Georgia Football: 20 Best Defensive Players in School History

Over the years, the Bulldogs have put together some great defenses, which has led to not only a lot of wins for the Bulldogs, but made some of the players legendary to the Bulldog Nation.

From Jake Scott to Boss Bailey, these players provided leadership, courage and the will to get the job done game in and game out.

So when coming up with the 20 best defensive players in school history, it was not an easy task because there have been so many players to wear the red and black that have had great careers.

But there were 20 players that stood out above the rest, and here's a closer look at each player and why they made the list.

No. 20: Greg Blue, S

While Greg Blue was at Georgia from 2002-2005, many considered him as one of the most feared safeties in all of college football. 

In 2005, Blue was a consensus All-American after registering 96 tackles and two interceptions. Overall, Blue tallied 260  tackles and was elected as a permanent co-captain. 

He was taken in the 2006 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings and was last seen playing in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts.

No. 19: Bill Krug, ROV

From 1975-1977, Bill Krug was one of the best safeties in the SEC. Krug was a three-time All-SEC selection and was named to the Playboy All-America team in 1977.

Krug helped the 1976 Bulldogs earn a 10-2 record and a trip to a Sugar Bowl. He was also named Defensive Player of the Week by Sports Illustrated that same season for his efforts against Alabama.

He finished his career with 13 sacks which puts him 13th on the all-time list.

No. 18: John Little, ROV

John Little is a prime example of what a rover should be, and that is always being around the football whether its on the ground or in the air.

The two-time All-American is fourth on the school's all-time list with 216 tackles, and his 25-tackle performance against Georgia Tech in 1984 was the third best in school history.

He will always be remembered for for his efforts against Clemson in 1985, where he picked off two passes in the fourth quarter to preserve a win for the Dawgs.

No. 17: Sean Jones, S

There was a lot of talented players during the early 2000s, and Sean Jones is no different.

Jones was an All-American in 2003, racking up 11 tackles, five interceptions, two fumble recoveries and three blocked kicks.

He was one of the main reasons the Bulldogs were ranked second nationally in scoring defense and fourth in total defense.

Jones was taken in the second round of the 2004 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns and currently plays for the Tampa Bay Bucs.

No. 16: Richard Seymour, DT

Before Richard Seymour was winning Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, he was dominating SEC offensive linemen in Athens.

In 1999, Seymour led the team in tackles with 74, which is rare for a defensive tackle to do. In his career, Seymour recorded 223 tackles, 10 sacks and 26 tackles-for-loss. He was a All-American in 2000 and was a semi-finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year Award by Football News.

No. 15: Rennie Curran, LB

Rennie Curran did not look like a intimidating linebacker, but when he hit opponents, they would go nowhere but down.

Curran's breakout year was in 2008, when he recorded 115 tackles. He was named as a finalist for the Butkus Award and was also named to the Sophomore All-American team by College Football News.

In 2009, Curran was named to the First Team All-American by CBS Sports after leading the SEC in tackles with 116.

Curran finished his career with 298 tackles, which is 16th on the school's all-time list.

No. 14: Richard Tardits, LB

Before David Pollack was making SEC quarterbacks cry, Richard Tardits was doing the same thing for the Bulldogs back in the late 80s.

Called Le Sack by many fans because he's from France, Tardits was the all-time sack leader when he left UGA with 29.

Tardits had 12 sacks in 1988 and had a five-sack performance against TCU that same year.

He went on to play in the NFL for a few years and then went to play for the U.S. Rugby team.

No. 13: Justin Houston, LB

Whether it was making plays at outside linebacker or defensive end, Justin Houston knew how to get after the quarterback.

He finished his career with 20 sacks, including 10 in 2010. Houston was named to the All-American team in 2010. He went on to play for the Kansas City Chiefs, tallying 49 tackles and four sacks.

No. 12: Freddie Gilbert, DE

From 1980-83, the Bulldogs went on a run where they went 43-4-1, which included a national championship. Freddie Gilbert was a key component, as he finished his career with 26 sacks.

In 1983, Gilbert was named an All-American after notching 11 sacks, with five of those sacks coming against Temple, a school record.

Gilbert went on to play in the USFL before playing for the Denver Broncos.

