2023 Season-In-Review

Record: 13-1, Loss vs. Alabama (27-24) in SEC Championship

The Bulldogs were in hot pursuit of a third consecutive National Championship last season. They finished 12-0 during the regular season before taking on Alabama in the SEC Championship. It was a loss that came at the worst possible time and Georgia was kept out of the CFB Playoff. Were the Bulldogs the best team in the nation last season? They were certainly up there and could have won if the committee gave them a chance. Now, an angry group will enter 2024 with sky-high expectations once again.

Offense: Beck leads an explosive group

Key Players: QB Carson Beck, RB Trevor Etienne (Florida transfer), TE Benjamin Yurosek (Stanford transfer), WR Colbie Young (Miami transfer), WR Dominic Lovett, OT Earnest Greene III, OT Xavier Truss

Key Losses: TE Brock Bowers (LVR), RB Daijun Edwards (PIT), RB Kendall Milton (PHI), WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (WAS), WR Ladd McConkey (LAC)

Kirby Smart knows how to reload year after year. One position he did not have to worry about was the quarterback. The Bulldogs got a huge boost when Carson Beck decided to return and he will immediately be one of the best players in the nation. In typical Georgia fashion, it will not be without weapons.

No Brock Bowers? No problem. No Ladd McConkey or Daijun Edwards? No problem. The Bulldogs lost their top two rushers from last season but landed Trevor Etienne in the transfer portal, which was one of the biggest additions of the offseason across the nation. On the outside, speedster Arian Smith and Dominic Lovett will take on a bigger role after a strong spring. Miami transfer Colbie Young will also be in the mix right away after totaling 563 yards and five touchdowns with the Hurricanes.

As if this was not enough, the Bulldogs will have an elite offensive line to protect Beck. Georgia returns four starters along the line, along with two backups that played a significant role. Earnest Greene III is likely to be the anchor at left tackle while Xavier Truss will lock down the other side.

Even with new additions to the SEC, the expectations are the same for the Bulldogs and that is to win a national title. Last year, Georgia displayed one of the most explosive offenses it has had in program history. With Beck returning, those expectations will be the same in 2024.

Defense: Raw group has potential to be elite

Key Players: LB Smael Mondon Jr., DB Malaki Starks, LB CJ Allen, LB Jalon Walker, DL Mikel Williams, DT Warren Brinson, S Dan Jackson

Key Losses: LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson (Kentucky), EDGE Marvin Jones Jr. (Florida State), S Tykee Smith (TB), S Javon Bullard (GB), CB Kamari Lassiter (HOU)

The defensive line for Georgia has been elite over the years. Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse return as starters up front and will be viewed as leaders of a talented group. Georgia lost plenty of talent to the NFL, which has become the norm each year, but have a new group waiting.

Mykel Williams was second on the team with 4.5 sacks last season. Smart is moving Williams into more of a stand-up linebacker role, which should help with his ability to get to the quarterback. He is the leader of the defense in the middle, which also features Smael Mondon Jr. and CJ Allen. Mondon Jr. was second on the team with 68 tackles in 2023 while Jalon Walker led the way with five sacks.

The Bulldogs lost three starters in the secondary and will now rely on KJ Bolden and true freshman Ellis Robinson IV.

As usual, there will be plenty of Bulldogs expected to be taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. This group is raw but full of talent and will be able to do enough to compliment an excellent offense.

2024 Georgia Football Schedule

• Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Clemson (Neutral Location)
• Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Tennessee Tech
• Saturday, Sept. 14: at Kentucky
• Saturday, Sept. 28: at Alabama
• Saturday, Oct. 5: vs. Auburn
• Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. Mississippi State
• Saturday, Oct. 19: at Texas
• Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. Florida (Neutral Location)
• Saturday, Nov. 9: at Ole Miss
• Saturday, Nov. 16: vs. Tennessee
• Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. UMass
• Friday, Nov. 29: vs. Georgia Tech