Georgia Freshman Report: How much did first-year Dawgs play in 2023?

Georgia’s Class of 2023 ranked No. 2 in the country and helped the Bulldogs hold down the No. 1 spot in the polls throughout the majority of the season this fall. While UGA fell in the SEC Championship Game and missed out on a shot at a third consecutive national title, the impact of young players like CJ Allen is unquestioned. DawgsHQ takes a look below at the season each of the 26 members of the Class of 2023 had while also laying out what their future may look like as well.

# 4 DB AJ Harris (7 games) – Harris saw the majority of his action on special teams, but also played as a reserve defensive back in a few outings as well. He led the team in tackles with four against Ball State, part of his 8-tackle freshman campaign. With multiple Georgia defensive backs likely to leave for the NFL Draft, Harris could get a look at any of the three positions in the secondary next season.

# 5 LB Raylen Wilson (11 games) – Wilson, one of three five-stars on the defensive side of the ball and the highest-rated of the inside linebacker trio signed, saw an uptick in action as the season went along. After Jamon Dumas-Johnson’s season-ending injury in mid-November, Wilson was on the field quite frequently. Selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team, he posted 13 tackles in 11 games including half a sack against Kentucky. Wilson is expected to play a large role next season, especially with the transfer of Dumas-Johnson.

# 7 TE Lawson Luckie (6 games) – Luckie’s freshman season was headlined by an early-season injury. He underwent surgery to repair a high ankle sprain from fall camp, and that caused him to miss the first month of the season. However, after his return, his opportunities increased with Brock Bowers forced to miss some time. Luckie finished the season with one catch for five yards but figures to be a factor after the likely departure of Bowers this offseason.

# 8 DB Joenel Aguero (12 games) – Aguero was a staple for Georgia on special teams this season, blocking a punt against Florida that went out the back of the end zone for a safety. It was without a doubt the highlight of his year, although he played much more than just that. Against UAB, Aguero notched four solo stops including one for loss, all a part of a seven-tackle freshman campaign.

# 15 DB Daniel Harris (5 games) – Harris, a lengthy cornerback, out of South Florida, played against UT-Martin, Ball State and UAB before seemingly moving up a notch on the depth chart later in the season to play against Ole Miss and Tennessee as well. Despite the action, Harris did not record a stat.

# 17 WR Anthony Evans (7 games) – Evans provided a spark for Georgia in the SEC Championship Game with his 28-yard punt return that led to a touchdown for the Bulldogs. With Mekhi Mews in the transfer portal, Evans would be expected to continue in that role for the Orange Bowl. He also caught three passes for 21 yards on the season including a 15-yard reception in a win over UAB.

# 26 LB Sam M’Pemba (10 games) – M’Pemba recorded six stops in his 10 games played including multiple against both Ball State and Ole Miss. Like many other freshman, he earned his spot on the field primarily by way of special teams but also saw action at times late in some of the Bulldog blowouts.

# 29 DL Gabe Harris (10 games) – Harris made the switch from outside linebacker to defensive end during the season, and we’ll have to wait and see if he sticks there. In the action he saw in 2023, primarily on special teams, Harris posted eight tackles including two for loss, one in each of the team’s first two games.

# 33 LB CJ Allen (13 games) – Allen had the biggest role of any true freshman this season, starting the final four games of the year for the injured Jamon Dumas-Johnson. Even before the injury, Allen was playing quite a bit. With nine tackles including a sack against Ole Miss, Allen earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors. He followed that up with another team-high eight tackles against Georgia Tech, totaling 35 on the season to finish sixth. He could have a chance to jump into the top five in the Orange Bowl, finding himself just two tackles behind cornerback Kamari Lassiter currently.

# 35 LB Damon Wilson (12 games) – Georgia’s highest rated signee in the Class of 2023, Wilson saw his role grow as the season went along. With Marvin Jones Jr. off to the transfer portal, that growth should continue into the offseason. In 12 games, Wilson totaled four tackles including one for loss, assisting on a sack against Florida.

