Things we can’t wait to see in the 2023 Georgia season opener

There are just three more sleeps before Georgia opens its 2023 season. The last time we saw the Bulldogs they were putting it on TCU, winning the National Championship game 65-7. This team is going to look significantly different with no Stetson Bennett, no Jalen Carter, no Kenny McIntosh… You get the picture. With that said, there are some things we are really anxious to get a look at. It goes without saying that quarterback is the No. 1 thing on this list, so we’re not going to discuss it. Below are the other four things we can’t wait to see.

A pair of skill players making their Georgia debut

Two guys we’ve consistently heard about during preseason camp are going to see their first action in a Georgia uniform on Saturday — Andrew Paul and Dominic Lovett. Those two players took significantly different paths to the Classic City. Lovett is a transfer from Missouri who, more than likely, will get the start at the slot (F) receiver position. He was a major priority for the Bulldog staff and has turned heads since way back in January during winter workouts.

Then there’s Paul, who signed with the Bulldogs in the 2022 class. He arrived on campus last summer and was generating some buzz during preseason camp before suffering a season-ended ACL injury during the second scrimmage. Paul is now healthy and fully cleared. It’s worth noting that he likely won’t be the best version of himself in his first season back from that ACL injury. It’s usually the second season back that a player returns to form, but Paul has still impressed this preseason.

What the cornerback situation/rotation looks like

Kamari Lassiter has one of these spots locked up when healthy. That doesn’t mean he won’t give way for a series or two per game, but he’s the known commodity among the cornerbacks. The other spot is still open with Julian Humphrey having an edge entering game week. Nyland Green and Daylen Everette are also going to get chances to show what they can do. Right now it seems like the Bulldogs will use some sort of rotation. Humphrey, Green, and Everette will duke it out as the season goes on but Saturday will tell us a lot about who had the best camp/week of practice.

Some Georgia OL who’ve worked for their opportunity

We’re mainly talking about four guys here. Earnest Greene is slated to start at left tackle after back surgery early last season. He fought his way back from that ailment and has steadily improved from spring through summer. Austin Blaske, a fourth-year guy, has been battling him heavily and, from what we’ve heard, will get meaningful reps at both left and right tackle.

Then there are a pair of third-year, highly-recruited guys in Dylan Fairchild and Micah Morris. Smart had praise for both of them recently and at least one of them is expected to rotated in at guard with Xavier Truss or Tate Ratledge. It’s not common for guys to wait their turn for a few years before getting to play but these guys will soon hear their number called. No one would have blamed Blaske, Fairchild, or Morris if they had decided to jump into the transfer portal back in January. But they’re back and on the cusp of bigger roles.

Javon Bullard in his new habitat

We know all about how the Milledgeville, Ga. native can impact a game. He was named defensive MVP in both of Georgia’s College Football Playoff wins a year ago but he did it at STAR/nickel. Bullard played near the line of scrimmage and drew some tough coverage responsibilities. There were some struggles but there were also some big plays made. Now he’s at strong safety where he’ll play further from the line of scrimmage and have more responsibilities in space. Georgia has an excellent football player on its hands in Bullard and we’re interested to see if he can pick up where the guys before him — Christopher Smith and Richard LeCounte — left off.

The post Things we can’t wait to see in the 2023 Georgia season opener appeared first on On3.