Georgia Bulldogs 2026 Season Preview

Stockton enters his second full season under center and profiles as one of the most experienced hands in the league. He completed nearly 70 percent of his throws for 2,894 yards with 24 touchdowns against just five interceptions, and his legs are a genuine weapon after 462 rushing yards and 10 scores. He was at his best in the clutch, in the fourth quarter, on fourth down, and when trailing, the traits that fueled the comeback in the SEC title game, though he struggled in the loss to Notre Dame. The rub is explosiveness. Georgia averaged 32.1 points and ranked just 12th in the SEC in passing yards, and Smart wants more chunk plays through the air. Stockton has to shrink the gap between his ceiling and his floor, because the Bulldogs will go only as far as he carries them. Ryan Puglisi and Ryan Montgomery are the backups.

This is the roster's rawest room. There is real talent but almost no proven production outside of Georgia Tech transfer Isiah Canion, the most experienced option after 33 catches for 480 yards and four touchdowns. London Humphreys is the top holdover and brings big-game experience, but he has mostly worked in supporting roles. Beyond them, the Bulldogs lean on an explosive but green group of youngsters including Talyn Taylor, Landon Roldan, Sacovie White-Helton, and CJ Wiley. The tight end room is the safety net: it is strong and deep, led by veteran Lawson Luckie, who has 506 yards over the last two seasons at better than 13 per catch. Elyiss Williams, Ethan Barbour, and touted true freshman Kaiden Prothro give the offense a reliable middle-of-the-field answer while the receivers grow up.

The backfield is loaded. Nate Frazier is the lead back after 173 carries for 947 yards at 5.5 a pop with six touchdowns, and he is chasing history as the first Georgia runner since Garrison Hearst in 1992 to pace the team in rushing three straight years. Chauncey Bowens is a proven complement with 526 yards and six scores, and Kentucky transfer Dante Dowdell adds size and short-yardage punch to a group that also returns big-play threat Dwight Phillips Jr. This is the deepest, most settled unit on the offense.

Four blockers with significant starting experience return, headlined by longtime left tackle Earnest Greene III, a multi-year anchor on the edge. Veteran center Drew Bobo is the pivot, though a foot injury in November cost him all of spring practice; he is expected back by fall. Dontrell Glover slots inside at guard, with Juan Gaston, 6-foot-10 Jahzare Jackson, and true freshman Zykie Helton competing to round out the front. There are moving pieces, but the talent and experience are ahead of most.

Georgia returns 21 defenders who logged meaningful snaps, and the front is anchored by Xzavier McLeod and ultra-talented sophomore Elijah Griffin, a former five-star who earned Freshman All-American honors and has drawn comparisons to ex-Bulldog Jalen Carter; he could develop into one of the league's best. The priority here is pressure. Georgia finished last in the SEC in sacks at just 1.4 per game, 20 for the season, and Smart went hunting for havoc. He landed Amaris Williams from Auburn to fix it, but Williams tore his ACL in a noncontact spring drill and will miss the season, so the burden shifts back to holdovers. Edge Quintavius Johnson, who logged 35 tackles and six tackles for loss, is the swing piece, and a new outside linebackers coach was brought in specifically to unlock the rush.

The inside linebacker corps may be the strength of the entire team. Raylen Wilson is the veteran leader after 74 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss, and Chris Cole broke out with 59 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and pass-rush juice from the second level. Alongside Justin Williams, they form what is widely regarded as one of the SEC's top trios, a fast, deep group that lets Glenn Schumann's defense play downhill.

The secondary is loaded with pro talent. Ellis Robinson IV emerged as a shutdown corner, leading the SEC with four interceptions and breaking up seven passes, and he is the centerpiece. KJ Bolden is regarded as one of the conference's best safeties after a 76-tackle campaign. The staff shored up the room with Clemson transfer Khalil Barnes, an Athens native and three-year starter who piled up 139 tackles and seven interceptions with the Tigers and had an impressive spring at the Star nickel spot. Oklahoma transfer Gentry Williams adds veteran corner depth after four interceptions across three seasons there, with Demello Jones also in the mix. This is a top-tier back end.

Senior kicker Peyton Woodring is as dependable as they come, having converted 17 of 19 field goals, including in big moments. Drew Miller, a strong-legged sophomore praised for his hang time, takes over the punting job from Brett Thorson. The open question is the return game, where Georgia must replace Zachariah Branch; Sacovie White-Helton is aiming to handle punt returns.