# 44 DL Jordan Hall (9 games) – The Bulldogs find themselves in search of a presence on the defensive line, and Hall could be exactly that going forward. However, the five-star wasn’t incredibly impactful in 2023. Hall had a quartet of tackles against Tennessee, totaling 10 on the season. Without a doubt it was his biggest game of the year and it came on the heels of a strong showing against Ole Miss. Hall should take further steps forward over the offseason and be a big part of the defensive line rotation in 2024.

# 57 OL Monroe Freeling (8 games) – Freeling stepped in when his number was called versus Vanderbilt. With Amarius Mims already sidelined, when Xavier Truss went down at right tackle, it was Freeling’s time to step up. Seeing action in eight games when no other true freshman offensive lineman played at all should tell you exactly how Georgia thinks about Freeling. Look for him to compete for a starting spot this offseason.

# 88 TE Pearce Spurlin (5 games) – Spurlin hauled in his first career pass against Ball State before having a big reception in the win over Kentucky later in the year. He also played against UT-Martin, Florida and Tennessee.

# 91 K Peyton Woodring (13 games) – Woodring struggled when the season started, and it looked like time may be running out for the freshman as the team’s starting kicker. However, he turned it around quickly and made 16 straight. In the process, he earned multiple SEC Freshman of the Week honors including three consecutive weeks for his performances against Auburn, Kentucky and Vanderbilt. He also earned the weekly award against Missouri as he made all three attempts including a season-long 48-yarder. Woodring was also a perfect 62-of-62 on PATs and will go into next season as the unquestioned kicker with Jared Zirkel entering the transfer portal.

REDSHIRT

# 0 LB Troy Bowles (4 games) – The path to the field is looking a little bit clearer for Bowles these days with three inside linebackers having entered the transfer portal. He recorded a trio of tackles in the opener against UT-Martin before also seeing action against Ball State, Kentucky (1 tackle) and Ole Miss.

# 0 RB Roderick Robinson (4 games) – Robinson’s first season on campus was defined mostly by injury. After finding his way into the end zone in each of the first two contests (UT-Martin and Ball State), Robinson suffered an ankle sprain against South Carolina that kept him out for quite some time. He returned to action in the win over Ole Miss, totaling 126 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries in his first season. He had a season-long run of 36 yards against the Rebels.

# 9 DB Justyn Rhett (2 games) – Georgia’s depth at safety is pretty thin, and it could create a way onto the field for Rhett, especially if Javon Bullard and/or Tykee Smith decide not to return. The Las Vegas, Nev. native saw action in each of the first two games of the season against UT-Martin and Ball State, coming up with a solo stop in the win over the Cardinals.

# 10 WR Tyler Williams (2 games) – Williams was a developmental prospect when Georgia took him out of Lakeland H.S., and development is what he did in 2023. A raw player who only started focusing on football late in his high school career, Williams saw time on the field against Ball State and UAB, hauling in one pass for four yards versus the Blazers.

# 13 WR Zeed Haynes (4 games) – Haynes saw action against UT-Martin, Ball State, UAB and Kentucky, preserving a redshirt in the process. He hauled in one pass for 20 yards in the season opener, the only stat recorded before entering the transfer portal this past week. Haynes will have four years to play four seasons at his next school.

# 31 DB Kyron Jones (3 games) – Jones got off to a great start in 2023, intercepting a pass against UT-Martin and returning it for a touchdown from the STAR spot. He also saw action against Ball State and UAB, not recording stats in either.

# 55 DL Jamaal Jarrett (4 games) – Jarrett is among the freshmen who will have the most pressure on him this offseason. Even with potential returnees on the defensive line, none are nearly as big as him at 6-foot-5, 350 pounds. That could allow him to be a presence in the middle of the Georgia defense next season after seeing action against UT-Martin, Ball State, UAB and Ole Miss, coming up with five tackles on the year.

DNP – # 27 DB Chris Peal, # 54 OL Kelton Smith Jr., # 59 OL Bo Hughley, # 70 OL Joshua Miller, # 72 OL Jamal Meriweather

Georgia is in the midst of preparations for the 90th playing on the Capital One Orange Bowl on December 30th. The Bulldogs take on No. 5 Florida State in a matchup of the first two teams on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoffs.