SEC spring football notebook: Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs, the reigning College Football Playoff national champions, took the field at Sanford Stadium last Saturday for the annual G-Day Game. This year though, like any team coming off of a national title season, a lot of eyes will be on the Bulldogs. This is a team with a lot of new faces on defense, and there are some key guys returning on the offensive side of the ball for Kirby Smart. 

Stetson Bennett is the guy

Contrary to some people’s beliefs, Stetson Bennett will most likely be the starter, barring injury, on September 3 when the Bulldogs take the field against Oregon to start the season. We saw the way he carried Georgia in the second half of the National Championship Game against Alabama before electing to come back for another year. Carson Beck is the guy everyone is talking about this spring, and the redshirt sophomore and had a good performance in the G-Day Game, going 14 for 26 in the air for 274 yards. Some fans have fallen in love with Beck, but Smart made it clear that Bennett is the guy under center. 

The defense has some work to do

Georgia had one of the best defenses in some time in college football last season. However, so far this spring, the Bulldogs are showing that have some work to do. Granted, while some guys were out for Saturday’s G-Day Game, the depth in the secondary is pretty thin overall. However, the first 11 has promise once everyone is healthy. Also, the Bulldogs have a couple of talented guys that will be coming in this summer that can help fill holes and provide depth. Kelee Ringo is back and just like last year, he will be key to the Georgia defense this season.

Transfer portal success 

In the offseason, the Bulldogs picked up former LSU tight end Arik Gilbert, and he did nothing but impress on Saturday by scoring two touchdowns for the Black team. Amarius Mims, who announced last week that he would be transferring, reversed course and announced that he will remain with the Bulldogs, which is huge for the offensive line.