Report: Georgia set to name analyst Andrew Thacker new nickels coach

Georgia is moving Andrew Thacker into a more prominent role on Kirby Smart’s coaching staff. Thacker will be the Bulldogs’ next nickels coach after serving as an analyst in 2024, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports/247 Sports.

“Georgia is set to name Andrew Thacker its new nickels coach, sources tell @cbssports/@247sports,” Zenitz posted on X. “The ex-Georgia Tech defensive coordinator, who joined Georgia as an analyst last year, was targeted for a job by another top program but is instead staying in Athens in a new role.”

As Zenitz alluded to, Thacker could’ve moved on from Athens following the 2024 campaign, but instead he’ll stay with Georgia after receiving a promotion. He’ll go from a defensive analyst to their nickels coach, and the added responsibility makes him an important coach for the program as they look to reassert their dominance in the sport.

In addition to Thacker, Jake Rowe of DawgsHQ noted Georgia has two on-field coaches in the defensive backfield. Travaris Robinson is the team’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach heading into 2025, after he coached the Nickel/STAR position in 2024. Donte Williams serves as the cornerbacks coach. Both are headed into their second seasons with the program.

Continuing, Thacker is no stranger to coaching in the state of Georgia. He spent multiple seasons with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, serving as their defensive coordinator. That experience is invaluable to the team’s coaching staff, and will surely help the Bulldogs shore up their defensive scheme in 2025.

Last season was a mixed bag for the Bulldogs. While their defense had some standout moments, like holding Clemson to three points in their season opener, and shutting down the Texas offense in Austin and again in the SEC Championship Game, they also had their fair share of misses. One has to think back to Alabama putting 41 on the Bulldogs in Tuscaloosa, and their inability to shutdown Ole Miss in a 13-point loss on Nov. 9.

Heading into 2025, Georgia will have some time to get their feet wet at least, as their first game will be against Marshall on Aug. 30, and Austin Peay on Sept. 6. While that sounds a tad easy, it’ll be followed with a trip to Knoxville to face Tennessee on Sept. 13, and a battle against Alabama in Athens on Sept. 27.

Perhaps Thacker will make a sizable difference for the Georgia defense, and help the Bulldogs return to their standard in 2025. Kirby Smart is certainly hopeful, and it’s a fool’s errand to bet against him, even if this past season didn’t go his way once the College Football Playoff rolled around.