David Pollack thinks Georgia's lines of scrimmage are biggest question in 2025

Georgia will be seeking a return to the College Football Playoff in 2025. But there are some key question marks, particularly along the lines of scrimmage.

In fact, former Bulldogs superstar turned college football analyst David Pollack highlighted the trenches as the single biggest question mark for this year’s squad out of Athens. He outlined why on a recent episode of the See Ball Get Ball podcast.

“I think defensive line is probably the biggest issue, but I would just say, I would steal and go lines of scrimmage,” Pollack said. “Because offensive line wasn’t that much better for Georgia a year ago. It was a big struggle. It was super inconsistent. Running the football, just period.”

The Bulldogs have to replace a starting quarterback, so ensuring the lines of scrimmage are up to snuff is no small task. Whoever’s back there needs to be protected.

On the flip side of things, Georgia’s defensive front suffered some key losses. Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker are gone, so the Bulldogs will have to find other players who can be disruptive in the backfield.

“So both lines of scrimmage, which is a staple of Kirby Smart,” Pollack said. “And physicality and toughness, they kind of lacked that a year ago in that department. So I’m really interested to see if that really comes back.”

Others are less concerned about Georgia along the lines of scrimmage, at least defensively. ESPN analyst Greg McElroy ranked Georgia as his No. 4 defensive unit in the country going into 2025.

His expectations for the reload along the defensive front were a big part of that. He likes the talent waiting in the wings.

“Christen Miller‘s back. He’s got a chance, I think, to be a breakout candidate on the interior of the defensive line,” McElroy said. “I don’t know if he’s quite Jalen Carter or Jordan Davis, but he could be the next man up as far as a dominant presence there. He started only 10 games and was banged up through most of the year, but there was a lot of potential that was flashed at times last year.

“You also have Jordan Hall, who had a big spring and it sounds like after being quite a bit banged up last year he’s now fully healthy and has a chance to be a massive difference-maker. Then Xzavier McLeod, another promising guy on the interior whose role should be increased.”

McElroy summed up his thoughts on the Georgia defense in a tone Bulldogs fans will be pleased to hear. He’s quite confident and sounds less worried about the lines of scrimmage.

“When have you been super concerned about the departures we saw off Georgia’s defense?” McElroy said. “I’m not one that spends a lot of time worrying about the personnel that Georgia had. They had a lot of guys that were in and out of the lineup and a lot of guys that were banged up last year, and yet they still played pretty good football throughout most of the year.”