Spring practice has also ended. A transfer portal window opened and closed. As we head into the summer, the college football roster is finally stabilizing.
“I think for us, when spring ball ended, it gave us an opportunity to take a little break and take a deep breath once the portal was over. That was April 30th,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart recently said. He spoke on the Paul Finbaum show. “This month, May, has been a great month so far. Our players are finishing their final exams. They have a day off, we have a day off, and we don't have to transfer now. .The window we are in now is good.”
With most of the dust settled in the spring, ESPN has updated its Top 25 rankings for the 2024 college football season.
Even after Alabama, Texas, and Ohio State all made significant additions through the transfer portal, Georgia remains in first place. That's not so much the addition of eight new players via the transfer portal, but the stars the Bulldogs have developed over multiple seasons.
“Quarterback Carson Beck is ready for a big season and will be surrounded by a plethora of playmakers and one of the best offensive lines in the sport,” ESPN's Mark Schlabach said. I wrote. “We need to identify replacements on Interior's defensive line and secondary, but that hasn't been an issue lately. Mikel Williams, who is scheduled to play as an outside linebacker this season, is a pass rusher. Looks like it's ready to break out.”
Williams had a dynamic performance in the University of Georgia's spring game, including an interception. He arguably played his best game in the 2023 season against Florida State, spending more time as an outside linebacker for the Bulldogs.
Williams has recorded 4.5 sacks in each of his first two seasons. He looks poised to break that record heading into his junior season.
“I thought he had a really good spring from a leadership and toughness standpoint. He didn't get a lot of reps,” Smart said after Georgia's spring game. “He's a second-year starter. But if he comes back in the fall and we continue to add Joseph, Jonah Adjonier, and Justin Green, he'll have a chance to get more reps. There are some defenses that are captivating. He was a factor today.”
Schlabach acknowledged Georgia's schedule is more difficult. The Bulldogs will play road games against No. 3 Texas, No. 6 Ole Miss, and No. 7 Alabama. Georgia will also play No. 15 Tennessee and No. 16 Clemson next season.
Smart is already well aware of the fact that many will use the upcoming schedule as a reason to doubt Georgia.
“Some people will feel like we have a problem. It's a really hard schedule,” Smart said. “We play three top-15 teams on the road in our conference. It's tough. But we have a good football team. Our football team is very consistent. We always say, But we're built to stay in Georgia. We don't want to be a one-hit wonder.”
Georgia will open the 2024 season against Clemson on Aug. 31. The game is scheduled for a noon kickoff on ABC.
