Zion Logue recalls first Florida game, change of career trajectory
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia defensive lineman Zion Logue broke out against Florida in 2020. Prior to that point, the Lebanon, Tenn. native had only played in two career games – Murray State and Arkansas State. It had been over a year since he had been on the football field for an actual game, but with Jordan Davis and Julian Rochester both injured the week before, Georgia needed Logue. Since then, he’s played in every single outing for the Bulldogs including starts in each of the last five.
“The week before Jordan and Julian going down, I still remember that week vividly. I was at home, watching the game and I saw those two go down and I knew the next week we had Florida and I would have to step up,” Logue said. “It was a big game for me.”
Logue only had one tackle in the game, but it was one he certainly remembers well. It was the first of his career, and it helped spark Georgia’s defense to get some momentum early in the game. Eric Stokes intercepted Kyle Trask later in the drive and returned it for a touchdown.
“Dameon Pierce, he had just scored. I think they were on the three or four yard line. I kind of got mowed over on the play, and Coach Scott, he told me, ‘I don’t know if I can put you back in.’ But when the next drive started, he threw me back out there,” Logue recalled. “I made the play on second down, we got a pick-six from Stokes on the next play. It was a big momentum change at the time and a great confidence booster for me.”
Of course the outcome of that 2020 game isn’t one that Georgia players or fans will want on Saturday as the Bulldogs lost 44-28 and missed out on a chance to play in the SEC Championship Game because of it. Not having Davis and Rochester certainly played a part in that, but according to Logue, the Bulldogs aren’t going to let that happen again, likely missing Jalen Carter for Saturday’s game.
“We keep putting one foot in front of the next one and keep getting better at us,” Logue said. “As a team really, I wouldn’t even just say it was the d-line. We weren’t letting the days go by without working … We’d love to have Jalen back, but we know it’s going to take some time for him to get back to 100% like he wants to be, so we’re still keeping that next man up mentality. We’re not going to let one guy hold us back. We’re going to keep playing for him.”
Kickoff time for Saturday’s game versus Florida is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS. Kirby Smart has a 4-2 record against the Gators during his time as a head coach in Athens with the wins being largely decisive.
