Tennessee
Beck throws and runs for TDs to launch new era as No. 1 Georgia rolls past UT-Martin 48-7
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Carson Beck said “of course” he battled nerves in his first start for No. 1 Georgia.
Coach Kirby Smart insisted he saw no sign Beck lacked the composure that has become his trademark even while having to patiently wait behind Stetson Bennett for his opportunity to play.
Beck overcame a sluggish first half to throw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Mekhi Mews and No. 1 Georgia, the two-time defending national champion, leaned on its defense to overwhelm Tennessee-Martin 48-7 on Saturday night.
“I never thought he wasn’t comfortable,” Smart said, adding, “Carson has got a calm about him.”
Beck said, “I felt good. I was excited to be out there.” He said he felt nervous early “because it’s been a while since I’ve been out there.”
Georgia showed it must make progress on offense if it can realize its dream of becoming the first team to win three straight national championships in The Associated Press poll era. The Bulldogs led only 17-0 at halftime against the Football Championship Subdivision Skyhawks.
Beck, placed in the difficult position of following Bennett’s back-to-back championship seasons at quarterback, gained momentum in the second half. He threw a short completion to his left to Mews, who cut back to the middle of the field, dodged a would-be tackler and used his speed for his first career scoring catch.
It was the longest career completion for Beck, a junior who beat out Brock Vandagriff for the starting job. Beck opened Georgia’s next possession with a 47-yard completion to C.J. Smith before adding a 25-yarder to Mews.
“We’re expecting a lot from Carson but we won’t pressure him,” said defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse. “We’re just going to love him. … I feel like Carson is going to take us all the way.”
Beck, who had a 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, completed 21 of 31 passes for 294 yards with one touchdown.
Vandagriff entered the game late in the third quarter and completed a 56-yard pass to Rara Thomas in the fourth before adding a 21-yard scoring pass to tight end Oscar Delp.
Georgia’s defense, which ranked fifth in the nation last season with its average of 14.3 points allowed, kept UT-Martin off the scoreboard until Trevonte Rucker’s 9-yard scoring catch from Kindead Dent in the fourth quarter.
The defense had the last word, scoring on Kyron Jones’ 26-yard interception return with less than 2 minutes remaining.
UT-Martin coach Jason Simpson said he was disappointed by the final score.
“I hate that it ended up like that,” Simpson said. “… Pretty good, 17-0 at halftime, so we were still in the game.”
THE TAKEAWAY
UT-Martin: The Skyhawks, who have won back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference championships, showed impressive defensive strength in the first half, refusing to allow Georgia’s offensive line to establish a consistent push on runs up the middle. “I feel like this was a great opportunity for the team to see where we’re at against the SEC, and now we’re going to go and dominate the OVC,” Rucker said. Dent, a graduate transfer from Mississippi, passed for only 128 yards.
Georgia: The Bulldogs took advantage of their depth at wide receiver and running back. Mews played a prominent role on offense and returns as WR Ladd McConkey (back) and WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (undisclosed) were held out. Running back Daijun Edwards, Georgia’s leading returning rusher, did not have a carry while recovering from a knee injury. Kendall Milton (hamstring) started and had nine carries for 53 yards. Freshman Roderick Robinson II gave Georgia a 31-0 lead with his 2-yard touchdown run in the third. Georgia’s third quarterback, Gunner Stockton, led a field goal drive late in the game.
HONORING SEILER
The flag at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium flew at half-mast and there was a moment of silence before the game in honor of Sonny Seiler, owner of the famed line of 11 “Uga” mascots since the 1950s. Seiler died Monday at age 90.
HONORING WILLOCK
Georgia left guard Xavier Truss, who normally wears No. 73, instead wore 77 in honor of former Georgia lineman Devin Willock, who was killed in a wreck hours after the celebration of the Bulldogs’ 2022 national championship. Police said speeding and racing led to the wreck, which also killed recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy.
Defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who was a first-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles was charged with reckless driving and racing in connection to the fatal crash.
Truss said offensive linemen will share the 77 jersey this season. “Whoever is playing hard and showing he deserves it,” Truss said. “It’s a pride thing.”
UP NEXT
UT-Martin: The Skyhawks will play their home opener against Missouri State next Saturday night.
Georgia: The Bulldogs will play their second of four consecutive home games when they face Ball State on Saturday in the first meeting between the schools.
