Georgia
Glenn Schumann pinpoints the real reasons for Georgia’s defensive improvement
ATHENS — Glenn Schumann never lost belief that his defense would get better.
Maybe that’s easy when your unit gives up 41 points to Tennessee, 13 third-downs conversions against Alabama and touchdowns on the first five possessions against Ole Miss.
“Obviously there were a couple games there that were a couple, a half-game, whatever it was, that we did not perform to the expectations. But credit to the guys, their growth and their level of confidence and their focus on the task at hand,” Schumann said. “The guys in the room came to work every day not worrying about any outside noise, not worried about what it said statistically.”
But Georgia’s defense has, in fact, gotten better. After giving up 13 third-down conversions in one game against the Crimson Tide, Georgia has allowed third-down conversions on 10 of its last 48 attempts.
Texas, Charlotte, Georgia Tech and Alabama have scored just two touchdowns against the Georgia defense in its last four outings.
Entering the College Football Playoff against Ole Miss, this Georgia defense is playing its best football. Nowhere is that more apparent than with Georgia’s run defense, which has surged to fourth nationally.
The importance of stopping the run wasn’t just a tweak made after the first game against Ole Miss. It was something stressed as far back as winter workouts.
“We embodied it over the summer, over winter workouts,” linebacker Raylen Wilson said. “That’s us just stopping the run and running the ball. I feel like if you can do that, man, you can be unbeatable.”
The Bulldogs have given up 128 combined rushing yards in their previous four games. Alabama finished with -3 rushing yards, thanks to some timely sacks.
The last time out against the Rebels, Georgia had no sacks. In the six games since, the Bulldogs have averaged 2.0 per game.
The emergence of freshman Zayden Walker has helped provide a boost to the pass rush. Walker did not play a single defensive snap in the first game against Ole Miss.
“I think Zayden’s growth was expected. And it was a matter of, it was kind of a when, not if,” Schumann said. “And so he just worked really hard to work through the areas he had to get better.”
Walker isn’t the only young player who has emerged of late for Georgia. Elijah Griffin has played a key role all season on the defensive line. Rasean Dinkins picked up his first career start in the SEC championship game win over Alabama.
The growth of cornerbacks Ellis Robinson and Demello Jones has helped push Georgia’s front seven to another level.
“He’s gained more and more confidence,” Schumann said of Robinson. “He’s always had a lot of ability. He has really good ball skills. So there’s been an opportunity to play ball in the air. We have confidence he’s gonna do that. And so I think as he continues to stack those plays, he just gets better and better.”
The Ole Miss rematch will be the ultimate test for the Georgia defense. The first three quarters were the worst sustained stretch of play from the Bulldogs. It had no sacks, no tackles for loss and no turnovers in the game.
Yet in the fourth quarter, it showed it could be dominant. Ole Miss finished with just 13 yards on 11 plays. It scored no points, while Georgia’s defense showed no mercy.
There’s one key attribute where Georgia’s defense has improved exponentially in Schumann’s eyes. More so than experience or as a pass-rushing unit.
It comes in the form of confidence. Even though it is facing a stout Ole Miss offense that gave it real problems earlier this season, the Bulldogs are playing their most confident football at the most important time.
“I just think there’s a lot of guys that have grown up over the course of the year,” Schumann said. “We knew that would be the case. The more you play, the more confidence you gain.”
Glenn Schumann talks Georgia defensive improvement
Pennsbury Baseball Zuckerman District One Championship PIAA
Pennsbury junior Brendan Zuckerman smacks an RBI single to left in the Falcons’ 7-run first inning of District One 6A championship victory
Ryan Zuckerman is last on the alphabetical list of the 335 college and high school baseball players attending the June 22-27 MLB Draft Combine in Phoenix.
What the 2023 Pennsbury graduate did in his lone season at Georgia Tech has garnered him plenty of attention from MLB scouts regardless of where his name is on a list that includes Holy Ghost Prep grad Aiden Robbins, a Texas outfield standout who is expected to go as early as late in the first round, fellow Pennsbury graduate Joe Tiroly, an infielder from Virginia, and Pennsbury senior right-handed pitcher Keller Bradley.
MVP of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament for the conference champion Yellow Jackets, second-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and leader in home runs (23) and RBIs (79, tied for eighth in the country) for the high-powered Georgia Tech offense are just a few of Zuckerman’s notable accomplishments heading into the July 11-13 draft. He is projected to go toward the middle of the 20 rounds.
“It’s pretty surreal for sure,” said Zuckerman, 21. “It’s something I dreamed of my whole life.”
In a season filled with memorable moments, perhaps most impressive was Zuckerman being named ACC Tournament MVP after hitting three home runs with six RBIs and batting .571 (8 for 14), culminating in a 13-6 championship game win over North Carolina in Charlotte. He also was a first-team All-ACC selection at third base.
Zuckerman and Georgia Tech went into the NCAA Atlanta regional as the nation’s No. 2 seed. Though the 50-11 Yellow Jackets ended up being eliminated by losing twice to Oklahoma, including 8-7 in 10 innings for the regional title, Zuckerman can only rave about his experience at Georgia Tech.
“If you would have told me that’s how the season for me and each of us on the team would’ve gone, I would’ve been extremely happy,” Zuckerman said. “It was probably the best decision I ever made in my life.”
After a solid sophomore season at Pitt in which he hit .295 with 16 doubles, 13 home runs, 48 RBIs and 48 runs scored, Zuckerman believed transferring would help him develop into a more pro-ready player and allow him to win more games. And Georgia Tech checked all the boxes
In addition to his career-best home run and RBI numbers, Zuckerman led Georgia Tech in 2026 with 24 multi-RBI games while establishing career-highs in batting average (.345), runs (71), hits (80), walks (37), slugging percentage (.720) and on-base percentage (.438). He batted fifth in the order.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Zuckerman, who always had a strong arm, also worked hard to improve his defense at third base, resulting in 15.99 defensive runs saved for the season, which was the 13th-highest total in college baseball.
“I like to say I’m arguably the best third baseman in the country,” he said.
As a senior playing third at Pennsbury, Zuckerman hit .465 with an on-base percentage of .563, plus six doubles, six home runs, 23 RBIs and scored 26 runs.
“In high school, he was incredible for us,” said Pennsbury head coach Joe Pesci. “(A year ago), he decided to go from a mid- to low ACC team to the best team in the ACC. Surrounding himself with amazing players at Georgia Tech, he’s kind of elevated his game.”
Since the conclusion of the collegiate season, Zuckerman has been working out in preparation for the MLB Draft Combine and, ultimately, the draft. He’s been splitting his time between Yardley and Atlanta.
MLB teams have indicated Zuckerman’s power bat and defense are two of his strengths, while he’s focusing on improving his swing selection and making more contact at the plate.
Zuckerman is looking forward to hearing his name called by one of the 30 major league clubs. Whether a team views him as a third baseman, first baseman, corner outfielder or even second baseman doesn’t really matter to him.
“I think right now I’m in a great position to go and play professional baseball and start my journey up to the big leagues,” Zuckerman said. “The goal is not to get drafted – it’s to play MLB.”
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly is a sports columnist for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.
Georgia
Georgia pair charged with murder after bartender’s dismembered remains found in lake outside Atlanta
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A Georgia pair have been charged with murder after allegedly slaughtering a bartender and dumping his dismembered remains in a lake, according to authorities.
Mario Andre Barber, 46, and Brittany Amber Baker, 42, were arrested on Monday for allegedly murdering Jamal Rashad Parker, 37, in a home outside of Atlanta, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
Investigators discovered Parker’s remains in May in the Dog River Reservoir, located about 30 miles outside Atlanta.
Parker’s identity was confirmed using DNA comparison technology after his father contacted authorities to report that the victim’s tattoos matched his son’s ink, local station WSB-TV reported.
MINNESOTA MAN ACCUSED OF DISMEMBERING GIRLFRIENDS, HIDING BODIES IN STORAGE UNITS ENTERS PLEA
Mario Andre Barber, 46, and Brittany Amber Baker, 42, are charged with murder. (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
Investigators believe the two suspects killed Parker inside a home in Douglasville where Baker lived.
Late last month, investigators were observed leaving the home with a reciprocating saw and cleaning supplies, according to WSB-TV.
Police have not disclosed if Parker knew his alleged killers. However, a GoFundMe created by a family member described the pair as “people he knew and trusted.”
SUZANNE SIMPSON’S DNA FOUND ON MURDER SUSPECT HUSBAND’S SAW THAT CAN CUT METAL
A family member described Jamal Rashad Parker as a bartender, musician and artist with “a beautiful soul and spirit.” (GoFundMe)
The suspects pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday and are being held without bond. Both have lengthy criminal records, according to reports.
“I want them to be punished. And I don’t even think a life sentence is good enough,” Parker’s dad, Charles Parker, told WSB-TV outside the courthouse.
“It’s the kind of stuff you see on TV, but I mean … they had no remorse,” he added.
In addition to bartending at Ms. Icey’s Kitchen & Bar in Atlanta, the victim was a musician and artist with “a beautiful soul and spirit,” according to the GoFundMe page created to cover burial costs.
Investigators believe the two suspects killed the victim inside a home in Douglasville. (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
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“He loved life and the people he met along his journey in life. He was a musical artist, visual artist, and a professional bartender who enjoyed creating new drinks. This has totally devastated our family and friends and has left us heartbroken,” the fundraiser reads.
The Georgia Bulldogs are trying to flip cornerback recruit Preston Glasco just over a week after he committed to the Connecticut Huskies.
Glasco, a member of the class of 2027, announced his commitment to UConn on June 10. Since committing to UCONN, Georgia has hosted Glasco on an official visit and offered him a scholarship (back on June 18).
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound cornerback has excellent length and size. Glasco has impressive athleticism and ran a 4.47-4.57 second 40-yard dash (hand timed) during a recent workout with the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Glasco plays high school football for Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia. He’s unranked as a recruit, but that’s bound to change soon. The unranked cornerback plays against a stout level of competition at Grayson, who is a Georgia high school powerhouse.
Glasco has scholarship offers from Army, Yale, Boston College, Penn and more. He’s a great student and appears to be healthy after he was recovering from a surgery around this time last year. The talented Grayson cornerback has also gone on recent visits to South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia currently don’t have any cornerback commitments in the class of 2027.
Georgia football offers Preston Glasco
“Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Georgia,” Glasco said after Georgia offered him.
Glasco visits UGA football
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