The positions where the Georgia Bulldogs added the most players this offseason
The countdown has begun until the Georgia Bulldogs begin spring practice for the 2024 season. With spring ball just a month away, it seemed like a good opportunity to see what the Bulldogs will be up to this season. . On Tuesday we explored every room and location the Bulldogs hit. Today we look at the bright side and focus on the new players spread throughout the team.
Georgia recruited for the 2024 season through the transfer portal as well as traditional high school rankings. The Bulldogs signed 28 high school prospects en route to being ranked No. 1 in the nation and also added nine players from other schools to clear the slate. With new faces in the Georgia program, it seems worth taking a look at where the Bulldogs have contributed the most.
Note that this is different from the player’s expected location. Georgia is known for moving players around in the secondary, and this offensive line class has several players who can either play offensive tackle or move inside to play defensive end. We’ll know more about these predictions once spring ball begins.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
NO. 7: TIGHT END
All added: 3
High school additions: 4-star Jayden Reddell, 3-star Colton Heinrich.
Added to portal: Stanford transfer Benjamin Jurosek
Overview: Georgia was in solid late-season form with Oscar Delp returning for his junior season and Lawson Lackey and Pierce Spurlin returning for their freshman seasons. That didn’t stop Todd Hartley from joining a group of talented high school prospects with a big addition in the portal. The Bulldogs added Reddell, who caught everyone’s attention during Orange Bowl prep, and Heinrich coming out of high school, and recently added Jurosek, a two-time All-Pac 12 selection with the Cardinal. Jurosek was plagued by injuries during his senior year at Stanford, but looked good to compete for TE1 reps. Georgia struggled until three players left two years ago. The Bulldogs don’t have Brock Bowers this time around, but the room looks a lot like the one that helped the Bulldogs win in 2022.
NO. 6: INSIDE LINEBACKER
All added: 3
High School Additions: 5-star Justin Williams, 4-star Chris Cole, 4-star Christopher Jones.
Add Portal: None
Overview: Georgia moved to inside linebacker so much in the 2023 cycle that the Bulldogs thought it would be difficult to recruit at that position in 2024. Not so fast, buddy.
Glenn Shuman and company once again planted the Nos. 1, 3 and 10 players in the park, according to 247Sports. Williams and Cole received positive reviews during winter training, while Jones has a lot of upside and will get a chance to prove himself.
Georgia lost several inside linebackers this offseason, making reloading even more important. But what the Bulldogs lacked in talent at the position, they made up for in impressive fashion.
NO. 5: CORNERBACK
All added: 3
High school additions: 5-star Ellis Robinson IV, 4-star DeMello Jones, 4-star Ondre Evans.
Add Portal: None
Overview: Georgia had a lot of departures this offseason, but the coaches likely saw that when they signed three high school prospects.
Robinson is the star of the show as one of the nation’s top prospects and is expected to compete for an early starting spot. Jones is a popular choice among can’t-miss 2024 signees, while Evans is a speedster who played high school football at Vanderbilt London Humphreys.
Losing Kamari Lassiter to the NFL would be heartbreaking. But the Bulldogs did a good job of convincing the other corners to stay put. Add to that the ability to draft three talented high school players and the result is a bright future for the Cornerback.
NO. 4: RUNNING BACK
All added: 4
High School Additions: 4-star Nate Frazier, 4-star Dwight Phillips Jr., 3-star Chauncey Bowens.
Added to portal: Florida transfer Trevor Etienne
Overview: Georgia knew things would be different in 2024 with Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards likely turning pro. The duo did just that, but the Bulldogs aren’t just improving their high school numbers. Not only did Georgia add three talented high school players, it also brought former Clemson commit Trevor Etienne and current Jacksonville Jaguar Travis Etienne to Florida. Etienne is expected to start in 2024, but the Bulldogs have seven scholarship prospects competing for reps. Etienne showed his talent in Florida and is ready to pick up where Milton and Edwards left off. As for the middle school trio, the Bulldogs are pursuing a back with speed (Phillips), power (Bowens) and both (Frazier). I am very excited to see how these true freshmen develop as they fight for playing time.
NO. 3: OFFENSIVE TACKLE
High School Additions: 4-star Daniel Calhoun, 4-star Michael Weeney, 4-star Marques Easley, 4-star Nyer Daniels, 3-star Marcus Harrison.
Add Portal: None
Overview: As mentioned earlier, not all of these five referees will be offensive linemen at Georgia. While we don’t see big men like Daniels or Harrison pushed inside, the remaining three players are versatile enough that it makes sense for coaches to move inside when they find a top spot like the Bulldogs. In addition to those future roles, Georgia badly needed depth on offense and took a big step forward by bringing in a class that included a total of six offensive linemen (infielder Malachi Toliver was not included on the roster). It’s unlikely that any of these players will have an impact on Georgia’s plans for 2024, but that doesn’t diminish their value to the Dawgs. Not. 2: Defense configuration
High school additions: 4-star Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, 4-star Naseer Johnson, 4-star Jordan Thomas, 3-star Nnamdi Ogboko.
Added to portal: South Carolina transfer Xzavier McLeod
Overview: Kirby Smart expressed concern about Georgia’s defensive line depth heading into the 2023 season, making it clear the team will work to change that heading into 2024. Not only does the team have high school talent, but it also has plenty of SEC experience.
Georgia put a lot of emphasis on its interior defensive line with the additions of Jonah-Azonye, Johnson, Thomas and Ogboko, while the Bulldogs took it to the next level by signing McLeod, a big recruit coming out of high school. McLeod looks like a deep piece of the worst of recent starts, and the four high school seniors have earned plenty of praise as they prepare for life in Georgia.
Trey Scott has received a lot of praise for his work in the 2024 cycle and for good reason. Some of these can be joined early. If not, don’t make the mistake of writing it.
NO. 1: WIDE RECEIVER
High school additions: 4-star NiTareon Tuggle, 3-star Sacovy White.
Portal additions: Vanderbilt London Humphries, Miami Colby Young, USC transfer Michael Jackson III
Overview: It’s no surprise that the position where the Bulldogs lost the most players this season is also the position where they added the most players.
Georgia targeted several wide receivers in the 2024 cycle, and while the Bulldogs didn’t sign a five-star, they brought in NiTareon Tuggle and Sacovie White. With Georgia leaving both the draft and the portal, the team targeted multiple portal receivers. The end result was landing Humphries, a speedster from Vanderbilt, Young from Miami and Jackson, a versatile receiver/returner from USC. Georgia added two wide receivers ahead of the 2023 season, and this time they took it a step further by loading up the wide receiver position. The Bulldogs have received some criticism for not recruiting an elite high school prospect at the position, but if they can add players like Tuggle and White, as well as some promising portal players, all will be well. add by number
Georgia had only one position with multiple players. The Bulldogs added two safeties to this class. Five-star KJ Bolden and Alabama transfer Jake Pope. Coincidentally, they both played their high school ball in Buford.
Please see other posts not listed above.
Quarterback — 1
Offensive guard — 1
Defensive end — 1
Outside linebacker — 1
Safety — 2
Punter — 1
Long snapper — 1