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — Undocumented immigrants in Middle Tennessee are rushing to prepare legal documents for their children as fear spreads following recent ICE operations that arrested nearly 200 people in Nashville and surrounding areas.
Many parents are notarizing power of attorney documents to ensure their children will be cared for if they are detained or deported.
“This is a letter of power of an attorney for care of a minor child,” reads one document being prepared by families. “Is sufficient to authorize enrollment of a minor in school and to authorize medical treatment.”
A single mother, who asked to be identified only as Andrea to protect her identity, described the anxiety of potentially being separated from her children.
“It was the fear that I would be gone and there would be no one to care for my kids,” she said.
Andrea recalled having to sit down with her 13-year-old son to explain that one day she might not come home.
“He hugged me, and said, ‘Mom, I am going to cry a lot.’ I broke down as a mom because you don’t know what to do. I can’t stay home because it’s just me,” she said.
Andrea and her two sons arrived in the US with a visa eight years ago. She said safety concerns prevented her from returning to her home country, and she decided to stay to provide better opportunities for her children as a single mother. Overstaying a visa is not considered a criminal offense, but is a civil violation of U.S. immigration law.
“Going back to my country isn’t an option, especially because of my children,” she said.
Andrea sought help from Pastor Luis Sura to complete the power of attorney paperwork. Through his nonprofit Better Options TN, Sura has assisted more than 20 families since the raids.
“They’re afraid, they’re crying, they don’t know what to do,” Sura said.
As an immigrant from Mexico himself, Sura understands their situation but notes his own path to legal status came through the most recent immigration reform signed during the Reagan administration in 1986.
“That’s why I’m here, because of the amnesty,” he said.
Sura believes current immigration policies offer few options for families like Andrea’s.
“These people will be here for 20 years. They cannot do it the right way, because there is no other way,” Sura said.
The uncertainty has changed how Andrea and her children say goodbye each day.
“So, every time we leave we hug each other and try to make it very special because there really might not be another time,” she said.
Click here to learn more about Better Options TN and power of attorney forms.
The Hispanic Foundation is also hosting a power of attorney clinic June 1, 2025. For more information: send email to vgentry@immigrationgrp.com
Andrea’s quotes have been translated from Spanish to English by bilingual reporter Patsy Montesinos.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at Patsy.Montesinos@Newschannel5.com
On 150-year anniversary, YMCA of Middle Tennessee looks at its past and future
Happy Birthday to the YMCA of Middle TN. They just celebrated their 150th anniversary! A lot has changed with the Y over the years. I have personally seen some of that firsthand when I was a long-time board member at the Northwest Family Y and part of their Black Achievers Program. Forrest Sanders has a look back.
– Lelan Statom
The Nets will host Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier for a predraft workout on Friday, sources told The Post.
On the short list for the best shooter in this year’s class, Lanier could be a viable target for Brooklyn with the 36th pick. They also have the eighth, 19th, 26th and 27th picks in next month’s draft.
The Jerry West Award-winner as the best shooting guard, Lanier averaged 18.0 points last season on 43.1 percent shooting and a solid 39.5 percent from behind the arc.
Tapped to go 40th to Washington in ESPN’s latest mock draft, Lanier measured 6-foot-3 ¾ and 205.8.8 pounds at the NBA draft combine and helped his cause in Chicago.
Tennessee is in the mix to land another prospect for its 2026 football recruiting class.
The Vols made the top six schools for four-star wide receiver Craig Dandridge, along with Georgia Tech, Stanford, Georgia, Florida and Oklahoma.
The 6-foot-1, 172-pound prospect is from Cambridge High School in Milton, Georgia. 247Sports ranks Dandridge as the No. 48 wide receiver in 2026 and No. 38 player in Georgia.
Tennessee offered him a scholarship on Feb. 5. Dandridge unofficially visited Tennessee for a practice on March 14 and will officially the Vols on June 13.
Power Four programs outside of Dandridge’s top six to offer him a scholarship include Arkansas, Kansas State, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, Kansas, West Virginia, Boston College, Duke, Cincinnati and Clemson.
Tennessee has eight commitments in its 2026 football recruiting class: quarterback Faizon Brandon, wide receiver Tyreek King, tight end Carson Sneed, offensive lineman Gabriel Osenda, wide receiver Tyran Evans, linebacker Braylon Outlaw, defensive lineman C.J. Edwards and defensive lineman Zach Groves.
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