ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia has three All-SEC players on its defense, but none of them hits any harder than rover Greg Blue, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior from College Park, Ga.

Blue, who is in his first season as a starter, replaced a familiar name in the Georgia secondary. Sean Jones turned last year's Georgia-Tennessee game in the Bulldogs' favor when he picked up a Casey Clausen fumble and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown on the last play of the first half.

Blue is better known for big hits.

He is often overshadowed on a defense that includes All-SEC players David Pollack, Odell Thurman and Thomas Davis. But players he hits don't overlook him.

Last year against Auburn, he knocked two Tigers wide receivers out of the game.

"I was bringing the wood that game," Blue said with a smile.

He was bringing it again last month. He knocked South Carolina quarterback Dondrial Pinkins out of the game with a jarring tackle that also produced a crucial fumble in the Bulldogs' 20-16 victory.

Knockout tackles are nothing new for Blue, who is second to Davis with 25 overall tackles this season.

"I've been like that all my life -- Little League (through high school)," Blue said. "There's a long list (of big hits)."

His high school hit list is topped by a play against Carrollton, Ga., his senior year.

"I don't remember his name but he tried to run me over," Blue said. "I guess he forgot who I was or didn't watch film.

"I hit him right under his chin, the sweet spot. ... You would have come on the field if you saw it.

"He was OK but he didn't play any more (in that game)."

A Vote For Southern Cal: Georgia's Mark Richt, who is one of college football's most-candid coaches, didn't mind revealing his vote in the coaches' Top 25 poll.

He has Southern Cal first, Oklahoma second and Georgia third.

Richt also takes his vote more seriously than some coaches. He watches highlight shows late Saturday night and checks results of games on the Internet.

"I really don't sleep well after a game," he said. "So I'm up anyway."

Davis was asked if it bothered him that his coach didn't have Georgia No. 1.

"No," he said. "I know he will be honest. He'll vote what he thinks."

Georgia Captains: The Georgia coaches select team captains each week based on how the players practiced, played and handled themselves off the field the previous week. At the end of the season, the players vote on permanent team captains.

You will probably recognize the names of this week's captains on offense and defense -- quarterback David Greene and Pollack, an All-American defensive end.