No. 11: Thomas Davis

Thomas Davis was probably the most active defensive player in school history. Davis led the team in tackles in 2003 and 2004. He was named to the All-American team in 2004 and finished his career with 272 tackles, 10.5 sacks and 27 QB pressures.

He along with Blue made the most deadly safety duo in the country because of their ferocious hits.

No. 10: Boss Bailey, LB

There were very few linebackers in Georgia history that were as fast and athletic as Boss Bailey.

The 2002 All-American led the Bulldogs with 114 tackles and six sacks.

He was a semifinalist for the Butkus and the Lombardi Award and was voted as the team's overall captain.

Bailey was also known for his work on special teams, blocking three field goals in 2002.

No. 9: Vernon 'Catfish' Smith, E

Vernon Smith is one of the all-time greats of not only UGA football, but sports in the state of Georgia. Smith was an All-Southern Conference player from 1929-31 and was captain of the 1932 Southern Conference Championship team.

Smith is a member of the Georgia all-time team. He was named to the College Football Hall of Fame as well as the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

No. 8: Ben Zambiasi, LB

The Bulldogs had a few standout linebackers during the late 70s, and Ben Zambiasi led the way. The linebacker from Macon, Ga. led the Bulldogs in tackles from 1975-77, when he recorded 465.

He earned All-SEC honors during that span and was named to the Family Weekly All-America team in 1976.

Zambiasi finished second on the all-time tackles list, and his 165 tackles in 1977 place him third on record tackles for a season.

No. 7: Knox Culpepper, LB

Knox Culpepper did not get a lot of accolades and did not receive a lot of awards, but there were few Bulldogs that played the game better than he did.

His 26 tackles against Georgia Tech in 1983 are still a school record. His 170 tackles in 1984 are also a school record. And his 116 assists that same year have not been matched or broken by anyone else.

Culpepper finished his career with 383 tackles and 142 assists.

No. 6: Scott Woerner, CB

One of the best cornerbacks in Georgia history, Scott Woerner had a knack for finding the football.

He finished his career with 13 interceptions, which is fourth on the all-time list. He was selected to the All-America team by UPI, Kodak, Walter Camp and FB News in 1980.

Woerner was also a great punt returner, leading the nation in punt return average.

No. 5: Champ Bailey, CB

Champ Bailey is a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, but he will also be in the College Football Hall of Fame very soon. Bailey was a consensus All-American in 1998 for his work at cornerback.

Bailey recorded 52 tackles and three interceptions in 1998 and was awarded the Nagurski Award for the nation's best defensive player. He also played offense and special teams and played in over 1,000 plays during the '98 season.

No. 4: Terry Hoage, ROV

Terry Hoage was one of the few players from Georgia that was a two-time consensus All-American. In 1983, Hoage finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting, which was the highest for a defensive back.

Hoage finished his career with 14 interceptions; 12 of them came in 1982, which is an SEC record.

Hoage was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

Hoage was also named the SEC 25-Year Team (1961-85) and to the Walter Camp All-Century Team.

No. 3: Jake Scott, S

The Bulldogs were one of the best teams in the conference during the late 1960s, and the reason for their success was the play of Jake Scott. A consensus All-American in 1968, Scott led the SEC in interceptions in that year and in 1967.

Scott finished his career with 16 picks, which is still a school record. He went on to have a stellar career in the NFL. He was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.

No. 2: Bill Stanfill, DT

While Scott was taking care of the secondary, Bill Stanfill was leading the front seven.

And like Scott, Stanfill was a consensus All-American in 1968. Stanfill was also the team captain and the winner of the Outland Trophy, which goes to the top defensive lineman in the country.

Stanfill helped the Bulldogs win two SEC titles and three bowl trips. He moved on to have a great career in the NFL, where he held the Miami Dolphins record for sacks, which was later broken by Jason Taylor.

Stanfill was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.

No. 1: David Pollack

Out of all the players that have graced the red and black, only two players have been a three-time All-American. One is Herschel Walker; the other is David Pollack.

After having a breakout 2002 season, Pollack only got better. He won the Ted Hedricks award in 2003 for being the nation's top defensive end and won the Lombardi Award in 2004 for being the nation's top lineman.

Also in 2004, Pollack won the Bednarik Award, the Lott Award and the Hendricks Award again. He was also named SEC Player of the Year and also won SEC Defensive Player of the Year for the second time. 

Pollack finished his career with 36 sacks, which is a school record that still stands today.