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Georgia will continue leaning on rotation at CB and LB against Tennessee

Jeremy Johnsonby: Jeremy Johnson6 hours agoJeremyO_Johnson
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Georgia inside linebacker Chris Cole (9) during Georgia’s game against Austin Peay on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (Tony Walsh/UGAAA)

Georgia is going to continue to lean on its defensive depth. The Bulldogs have shifted personnel along the defensive line for years.

There aren’t really true starters at Georgia at the moment. Everyone in the rotation on the defensive line has to play well for Georgia to win football games.

The linebacker position has seen rotations in the past, but the group is even deeper than normal in 2025. Georgia has four ‘inside linebackers’ in their top six in tackles.

Juniors Raylen Wilson (14 tackles) and CJ Allen (11 tackles) lead the team in tackles through the first two games. Chris Cole is fourth and Justin Williams is sixth.

Cole has played as an edge a ton, but he’s also played inside and played in coverage so far this season. Williams has played ton in a few spots.

The cornerback position has been diverse so far as well. Georgia has used Daylen Everette, who missed the first game, Daniel Harris, Ellis Robinson, and Demello Jones during moments when the game was still in doubt.

“We’ve played in two different types of games in terms of who we were playing and what the scores were,” Head coach Kirby Smart said during Wednesday’s teleconference. “Both those first two games allowed us to do that.” 

Saturday’s game could bring a different tempo for Georgia

Georgia will open SEC play this weekend. The Bulldogs will travel to Knoxville to face the No. 15-ranked Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday.

Head coach Kirby Smart feels that the flow of the game will dictate how deep the Bulldogs continue to go in their rotations. Tennessee has been known for playing up-tempo, particularly after first downs.

Smart wants to keep players fresh while also putting Georgia’s best players on the football field. Georgia has done it both ways in the past. Saturday’s flow will determine what Georgia’s rotation looks like.

“We’ll do what we think is necessary to win,” Smart said. “The objective is to have the best players on the field during the game. If the best players are not the best players because they’re tired, then you’ve got to play other players. Certainly, Tennessee’s tempo requires you to play multiple people across the front and across the entire field. We’ve played them before without subbing in some of those positions and we’ve played them before with subbing in those positions. It will just depend on how the guys are playing.”

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