Morning, y’all! Happy Monday.

I hope everyone had an amazing weekend!

And I hope y’all enjoyed the first official Feature Friday a few days ago. I’m really excited about the prompts I have laid out for the season, but I’m open to ideas if anyone has thoughts!

Right now, we’re in that strange part of the year where we can all feel fall and football season approaching (I swear I saw a yellow leaf the other day), but the temperature in Georgia is still hitting the 90s.

Regardless of weather, though, the Bulldogs are still pushing through fall camp.

Let’s get into some football news:

Smart pushes Georgia through intense heat at Sunday practice

Georgia coach Kirby Smart embraced the scorching heat his football team practiced in for two hours at Sanford Stadium on Sunday.

The Bulldogs’ tempo, enthusiasm and effort were on display, even if the execution — particularly on offense — reflected it being one of the first practices of fall camp.

More than 1,600 subscribers to UGA’s “Glory Glory” media website got an eyeful of the Georgia football talent and an earful of Smart’s coaching under a blazing sun that produced a heat index of more than 100 degrees on the field.

UGA requested that no videos, photos or written notes be taken at the scrimmage.

Smart’s voice boomed through the stadium — and out onto Sanford Drive — via the microphone he uses each practice to coach up players with nonstop encouragement, critique and humor.

“Full speed, you gotta go, go, quick, quick, quick!” Smart said during drill work preceding limited scrimmage action with players in helmets and shoulder pads. “The only way you get a real picture is full speed.”

Read more of Mike Griffith’s story here.

If KJ Bolden were a 5-star recruit now, would Georgia still land him?

KJ Bolden has been everything Kirby Smart wanted.

The junior is one of the best defensive backs in the country, if not the best safety in the sport.

He’s already come a long way from the quiet freshman trying to soak up everything he could from current Baltimore Raven Malaki Starks.

“I feel like his leadership definitely improved, especially this season,” linebacker Chris Cole said of Bolden. “I remember when Malaki was with him, he didn’t really say too much. But now, he’s basically one of our best leaders on the defense and the team.”

Bolden arrived as one of the more hyped recruits of Smart’s tenure. Bolden was the first recruit out of Buford High School to sign with Smart at Georgia.

He was a 5-star recruit, ranking as the No. 13 overall player, No. 1 safety and No. 1 player in the state of Georgia in the 247Sports Composite rankings for the 2024 recruiting class.

He is the type of player that schools would go above and beyond to sign. Florida State and Auburn attempted to do so. He’s the type of player Georgia hasn’t landed as often on the recruiting trail the last two recruiting cycles.

Bolden could very well be one of the last of his kind to come through Georgia.

Yet Bolden, as he said on the December day he committed to Georgia, left money on the table to play for the Bulldogs.

“I tell all the recruits, ‘If you don’t love football, if you’re not really bought into it, don’t come here,” Bolden said. “If it’s about NIL, don’t come here.’ Like, we really care about football and growing as a person and as a man, and that’s what he (Smart) does for us.”

Bolden has done both, emerging as a leader as the Bulldogs get set to enter the 2026 season. For someone who had the impossible task of replacing Starks, he’s done everything that has been asked of him.

“Well, he started and played and was very effective as a freshman,” Smart said. “So I think he’s handled that well. I think the greater side that he’s grown in is the maturity to understand what leadership looks like. He had the blessing of playing with Malaki and Dan (current Detroit Lion Dan Jackson). So he learned what it was to be a good teammate. He has been an extraordinary teammate since being here. He helps so many guys in the secondary. I always hear him coaching back behind me, being positive with guys and being a leader.

“Those are the expectations I have for him, to be the best version of himself, not live up to everybody else’s expectations.”

Bolden can both execute his job at a high level while explaining the intricacies of the Georgia defense to younger teammates.

Smart couldn’t point to a specific standout moment for Bolden when it comes to his abilities as a teacher. But it is something he sees every day.

The junior safety credits his relationship with Starks and Jackson.

Read Connor Riley’s full story here.

Georgia junior safety KJ Bolden looks across the field during the first day of Georgia's fall camp Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Athens. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

Georgia defensive backs KJ Bolden (left) and Joenel Aguero celebrate after a play against Georgia Tech in November in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC 2025)

Georgia defensive backs Daylen Everette (left) and KJ Bolden (top) tackle Florida running back Jadan Baugh in November in Jacksonville, Fla. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2025)

Georgia defensive back KJ Bolden (left) runs after recovering a fumble against Tennessee in September in Knoxville, Tenn. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2025)

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Trivia time

What’s Georgia’s record for longest field goal?

Senate delays vote on Protect College Sports Act: What that means

The Senate delayed its much-anticipated vote on the Protect College Sports Act, leaving uncertainty around the future of the bill.

The SEC and Big Ten came together late last week to publicly endorse the bipartisan bill co-written by Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Eric Schmitt and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell.

But with the U.S. Senate adjourned for its five-week August recess as of Saturday morning, the earliest the bill can be voted on in September.

The Protect College Sports Act, if passed by the Senate and the House, would provide the NCAA and conferences limited antitrust exemptions to create and enforce rules and policies.

The Big Ten and SEC worked in conjunction for modifications to the bill that would enhance key areas, such as player retention and rules enforcement.

The most pivotal adjustment to the bill is a $27.5 million allotment for each school in addition to the current $21.3 million cap representing revenue sharing.

Of that $27.5 million, $22.5 million would go for schools to retain players, while another $5 million would be spent on nonrevenue sports and women’s athletics.

The SEC and Big Ten also asked for stronger language in the bill where name, image and likeness third-party rules enforcement is concerned as they relate to third-party deals.

Read Mike’s story to find out the major changes/rules the new bill would introduce.

Phillips Jr. showing he can be more than a speed guy for RB room

Georgia running back Dwight Phillips Jr. has always been known for his speed.

It’s the first thing teammates mention when asked about the third-year running back.

“A lot of speed, for sure,” offensive tackle Earnest Greene said. “You know, Peanut’s one of those guys who came in his freshman year, and we saw the ability that he had with not only just having straight-line speed, but he’d make people miss and stuff like that. And that’s a big part of football is what you can do after you get the ball in your hands.”

All that speed, though, has yet to lead to much production. In his first two seasons, Phillips has totaled just 243 rushing yards. If you limit his production to SEC games, Phillips has only 54 rushing yards.

If Phillips is going to become more than just a gadget player for Georgia, he’s going to have to become a complete running back.

Phillips had just one reception a season ago, a play that resulted in a 6-yard loss. With Cash Jones now with the Atlanta Falcons and Kentucky transfer Dante Dowdell sidelined for the foreseeable future, there’s an opportunity for Phillips to show how he’s progressed in August.

“Dwight has worked his tail off,” Smart said. “Like, how can he help us? He’s one of the most explosive players we have on our offense. If we’re gonna be more explosive, than we’ve got to get guys that, when they touch the ball, big plays happen. And whether that’s — the form of touches may change, but he’s gotta touch the ball because he’s been one of our most explosive guys,

“Probably even more so in practice than what you’ve seen in games.”

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Georgia running back Dwight Phillips Jr. (center) celebrates with teammates during the G-Day spring football game in April in Athens. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Georgia running back Dwight Phillips Jr. (center) runs for yards against Charlotte in November in Athens. (Jason Getz/AJC 2025)

Georgia running back Dwight Phillips Jr. (left center) runs for yards against Massachusetts in November in Athens. (Jason Getz/AJC 2025)

Trivia answer

60 yards. Kevin Butler made “The Kick” to beat Clemson in 1984.