ATHENS \u2014 Georgia\u2019s recent transfer portal dealings are under scrutiny, but critics might want to give things a chance to play out before making any conclusions.<\/p>\n
Coach Kirby Smart, after all, has been among the best when it comes to roster management, winning more titles and turning out more NFL draft picks than any program over the past five years.<\/p>\n
The No. 10-ranked Bulldogs will take a transfer-rich, much-improved receiving corps to Auburn at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, but there remain concerns about a pass rush that has yet to get a lift from incoming players.<\/p>\n
Catching on quickly<\/p>\n
On the most positive of portal notes, USC transfer Zachariah Branch has proved to be an electric addition to the receiving corps, proving pivotal in a 44-41 overtime win at Tennessee. <\/p>\n
Branch, who also returns kicks and punts, had five catches for 69 yards against the Volunteers, including a 36-yard touchdown catch that put Georgia on the board and then a fourth-down conversion catch to sustain another TD drive after Tennessee had re-extended its lead to 21-7 in the first quarter.<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs\u2019 top three receivers to date are all portal additions:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Colbie Young (Miami): 18 catches, 247 yards, 1 TD<\/p>\n
\u2022 Zachariah Branch (USC): 18 catches, 234 yards, 2 TD<\/p>\n
\u2022 London Humphreys (Vanderbilt): 11 catches, 140 yards, 2 TD<\/p>\n
Indeed, it was Humphreys reeling in a fourth-and-7 catch from the Tennessee 28-yard line to pull Georgia within 38-36 and then Branch breaking open for the 2-point conversion that ultimately sent the game to overtime.<\/p>\n
Part of the reason offensive heroics were needed was the Bulldogs\u2019 inability to pressure the Vols\u2019 quarterback, who was not sacked or hit on any of his 36 drop-backs.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Sad sacks<\/p>\n
Georgia\u2019s inability to create havoc and affect the pocket was an issue again in a 24-21 loss to Alabama. UGA managed one sack and four hits on Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson, who was nearly flawless in converting 13 of 19 third-down plays into first downs, nine times with passes completed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe made Ty Simpson look like Tom Brady; by the third quarter, his jersey was still white,\u201d said Davin Bellamy, one of five players on UGA\u2019s 2017 team who recorded five sacks or more.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe made Ty Simpson look like Tom Brady; by the third quarter, his jersey was still white,\u201d said Davin Bellamy, one of five players on UGA\u2019s 2017 team who recorded five sacks or more.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just don\u2019t have a guy who can win the one-on-ones. \u2026 I don\u2019t see a guy consistently winning on the edge with moves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bellamy explained how Georgia is trying to compensate by playing unconventional fronts attempting to confuse linemen, as opposed to pushing them back into the quarterback or winning individual battles with rush moves.<\/p>\n
The inability to affect the quarterback has added pressure to a secondary that\u2019s still searching to solidify itself and led to some uncharacteristic Georgia defensive rankings:<\/p>\n
\u2022 108th in the nation with five sacks<\/p>\n
\u2022 52nd nationally with four interceptions<\/p>\n
\u2022 77th in the country in pass efficiency defense<\/p>\n
\u2022 71st in third down-conversion defense<\/p>\n
It has amplified the departure of Damon Wilson II, who transferred out of Georgia to Missouri, where he\u2019s the highest-rated edge defender in the SEC, per PFF, and has 22 QB pressures while UGA doesn\u2019t have anyone with more than 12.<\/p>\n
It has amplified the departure of Damon Wilson II, who transferred out of Georgia to Missouri, where he\u2019s the highest-rated edge defender in the SEC, per PFF, and has 22 QB pressures while UGA doesn\u2019t have anyone with more than 12.<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs acquired Army transfer Elo Modozie through the portal, but to his point, the former cadet has yet to make a significant impact on his 55 snaps in five games, recording just one quarterback pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you bring in a transfer, there\u2019s always an element of, how are they gonna fit in with our people?\u201d UGA defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann said during preseason camp. \u201cWhen we bring people in, do we think they fit our culture? And he\u2019s done a great job of that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe things you saw on tape that made us interested in him coming here, you see those, and I think as he gets more and more reps, he\u2019ll continue to see more and more of what he can do from an edge rusher standpoint and setting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Junior Gabe Harris Jr., a top-100 recruit signed by UGA out of IMG Academy, has started all five games and played 171 snaps, has generated five QB pressures, but has no sacks.<\/p>\n
