SEC Media Days got rolling Monday, and Georgia found itself in the conversation even before Kirby Smart and three Bulldogs were set to speak on Tuesday.
One of the more interesting developments came from Oklahoma, where Brent Venables spent part of the day making a strong case for the Sooners and Bulldogs to be on friendly terms. Venables had plenty of praise for Georgia, going so far as to call the Bulldogs the "golden standard" of college football over the last few years. He also spoke highly of former Oklahoma defensive back Gentry Williams, who transferred to Georgia this offseason.
Whether that warm tone survives once the two teams meet later this season is another question. For now, though, Georgia may have found an unlikely ally in Oklahoma.
Elsewhere, a former Bulldog from Georgia’s 2021 national title defense landed a major payday in the NFL. Devonte Wyatt signed a 3-year $57 million extension with the Green Bay Packers on Monday, complete with a $20 million signing bonus.
Wyatt was a key piece of that 2021 Georgia defense, finishing with six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He was then taken 28th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft by Green Bay and has kept producing at the next level.
Through four NFL seasons, Wyatt has posted 101 tackles, 16 sacks, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. That kind of production made him worth the investment for the Packers, who locked up their former first-round pick for the long haul.
And while the betting world still isn’t ready to move off Texas, a different group is backing Georgia. Vegas is picking the Longhorns to win the SEC for the third straight year, even though Georgia has already beaten that prediction the last two times.
247Sports’ media panel sees it differently, voting Georgia as the most likely team to win the conference. Texas may still be getting the loudest buzz, but Georgia getting that kind of respect from national media is a welcome change.
In Other News...
Gunner Stockton Just Entered Georgias Mike Bobo Debate
Gunner Stockton has only been in the spotlight as Georgias quarterback for a short time, but he is already stepping into one of the programs familiar debates. The conversation around offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has never really gone away, and Stockton made clear he sees the job from the inside, backing the coachs approach and pointing to the grind that goes into building an offense every week.
That support matters because Georgia is heading toward a season in which the passing game will need to look sharper, especially with several key receivers moving on to the NFL. The Bulldogs have the talent and the expectations to keep pushing forward, but whether Stockton and Bobo can turn that confidence into a more dangerous downfield attack is the question hanging over the offense now. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smart Just Confirmed A Major Georgia Backfield Setback
Georgias running back room took a hit this week when Kirby Smart confirmed that transfer back Dante Dowdell is dealing with an injury that will keep him out for a significant stretch. Smart did not offer a firm timetable, leaving some uncertainty around when Dowdell might be able to return, but the news is enough to alter the early shape of the backfield as the Bulldogs move deeper into camp.
With Dowdell sidelined, Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens are the names expected to carry the load for now, giving Georgia a clearer picture of its top options but a thinner margin for error. The backfield setback comes alongside another injury note for the Bulldogs, as Auburn transfer Amaris Williams is already out for the season with a torn ACL, adding to the list of roster questions Georgia has to manage before the opener. [Read more 🡒]