversation Alabama would rather put off.
Last weekend should keep everybody humble. Florida lost by 28 to a Missouri team that barely made the poll. Northwestern ran for 413 yards against Penn State. Michigan lost to Minnesota. Being ranked high in October is like a good-looking catfish on the line, worth bragging about only once it's in the boat. No. 2 Georgia and No. 6 Alabama are both 5-0, and the bookmakers have Alabama by a point and a half, which is their way of saying they have no idea either. Kickoff is 7:30 Saturday night, and somebody's quarterback is getting out of the trap.
The Notebook
- MEANWHILE IN GAINESVILLE: Missouri beat Florida 45-17, and Florida's perfect record went with it. Jadan Baugh, the early Heisman talk, was held to 13 yards on 12 carries.
- UPSET SATURDAY, CONTINUED: Northwestern beat Penn State 34-13 and outrushed the Nittany Lions 413 yards to 48. Kentucky came back from 17 down against South Carolina and won 35-34 in overtime on a two-point conversion.
- FUTURE DAWG FROM TOOMBS COUNTY: ESPN reported that Nick Carroll, its No. 4 safety in the 2028 class, committed to Georgia on Thursday. He chose Georgia over Clemson, Florida, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee and Texas Tech.
Written in the tradition of Lewis Grizzard, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1946–1994.
Hear the desk read tonights report on Radio Free Albany, WPFQ 96.7.
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