Situational awareness<\/p>\n
Smart noted UGA didn\u2019t get Tennessee in enough down-and-distance situations to capitalize with subbed-in pressure packages and said film review indicated Georgia did a good job with its pass rush, even if it didn\u2019t deliver the results.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe executed at a high level, we did not have a lack of execution on third down\u201a\u201d Smart said. \u201c… When you play in the home environment, you go back and say, \u2018OK, is there a lack of execution?\u2019 No, there wasn\u2019t a lack of execution.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was really good execution and a high-level quarterback play. Give him a lot of credit, shake his hand, say he did a great job. The ball came out before some of our rush got there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smart said Monday he has been pleased with Georgia\u2019s dealings with transfers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had some success going into the portal and bringing guys in to help our team. I look at (Trevor) Etienne last year and the impact he had, it\u2019s easy to do,\u201d Smart said. \u201cYou have to be better than the guys in front of you and play better than the guys in front of you. That\u2019s the truth, whether you\u2019re here or anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
FLASHING BACK<\/p>\n
To Smart\u2019s point, Etienne\u2019s contributions occurred at key times in the middle and at the end of the 2024 regular season in wins over Texas.<\/p>\n
Etienne, a transfer tailback from Florida, had 22 touches and accounted for 110 of the team\u2019s 283 yards, along with scoring all three of Georgia\u2019s touchdowns in a 30-15 win at Texas.<\/p>\n
In the SEC title game, against the Longhorns again, Etienne had 21 touches and was responsible for 122 of the team\u2019s 277 total yards and scored both of UGA\u2019s touchdowns in a 22-19 overtime win.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not a stretch to say that without Etienne, the Bulldogs would not have finished as SEC champions.<\/p>\n
Stetson Bennett is another successful transfer story. Georgia signed Bennett as a transfer following the 2018 season after Justin Fields elected to transfer to Ohio State, leaving UGA in need of a backup quarterback for Jake Fromm.<\/p>\n
Bennett had enjoyed great success in his season at Jones Junior College in Mississippi before returning to Georgia as an 11th-hour signee.<\/p>\n
Bennett\u2019s well-documented Cinderella story unfolded from there, with him leading the Bulldogs to national championships in 2021 and 2022 and finishing as a Heisman Trophy finalist.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was all revved up and ready to go to Lafayette, and then they called me,\u201d Bennett said on the ESPN-Plus show \u201cEli\u2019s Places\u201d in 2022, recalling the 2019 signing day call from Georgia that led him from then Louisiana-Lafayette coach Billy Napier and back to UGA, where he began his career as a walk-on during the 2017 season. \u201cI still thought I was good enough, and I could feel that in the back of my brain, so I ended up giving it another go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Georgia has lost more transfers than it has added, most notably after winning the 2021 championship. The Bulldogs had an NFL-record 15 players drafted off the 2021 title team, and that was compounded by 14 players entering the transfer portal \u2014 nine from Georgia\u2019s two-deep depth chart.<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs responded with a perfect 15-0 season in 2022, arguably the most impressive reloading effort in college football history.<\/p>\n
Modern-day challenges<\/p>\n
Revenue sharing and NIL dealings have led to more parity and more challenges retaining and securing talent in today\u2019s college game.<\/p>\n
But Smart remains optimistic this Georgia football team ultimately has what it takes, even if the early season has revealed concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a lot of confidence in our defensive unit, team, pass rush, coverage, third-down plan,\u201d Smart said. \u201cI feel good about it. I don\u2019t feel good about the stats, but stats are misleading, guys. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been very pleased with the guys we\u2019ve gotten out of (the portal) and what they\u2019ve done to help us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a look at the last two years of Georgia\u2019s portal additions, and departures, and how they are faring in 2025:<\/p>\n
2025 Georgia portal additions<\/p>\n
(Pro Football Focus ratings)<\/p>\n
WR Zachariah Branch from USC<\/p>\n
