Big opportunity awaits Robert Beal, an opportunity well-earned
Georgia coach Kirby Smart is counting on linebacker Robert Beal take a big step forward this season. A Georgia native who is set to enter his fifth year in Athens, Beal projects to step into a starting role following the losses of Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean and Channing Tindall to the NFL.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Smart talked about the progress Beal has made this fall camp and the big opportunity that he has in front of him ahead of 2022.
“It’s built his confidence up,” Smart said. “I think he’s very confident in the system now and we’re very confident in him because of the playing time he’s earned. He did a tremendous job at the end of the year and he’s had a really good camp. He’s playing physical, playing tough. I think he realizes this is a big opportunity for him, so I’m very pleased with what he’s done.”
Beal played in all 15 games for the Bulldogs this past season, making two starts. He finished the year as the team’s leader in sacks (6.5) after coming away with at least one sack in five of the final six games. Beal also set career highs in both tackles (23) and quarterback hurries (16).
A former four-start recruit, Beal ranked as the No. 88 overall player and No. 9 EDGE defender in the 2017 class according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. He chose to attend Georgia over offers from Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State and several others.
With so much defensive turnover from last season, this year represents a big challenge for the Bulldogs. Not only did they lose eight players from the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense, but defensive coordinator Dan Lanning also left to take the head coaching job at Oregon. The return of Nolan Smith (53 tackles) is a big boost for the linebackers, but Kirby Smart will need Robert Beal and others will also have to step up for Georgia to remain one of the top units in the country.
The Bulldogs are set to kick off the 2022 season at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Atlanta against Oregon.