Georgia has sent waves of defensive talent to the NFL during the Kirby Smart era, yet somehow the Bulldogs continue to reload. If the projected starting defense heading into the second week of fall camp is any indication, Georgia could once again have one of the nastiest units in college football.
There simply aren’t any obvious weaknesses.
Up front, Elijah Griffin, Jordan Hall and Gabe Harris Jr. give Georgia a defensive line loaded with size, athleticism and former blue-chip talent. Griffin may be the most exciting name of the group. The former five-star has the physical tools to become the next dominant Georgia defensive lineman, while Hall provides an experienced presence in the middle. Harris gives the Bulldogs another powerful option coming off the edge.
Then you get to the linebackers, where things might become even scarier.
Quintavius Johnson, Raylen Wilson and Chris Cole give Georgia ridiculous athleticism at the second level. Wilson has the speed to fly sideline-to-sideline, while Cole has been one of the biggest names coming out of fall camp. His combination of size, explosiveness and versatility could make him one of Georgia’s breakout defensive stars this season.
And Georgia’s secondary might have just as much upside.
Ellis Robinson IV and Demello Jones project as the starting outside corners, giving the Bulldogs two former elite recruits with legitimate NFL-level physical traits. Robinson arrived at Georgia as one of the highest-rated cornerback prospects in the country, and this could be the season where he finally becomes a 1st Team All-American.
Khalil Barnes at nickel brings experience and versatility, while KJ Bolden and Ja’Marley Riddle round out the projected starting group at safety. Bolden is another former five-star who has already shown why he is in consideration for best Safety in the country.
That’s what makes this Georgia defense so ridiculous.
Look across the projected starting 11 and it’s basically blue-chip talent everywhere. There are former five-stars, highly rated four-stars and future NFL prospects at every level of the defense. Some of these players are still relatively young, but the ceiling of the group is enormous.
Georgia doesn’t necessarily need every player to become a superstar, either. Kirby Smart’s defenses have always been built around depth, versatility and constantly rotating talented players. The starting lineup is scary enough. The fact that Georgia has even more highly recruited talent waiting behind these guys is what separates the Bulldogs from almost everyone else.
There are still questions that have to be answered once the season begins. Recruiting rankings don’t make tackles, and potential doesn’t automatically produce an elite defense.
But purely from a talent standpoint?
Georgia is absolutely stacked.
If this group develops the way Smart and his staff expect, the Bulldogs could have another defense capable of suffocating offenses and carrying Georgia deep into the College Football Playoff.
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