MEMPHIS - Georgia sophomore defensive tackle Trenton Thompson had a big MVP trophy to lift following Friday's 31-23 victory over TCU in the Liberty Bowl.
The 6-foot-4, 309-pounder was up for the task, but where will it go?
"I'm going to give it to my mom," Thompson said. "She's got an area for all my trophies and plaques. She's going to do with it what she wants to do with it."
Interjected Georgia coach Kirby Smart: "I've seen that area. It's full of trophies."
Thompson was the prized catch of Mark Richt's 15th and final recruiting class for the Bulldogs. He was rated by 247Sports.com as the nation's top overall recruit and has been good but not always great in his first two collegiate seasons.
Until Friday.
An absolute menace, Thompson had eight tackles and 3.5 for lost yardage, including three sacks of TCU's Kenny Hill. His sack total set a Liberty Bowl record.
Two of his sacks were followed shortly by missed TCU field-goal attempts, including a 10-yard loss midway through the fourth quarter that factored in Hatfield trying from 47 yards out instead of 37. A made field goal there would have given the Horned Frogs a 26-24 lead, and Hill was quick to praise Thompson afterward.
"He played well and had a high motor," Hill said. "He was always working. On that last sack, I need to throw the ball away, but Georgia came out in the second half and made more plays than us."
Surprise departure
Junior receiver and return specialist Isaiah McKenzie announced after the game that he would forgo his senior season for the NFL draft.
"I just thought about it and talked with Coach Smart and the coaching staff, and I came up with the decision to make myself eligible," McKenzie said. "I just decided to. I haven't gotten any feedback (from the NFL draft advisory committee), but hopefully it will be good.
"I just want to go out there and do my best."
McKenzie had four receptions for 103 yards Friday, notching his third career 100-yard receiving game. His 77-yard catch and run in the first quarter was a career-long reception for McKenzie and a career-long throw by Jacob Eason.
The 5-8, 175-pounder from Miami is Georgia's record-holder with five career punt returns for touchdowns and six special-teams returns for touchdowns.
Junior safety Dominick Sanders said after the game that he would be back for his final year.
"I want to be the best man I can be, not only on the field but off the field," Sanders said, "and staying one more year will help our guys out."
Conference pride
Georgia's victory stopped a woeful start to the bowl season for the Southeastern Conference, which was just 1-4 entering Friday.
"Even though we go against them during the season, I cheer for SEC teams in every bowl game," tailback Nick Chubb said. "I saw where we weren't winning overall, but I feel like we can pull it out. I'm a fan of the SEC. I admit it."
The SEC went 8-2 in bowl games last season.
Odds and ends
Sophomore inside linebacker Roquan Smith matched his career high with 13 tackles and finished this season with 95. The Bulldogs finished this season plus-8 in turnover margin. Georgia improved its all-time bowl record to 30-19-3. Sophomore inside linebacker Natrez Patrick returned to his starting spot after missing the last three games due to a shoulder injury. Junior Isaiah Wynn got the start and played the opening possession at left tackle before 12-game starter Tyler Catalina came in and Wynn shifted to left guard to replace Dyshon Sims.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.