The 2024 Georgia football team is beginning to solidify its core, though the team faces some significant gaps with several star players heading to the NFL. Unlike past seasons, the Bulldogs might need to bring in more impactful players through the NCAA transfer portal to fill these voids.
Georgia ended the season strong, but there are lingering “what-ifs” as the Bulldogs watch the playoffs from the sidelines. Head coach Kirby Smart anticipated some player losses, given Georgia’s reputation for producing NFL draft talent—9 picks in 2021, 15 in 2022, and 10 last season.
It was expected that Sedrick Van Pran, considered the top center prospect in the NFL draft, would go pro. Brock Bowers, Amarius Mims, and Kamari Lassiter, all projected as first-round picks, also made sense as departures. However, Ladd McConkey and Javon Bullard faced tougher decisions. Both players are projected as second-day draft picks, but with another year at Georgia, they could have improved their chances of breaking into the first round. Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear replacement for either McConkey or Bullard on the current roster, and their absence will be felt both on the field and in the locker room.
Other veterans who declared for the draft, such as Kendall Milton, Daijun Edwards, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Zion Logue, and Tykee Smith, will also leave significant holes in the team.
**Hot:**
Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson seem poised to follow in the footsteps of Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt, who returned for the 2021 season to compete for a championship and boost their draft stock. Tate Ratledge, another projected second-day pick, also appears likely to return, potentially setting the stage for an All-American season. The decision of Xavier Truss is still uncertain. Dominic Lovett is expected to be the leading returning receiver and should be more comfortable in the system after a year of experience.
**Warm:**
Georgia’s defense fell short last season, especially when watching Michigan dominate Alabama’s offensive line with five first-half sacks and a critical fourth-down stop in overtime. Stackhouse and Brinson will need to elevate their game, and younger players like Jordan “Big Baby” Hall and Christen Miller must grow into dominant forces. Carson Beck’s return for his senior season is crucial, though he acknowledges areas where he can make “huge” improvements, especially after a slightly off performance in the win over Florida State.
**Cold:**
Florida State has added DJ Uiagalelei through the transfer portal from Oregon State, but Georgia fans remember beating Uiagalelei when he was with Clemson in the 2021 opener. It’s hard to see “DJU” restoring Florida State to its former glory. Despite being named Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year, Mike Norvell’s Seminoles were trounced 63-3 by Georgia, raising questions about the timing of such awards. Georgia’s 2024 opener against Clemson seems less intimidating after watching Clemson struggle to outperform a mediocre Kentucky team in their bowl game.
Criticism of Mike Bobo as a downgrade from Todd Monken overlooks the fact that Georgia’s offense experienced a decline across all positions this season. Stetson Bennett was a more dynamic playmaker than Beck in his first year as a starter, the backfield lacked a pass-catching threat, injuries plagued McConkey and Brock Bowers, and the team missed the presence of first-round left tackle Broderick Jones.
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