Georgia football players in need of a big summer
When it comes to the spring transfer portal window, the dust has settled. Georgia will welcome about eight freshmen to campus later this month and the roster will be set.
A successful spring camp and semester are in the books. Finals are over and now players will get a few weeks to spend time with their families or participate in internships. The rest and relaxation they’ll get between now and June 1 will set the stage for the three months of preparation ahead of the 2023 season.
Some players will make big leaps. Below, DawgsHQ examines which players need a big summer the most while also discussing why Georgia needs it from them as well.
OLB Damon Wilson
I absolutely despise writing something like this about a true freshman but after what I saw at G-Day, it can’t be avoided. Wilson showed some serious flash in the spring scrimmage while working against the No. 2 offensive line. Those tackles didn’t really have a chance against the ultra-twitchy, powerful freshman. Like Mykel Williams and Malaki Starks before him, Wilson can be a difference maker in his first season.
Why Georgia needs it: This is obvious. Every team in the country can be made better by an improved pass rush. Wilson has the chance to provide Georgia’s with a massive boost.
WR Rara Thomas
Here’s another UGA newcomer. Thomas got himself into hot water soon after arriving in Athens with an off-field run-in with the law. That appears to be resolved and he did some good things this spring. But he didn’t play in the G-Day game and is lagging behind others at his position right now. Thomas played a lot of ball for Mississippi State last season. He was the No. 1 receiver in Starkville. If he wants to produce in 2023, and boy would Georgia love that, strides will need to be made.
Why Georgia needs it: The Bulldogs brought in two transfers at wideout for a reason. The position wasn’t as deep as they wanted it to be, especially on the outside. Thomas is an outside receiver who can elevate this offense.
OLs Austin Blaske and Earnest Greene
These two behemoths are coming off highly-successful springs. Both earned a lot of trust from the UGA staff and my intel suggests that both are considered starters. Barring an injury or serious regression from Greene or Blaske, there will be another rotation at tackle in 2023. But now is not the time to stop getting better. Blaske is entering his first summer with a real chance to play and that’s a big-time motivator. Greene has a chance to get healthier. Both can lock in on developing the finer points of technique and take their games to new heights.
Why Georgia needs it: We’re talking about left tackle here. You know, the position that has been a springboard for a starting job in the NFL since Kirby Smart got to Georgia. More often than not it has been the precursor to a first-round pick. It’s a premium position and the Bulldogs both want and need premium play.
CBs Daylen Everette, Nyland Green, Julian Humphrey, Smoke Bouie and A.J. Harris
That’s a really talented group of guys and Georgia needs more than one to step up. No one took the open cornerback job this spring. I assumed Everette would have it locked down but he started out with the twos at G-Day. Humphrey made a move but not enough to take it over. Green got the start with the ones in the spring scrimmage.
Bouie and Harris didn’t get much buzz but we’re told that both had strong finishes to the five-week camp. This is a position that can really get better over the summer. Defensive backs will be challenged heavily in the players-only throwing sessions because they’re put in adverse situations at a high clip. I’m told that the Bulldogs aren’t opposed to playing more than one guy at cornerback. So who will step up and grab some playing time.
Why Georgia needs it: This is another premium position and Georgia has gotten some massive plays out of its cornerbacks the past two years. Talent isn’t a problem. The Bulldogs have plenty of that. But the light needs to come on for somebody.
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