Georgia Bulldogs: Post-spring stock report
With spring football in the rear view mirror, it’s time to fully embrace the Head Ball Coach’s “talkin’ season.” The transfer portal carousel is still spinning, so rosters aren’t totally finalized just yet, but we at least have a sense of foundation for each SEC program.
So let’s take a stock report for every team in the conference, examining their offense, defense and overall outlook heading into the 2022 season.
Today we look at the Georgia Bulldogs.
GEORGIA OFFENSE — STOCK UP
I’m on record believing in Georgia’s 2022 offensive upside — especially because the Bulldogs were overlooked as a unit last season and return the majority of their key pieces this fall. The group is expected to shoulder a larger load and that should be ok.
Sure, Stetson Bennett is back at quarterback, and though the naysayers continue to doubt his ability to lead a dynamic, exciting attack, the numbers tell a different story. If you were released from an Austin Powers-like cryo chamber tomorrow and saw UGA’s raw stats, you’d think, “They must have a solid guy at quarterback.”
They do, plus Kirby Smart suddenly has some options behind Bennett, too.
At some point this fall, Bennett could totally lose his job to either Carson Beck, who emerged as a potential successor this spring, or 5-star Brock Vandargriff, and if that happens, then it that likely means Georgia’s offense reached an even higher ceiling in Year 3 under coordinator Todd Monken.
In 2021, the Bulldogs took advantage of great field position but they also generated plenty of explosive plays — Top 7 nationally in plays over 20 yards and passing touchdowns. The Georgia Bulldogs also led the SEC in yards per play (6.98).
Georgia has the deepest tight end room in America, with Monken scheming the offense around the talents of Brock Bowers, Darnell Washington and former LSU 5-star Arik Gilbert, who had a big spring after missing all of last season. Freshman tight end Oscar Delp was in the mix a bunch in April, too.
The offensive line is steady with both tackles back, plus center Sedrick Van Pran, who has started just one season but is already generating early 2023 1st Round buzz. There’s a swath of options at guard, including 5-star Tate Ratledge’s return from a foot injury he suffered in the season opener against Clemson last year. If the interior situation can get settled fairly early in the season, UGA’s offense line could coalesce into a mauling unit.
Aside from tight end, Georgia’s receiving room is finally healthy with Arian Smith, Kearis Jackson and Dominick Blaylock all back from various injuries they battled throughout 2021. They’ll team up with starters Adonai Mitchell and Ladd McConkey, who both were major contributors as freshmen. The Bulldogs could also explore the transfer portal for one more speedy weapon to utilize on the perimeter, too.
While James Cook and Zamir White leave big shoes at tailback, Kenny McIntosh is primed for a bigger role and he’ll be pushed for touches by former 5-star Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards.
GEORGIA DEFENSE — STOCK DOWN
Georgia had a generational great defense in 2021, so naturally the outlook can’t be better in the fall.
Regression is a reality for UGA’s defense this fall after a NFL-record five players from the same unit were drafted off the Bulldogs’ historic defense, and yet many folks believe the most talented player on the team last season remains in Athens.
Junior defensive tackle Jalen Carter is tasked with leading the Bulldogs this fall, and while the overall defense lacks the experience of the 2021 team, the pure talent is still ever-present on the roster.
Carter, along defensive backs Kelee Ringo, Christopher Smith and William Poole, outside linebackers Nolan Smith and Robert Beal make up a strong starting nucleus and then there’s another 10 players who saw at least 100 snaps last season expected to see increased roles this fall. The Bulldogs love what they have in inside linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson and there’s buzz surrounding redshirt freshmen like defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and cornerback Kamari Lassiter, both whom would’ve seen real snaps on most any other defenses in 2021.
There’s noted questions about how UGA’s secondary will shake out, but the unit doesn’t lack upside — multiple 5-star freshmen are on campus in Malaki Starks, Daylen Everette and Jaheim Singletary — but experience. The wild card of the group is former All-Big 12 West Virginia safety Tykee Smith, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL.
Georgia won’t repeat its historic dominance of 2021, but its pass rush might actually be even better (second in the SEC with 49 sacks) if Kirby Smart opts to put a greater emphasis on pressure to help protect a green secondary.
2022 OVERALL OUTLOOK — STOCK UP
At long last, Kirby Smart delivered a national title for his alma mater, but there’s been no complacency in Athens following Georgia’s storied 2021 season.
Georgia is one of just four programs (Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State) to play in multiple national championships during the College Football Playoff Era, and the expectation remains to get back to the dance and see what happens this fall.
The Bulldogs are implementing several new staff members, but the transition at DC to co-coordinators Will Muschamp and Glenn Schumann should be fairly seamless. The schedule is very manageable, and while Oregon is a tough first test out of the gate, the Bulldogs will be strong favorites in every regular season game this fall. Avoiding complacency in a random letdown spot will be key.
A year ago, Smart & Co., slayed Georgia’s Crimson & White demons, but Nick Saban and Alabama likely stand in their way again if they want to repeat as champions. Georgia is definitely not a team without warts or questions, but if the Bulldogs play with the same desperate hunger they did in 2021, the potential is certainly there to return to the CFP and compete for another title.