Highest graded receiver in rotation, has played 167 snaps at receiver, leads team with 26 targets and tied for team lead with 18 catches. Has 234 yards receiving (second on team) and tied for team lead with 2 TD catches. His 227 yards after catch are nearly twice as much as any other receiver (Colbie Young, 118). Has four kick returns for 72 yards and five punt returns for 56 yards.<\/p>\n
RB Josh McCray from Illinois <\/p>\n
Has played 40 snaps in five games, has 21 carries for 50 yards and is tied for second on team with 3 rushing touchdowns.<\/p>\n
WR Noah Thomas from Texas A&M<\/p>\n
Has played 106 snaps in five games, lowest-graded receiver, has three catches on five target for 24 yards.<\/p>\n
EDGE Elo Modozie from Army<\/p>\n
Has played 55 snaps in five games, highest-graded Edge player, has four tackles and one QB pressure<\/p>\n
DL Josh Horton from Miami<\/p>\n
Has played 48 snaps in five games, fourth highest-rated defensive lineman in rotation, has two tackles and one QB hurry.<\/p>\n
SS Adrian Maddox from UAB<\/p>\n
Has played 64 snaps in three games, has two tackles, allowed one catch for 1 yards the one time targeted by opposing QB.<\/p>\n
SS Jaden Harris from Miami<\/p>\n
Has played 23 defensive snaps in one game, has allowed two catches for 28 yards the two times targeted for <\/p>\n
SS Zion Branch from USC<\/p>\n
Has played 56 defensive snaps in three games, has eight tackles, has allowed three catches for 30 yards the three times targeted by opposing quarterbacks.<\/p>\n
WR Micah Bell from Vanderbilt <\/p>\n
Has not played any offensive snaps. Has played 12 special teams snaps in three games, five on kick coverage, five on punt return and two on punt coverage.<\/p>\n
2025 players who left Georgia through portal<\/p>\n
QB Carson Beck to Miami<\/p>\n
Co-Heisman Trophy favorite on No. 2-ranked Hurricanes, has played 312 snaps as starting QB, ranks 8th in the nation in completion percentage (73.4) and 15th in the nation in passing efficiency, has 11 TD passes and 3 interceptions.<\/p>\n
DE Damon Wilson ll to Missouri<\/p>\n
Second-highest graded defensive player at Missouri, has played 140 snaps and has 22 QB pressures and 3 QB sacks.<\/p>\n
CB Julio Humphrey to Texas A&M<\/p>\n
Highest-graded cornerback on Aggies team, has played 59 snaps in four games and has one tackle<\/p>\n
CB Chris Peal to Syracuse<\/p>\n
Second-highest graded defensive player at Syracuse, has played 353 snaps, ranks fourth on team with 21 tackles, has allowed 19 catches and one TD while targeted 34 times.<\/p>\n
WR Anthony Evans to Mississippi State<\/p>\n
Has played 326 snaps with team-high 31 catches on 38 targets and is second on tam with 362 yards receiving.<\/p>\n
WR Nitro Tuggle to Purdue<\/p>\n
Has played 287 snaps at receiver, third on team with 13 catches on 25 targets, has 224 yards recovering and team-high 3 TD receiving.<\/p>\n
WR Michael Jackson lll to Purdue<\/p>\n
Has played 270 snaps at receiver, leads team with 32 catches for for 305 yards on 39 targets<\/p>\n
OL Marques Easley to Purdue<\/p>\n
Has not appeared in a game.<\/p>\n
WR Rara Thomas to Troy<\/p>\n
Has played 131 snaps and has 11 receptions on 27 targets for 150 yards and tied for team lead with 2 TD catches.<\/p>\n
EDGE Sam M\u2019Pemba to Texas A&M<\/p>\n
Highest-graded player on Aggies defense, but has appeared in only two games and played 19 defensives snaps. M\u2019Pemba has two tackles, 1.5 TFLs and one sack.<\/p>\n
DT Jamaal Jarrett to USC<\/p>\n
Has played 43 snaps in five games, has two tackles along with a 70-yard interception return for a TD against Purdue.<\/p>\n
RB Branson Robinson to Georgia State <\/p>\n
Has played 75 snaps in five games for Panthers, has 22 carries for 88 yards with a long run of 47 yards.<\/p>\n
FS David Daniel-Sisavanh to Troy<\/p>\n
Has played 260 snaps and has 12 tackles, has allowed six catches and 111 yards the nine times targeted by QBs.<\/p>\n
FS Justyn Rhett to Nebraska<\/p>\n
Has played 31 snaps in two games, has one tackle, gave up a catch for 16 yards the one time he was thrown at.<\/p>\n
LB Troy Bowles to Michigan <\/p>\n
Has played 51 snaps in four games, has seven tackles.<\/p>\n
QB Jaden Rashada to Sacramento State<\/p>\n
Has played 93 snaps in five games and completed 15 passes on 40 attempts for 218 yards with a TD and interception, and has carried 8 times for 29 yards with a fumble.<\/p>\n
SS Jake Pope to UNLV<\/p>\n
Has played 274 snaps in five games, has made 18 tackles, has two pass break-ups and allowed 13 catches for 168 yards the 19 times he was thrown at<\/p>\n
SS Collin Gill to Charlotte<\/p>\n
Has played 119 defensive snaps in four games and is third-highest graded safety for the 49ers, listed as the back-up nickleback.<\/p>\n
P Noah Jones to Samford<\/p>\n
Has punted 38 times with 12 inside the opponents\u2019 20-yard line with an average of 39.2, has had one punt blocked.<\/p>\n
2024 Georgia portal additions<\/p>\n
(2025 stats)<\/p>\n
WR London Humpheys, from Vanderbilt <\/p>\n
Has played 164 snaps in five games, has 11 catches for 140 yards on 13 targets, top run-blocking grade in receiver rotation.<\/p>\n
