G-Day 2023: What we learned, what we didn't from Georgia football
Georgia football’s spring game had plenty to break down, and plenty of surprises. But not everything caught us off guard.
We slept on the game and all the news that came with it – and before it – and got the DawgsHQ band together to dissect everything.
It’s The Georgia Show LIVE. We do it every Sunday at 8:30PM ET. And every Wednesday, too.
First of all, for the surprises.
Bear Alexander’s transfer portal decision surprised many. I can’t say that any transfer surprises me at all these days.
It’s just part of the game. When I spoke to Brock Bowers and Arian Smith after the game, they weren’t shocked, either.
What did surprise me was the timing. I know, it’s just a spring game. But is anything sacred or significant anymore?
When a player like Bear Alexander transfers after an entire spring practice, and on the day of the spring game, what does that tell you about College Football?
I don’t know if it’s a major referendum on the direction of the sport. But it was notable to me. And it shows that there was, evidently, no love lost between Alexander and his soon-to-be former Georgia football teammates.
Like, subscribe and Hunker Down with The Georgia Show (YouTube / Apple / Spotify) to hear our full thoughts on the details that jumped off the page for us at G-Day 2023:
G-Day 2023: what didn’t surprise us
It starts and ends with Carson Beck.
That isn’t to say that Brock Vandagriff has no chance in this quarterback competition.
We won’t overreact and tell you that this deal is done.
But we’ve heard for a while now that Beck made a huge jump between the start of last season and the end of this spring.
Did Vandagriff make moves too? Yeah, man.
But Beck’s arm talent and decision-making were as-advertised in front of a half-full Sanford Stadium at G-Day, and he may just hold on to that post to start the 2023 season.
And just to revisit the defensive line real quick. It doesn’t surprise us that Georgia’s defensive line doesn’t take a step back, even without Bear Alexander in the fold.
This group will take a step back without Jalen Carter and Alexander, to be sure. But not a crippling one.
Georgia recruited that position too well – and there’s too much veteran leadership still around – for that to be the case.
The recruiting news and notes out of G-Day 2023
Jake Reuse has the full rundown on what top prospect KJ Bolden and Georgia commit Peyton Woodyard took from their G-Day 2023 visits.
Construction on Sanford Stadium prevented this scrimmage from being a full house. But Kirby Smart‘s staff still made the gameday environment feel like home to some of the nation’s best recruits.
It’s hard to hate what you see when the team honors a fallen Dawg in a touching tribute, introduces a new mascot, and unveils some magnificent championship rings.
Will it directly result in new commitments? Probably not. It’s just part of the equation.
But this G-Day was one of the biggest wins for Georgia football that I can remember.
