Sports

Five Oklahoma players for Georgia fans to know for playoff game

By Gabriel Burns, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners during warm ups before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers.. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)

By Gabriel Burns, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia and Oklahoma are set to face off in the Rose Bowl for the first round of the College Football Playoff on Jan. 1.

Here are some players UGA fans will want to watch out for on Oklahoma:

Quarterback Baker Mayfield: The Heisman frontrunner, Mayfield will want to bounce back after being destroyed by Clemson in the 2015 College Football Playoffs. And he's in solid position to do so.

Mayfield has completed 71 percent of his passes for 4,340 yards and 41 touchdowns this season. He’s added 310 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Despite 369 pass attempts, he only threw five interceptions.

Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart told ESPN he anticipates plenty of sleepless nights while preparing for Mayfield.

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Tackles Orlando Brown and Bobby Evans: One of the top tackle duos in the country, Brown and Evans will be tasked with containing Lorenzo Carter and Georgia's edge rush. Evans is listed at 6-foot-4, 312 pounds and Browns comes in at a massive 6-8, 345 pounds. Both could be day one NFL draft picks.

Running back Rodney Anderson: The previously injury plagued Anderson didn't secure a starting role until October, but he's excelled since in a backfield with three players who average roughly 50 yards a game.

Anderson has 1,047 yards from scrimmage since becoming the main back, most in the FBS. That included a 151-yard rushing, 139-yard receiving, four-touchdown showing against TCU Nov. 11. He was the first player since 1996 to have such an explosive rushing and receiving game.

Linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo: All isn't lost on the Oklahoma defense. The senior was named Big 12 co-defensive player of the year after collecting eight sacks and 17 tackles for loss. He lines up all over the field and, despite the SEC's glut of pass rushers, will be one of Georgia's toughest challenges.

This article was written by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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