LS Beau Gardner, from UCLA<\/p>\n
Georgia\u2019s starting long snapper, a preseason All-SEC pick after earning first-team All-SEC honors from the coaches last season.<\/p>\n
WR Colbie Young, from Miami<\/p>\n
Leads receivers with 235 snaps in five games, has 18 catches for a team-high 247 yards receiving on 23 targets.<\/p>\n
DT Xzavier McLeod from South Carolina<\/p>\n
Has played 84 snaps in five games, has one QB pressure and three tackles this season.<\/p>\n
2024 players who left Georgia through portal<\/p>\n
(Current team, 2025 stats)<\/p>\n
EDGE Marvin Jones Jr. to Florida State to Oklahoma<\/p>\n
Has played 148 snaps in five games, has 5 QB pressures, has five tackles and one sack.<\/p>\n
CB A.J. Harris to Penn State<\/p>\n
Has played 248 snaps in five games, has 11 tackles, has allowed seven tackles the nine times targeted for 92 yards and a touchdown.<\/p>\n
LB Xavian Sorey Jr. to Arkansas <\/p>\n
Has played 287 snaps in five games, has 22 tackles, nine QB pressures and a sack and has allowed seven catches for 86 yards the 11 times targeted. <\/p>\n
LB EJ Lightsey to Georgia Tech<\/p>\n
Second-highest graded linebacker, has played 222 snaps in five games, has 23 tackles and 3 QB pressures. Has allowed four catches for 26 yards the 10 times targeted.<\/p>\n
WR Mekhi Mews to Houston<\/p>\n
Has played 77 snaps in five games, has 4 catches on five targets for 20 yards, has 7 kick returns for 166 yards, and 9 punt returns for 50 yards.<\/p>\n
CB Patrick Taylor to Jacksonville State<\/p>\n
Has played 15 offensive snaps in two games; has played 43 snaps on special teams in four games, including 22 on kick return, 11 on punt return.<\/p>\n
WR Tyler Williams, to Minnesota to South Florida<\/p>\n
Has not played, rehabbing a knee injury.<\/p>\n
RB Andrew Paul to Jacksonville State<\/p>\n
Has played 31 snaps on offense in two games, has 13 carries for 92 yards and 2 TD; has played seven kick return snaps in 2 games, has one kick return for 12 yards.<\/p>\n
OT Aliou Bah to Maryland<\/p>\n
Has played 281 snaps in five games, highest rated starting offensive guard.<\/p>\n
CB Nyland Green to Purdue to Arizona State<\/p>\n
The former 5-star Georgia recruit transferred to play for the Sun Devils after a season at Purdue and has played in three games with 44 defensive snaps with one tackle and one QB pressure.<\/p>\n
OL Chad Lindberg to Rice to North Carolina<\/p>\n
Second-highest rated offensive lineman, has played 264 snaps in five games at center.<\/p>\n
WR CJ Smith to Purdue to Memphis<\/p>\n
Has played 69 snaps in five games, has not caught a pass this season, has played 18 snaps on special teams, 16 on punt coverage and 2 on punt return team.<\/p>\n
WR De\u2019Nylon Morrissette to Purdue<\/p>\n
Has not played this season, lower leg injury<\/p>\n
OL Joshua Mller to Syracuse<\/p>\n
Has played 83 snaps in four games at offensive tackle. Among back-ups, highest graded tackle.<\/p>\n
EDGE CJ Madden to Purdue<\/p>\n
Has played 211 snaps in five games, has 6 QB pressures and a sack, has seven tackles.<\/p>\n
DL Jonathan Jefferson to SMU<\/p>\n
Has not played this season, out with knee injury<\/p>\n
EDGE Darris Smith to Missouri<\/p>\n
Has played 111 snaps in five games, has 14 QB pressures, has two tackles.<\/p>\n
K Jared Zirkel to Texas A&M<\/p>\n
Has made 11 of 12 extra-point kicks and only field goal attempted. <\/p>\n
OL Austin Blaske to North Carolina<\/p>\n
Has played 126 offensive snaps in two games at tackle, suffered a broken foot in preseason. <\/p>\n
WR Jackson Meeks to Syracuse<\/p>\n
Signed with Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent and made the 53-man roster. Has played in one NFL game, but has yet to catch a pass.<\/p>\n
LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson to Kentucky<\/p>\n
Signed with Green Bay as an undrafted free agent and is on the Packers\u2019 practice squad.<\/p>\n
WR Zeed Haynes to Syracuse<\/p>\n
Retired from football<\/p>\n
QB Brock Vandagriff to Kentucky<\/p>\n
Retired from football<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ATHENS \u2014 Georgia\u2019s recent transfer portal dealings are under scrutiny, but critics might want to give things a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":214294,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[399,121758,121759,398,396,397,99],"class_list":{"0":"post-214293","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-football-2025","10":"tag-georgia-outside-linebacker-elo-modozie-18","11":"tag-ncaa","12":"tag-ncaa-football","13":"tag-ncaafootball","14":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214293","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=214293"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214293\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/214294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=214293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=214293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=214293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}