Georgia’s Kirby Smart has yet to name a starting kicker with the Sept. 2 season opener versus UT Martin quickly approaching.
Three-year starter Jack Podlesny is an NFL free agent, leaving a chance for junior Jared Zirkel and freshman Peyton Woodring to take the starting role in 2023.
Zirkel has the upper hand in experience, while Woodring didn’t get a chance to preform in front of coaches in Athens until fall camp.
Zirkel was the No. 4 ranked kicker out of the 2020 recruiting class and Woodring comes to Athens as the No. 1 kicker in the 2023 class.
Zirkel had a productive spring game in April going 2-of-2 on his field goal attempts in the scrimmage, with the longest being a 42-yard attempt. Kennesaw State transfer Liam Badger also connected on a 51-yard attempt at G-Day.
Smart gave an update on where the competition stands after Saturday’s second scrimmage.
“One was 3-for-3, one was 3-for-4,” Smart said. “I thought they (Zirkel, Woodring) both kicked much better than what they did last week. The conditions were a little better today. They kicked better throughout the week. They’re both talented guys. I could make the case for both of them, either one of them to start right now.”
The Bulldogs’ kickoff duties are also up for grabs.
“I don’t know how they did with kickoff. I don’t know the numbers on that. I got to put a lot of thought into that and hang times, and I don’t know what that was. They both had a really good fall camp, and we don’t have to make a decision on that.”
Georgia’s kicking has been steady during Smart’s tenure and the talent is there in Zirkel and Woodring, but we likely won’t know will lineup to tee-it-off in Sanford Stadium until kickoff.
