Notre Dame prepare for backup Georgia QB without sack leader Rylie Mills

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- As the Irish get closer to their Sugar Bowl matchup versus 11-2 Georgia, players and coaches are sticking with what got them to this point in the season.

Notre Dame holds a 2-2 record in their Sugar Bowl appearances, but they're also winless in their three-game history against the Bulldogs. That includes the 1981 meeting, when Georgia beat the Irish 17-10.

This year, the 2021 and 2022 National Champs have seen a decline, but they're still relevant. As Head Coach of the dogs, Kirby Smart, preps for Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame's seventh ranked defense, he has the task of making sure his quarterback is up to par.

Smart will be starting his sophomore QB Gunner Stockton.

"I want to say one of his first or second plays wasn't a great play, and then he just settled in and you could tell he knows how to run the system and I think that's the most important thing," Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator Al Golden said.

Stockton stepped in for Georgia in the SEC championship game, helping his team defeat the Texas Longhorns for the second time this season. His final stats were 12-16 77 yards and one interception.

I'm sure they're telling him, you know, just be a great distributor. They got excellent wide outs, three or four deep at tight end, three deep at running back, and all three of them present a different challenge. Offensive line is strong, probably the biggest we've seen. So, there's ample talent around him, and I'm sure they're just telling him he doesn't have do it all himself," Golden added.

One guy Stockton won't have to worry about is Notre Dame's sack leader (7.5), Rylie Mills.

Mills is 6'5 295 lbs., sitting in the middle of the defensive line.

"Obviously Rylie was one of our best players and seeing him go down as good of a friend as he's been to everybody and to lead everybody, it's hard to watch, but we just got to keep moving," Notre Dame Defensive Tackle Howard Cross said.

That mentality has kept this injury prone team on the right track. Cross is on the line with Mills and experienced an injury in the Florida State game that sideline him for three games. As usual, the Irish plugged the next guy in to fulfill the responsibility.

"Just the training has allowed a lot of guys to step up and be ready to get on the field. Be ready physically," Notre Dame Defensive Back Xavier Watts mentioned.

The number of injuries to veterans, has also thrusted freshmen into leadership roles on and off the field.

"I feel like teams obviously would want to target a freshman DB (defensive back), to see if he's composed and poised.

"The whole defensive unit is just...we've really grown and trusted each other and everything we've done. I think another thing is just having older guys that are teaching young guys behind them," Notre Dame Linebacker Drayk Bowen added.

The older guys are also leading the charge on creating a better name for Notre Dame, against what many consider the biggest test this season. Hoping to change the programs history of coming up short in big games, against tough opponents.

"This game kind of just gives us respect in terms of Georgia, they've won national championships, like two years ago. They've been a big-time program for a while, so kind of just getting that respect, if we come out with a victory," Watts added.