NASHVILLE – If one sculpted a statue to commemorate Georgia’s 2023 national championship, the moment most worthy of immortalizing might be Jalen Carter turning Jaden Daniels into his own prize.
As Georgia pulled away from LSU in the SEC Championship, Carter sacked Daniels late in the first half. But it wasn’t just a typical sack. Carter corralled Daniels and lifted him in his left arm like a trophy. Carter displayed the No. 1 sign with his right hand.
Daniels, surely preferring to look forward rather than reflect at SEC media days this week, was nonetheless asked about that memorable play.
“Jalen Carter is a great player,” Daniels said of the defensive tackle who went ninth overall to the Eagles in April. “In the moment, I didn’t know it was going on. I could just feel him trying to pick me up. I tried to put pressure on my ankle. I really couldn’t. So he picked me up and it’s obviously a viral moment for their statement run that they made this year.”
Georgia won the game, 50-30, en route to winning its second consecutive national championship. Carter hoisting Daniels fittingly illustrated how Georgia towered above its peers.
The last time Carter spoke about the famous play, he said: “I think it just happened with the moment. I was just going with the crowd and the team flow. Everybody was already juiced up getting them to third down. I was just ready to play.”
While LSU and Georgia don’t face each other in the 2023 regular season, Daniels mentioned he felt the Tigers were “a couple plays away from competing” with the Bulldogs. Perhaps the teams have a rematch in Atlanta this December.
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