Kirby Smart talks about depth Georgia created on defensive line
Despite losing top defensive tackle Jalen Carter to the NFL and his apparent replacement, Bear Alexander, to a transfer to USC, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart likes where the defensive line unit is after the spring. And it’s a result of the top-level depth that Georgia has brought in.
Even with Alexander — the No. 43 overall recruit in the 2022 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking — departing, the Bulldogs still have eight defensive linemen on the roster who were former Top 300 recruits. And Georgia has 10 players rostered at the position, currently.
“Really excited about the group, the depth at that unit. We don’t have a dominant player on that unit but we’ve got really good depth. And we’ll do some things with the backers around ’em to create havoc,” Smart said.
The players Georgia currently features on the defensive line are as follows with national prospect ranking included, ordered as the players signed with the Bulldogs.
- Zion Logue (2019), No. 370 overall
- Tramel Walthour (2019), JUCO No. 81
- Nazir Stackhouse (2020), No. 253
- Warren Brinson (2020), No. 282
- Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (2021), No. 109
- Jonathan Jefferson (2021), No. 136
- Mykel Williams (2022), No. 6
- Christen Miller (2022), No. 122
- Jordan Hall (2023), No. 25
- Jamaal Jarrett (2023), No. 182
Logue and Walthour are the only two players not to arrive at Georgia as a Top 300 high schooler, and both are now the oldest in the room with years of experience.
Smart also lauded the improvements that Miller has made since the season ended.
“Just work, just work. Christen’s come a long way. He’s gotten better. He’s really a zero nose and he can stunt and move,” Smart said. “Increased his pass rush ability some this offseason, became better. Excited about what he can do.”
Smart discussed the natural growth in size of athletes across college football, all sports
Smart, speaking on 680 Live From Athens, opined on some of the changes in sports over the years.
Not just football, either.
“The size, I mean, athletes in general, it doesn’t matter what sport,” Smart said. “You look at (Brooks) Koepka and (Jon) Rahm. I mean those are two big men pounding on the golf ball and they hit it further and further. Well the same thing’s true with ours. The guys are bigger and bigger. The Jordan Davises, the (Sedrick) Van Prans, just the average amount of weight of linemen across the board is huge.”