Georgia’s Secondary Reset: Can Braylon Conley Break Through in 2026?
ATHENS - Georgia’s defense is no stranger to reloading, but the secondary is facing one of its biggest overhauls in recent memory. The Bulldogs lost eight defensive backs from the 2025 roster - a mix of NFL-bound talent and transfer portal exits.
Four of those players were multi-game starters last season. Two more were expected to step into bigger roles this fall.
That’s a lot of production - and potential - walking out the door.
Kirby Smart and his defensive staff didn’t waste time addressing the void. Georgia brought in four new defensive backs through the portal, including former USC cornerback Braylon Conley, who became the second DB addition of the cycle. Now, the question becomes: Who steps up as the third corner in this retooled secondary?
Last season, Daniel Harris opened the year starting opposite senior Daylen Everette. But Harris was eventually rotated out and opted to transfer before the season ended - he’s now at Cal. That left Georgia leaning on a pair of young but talented defensive backs: Ellis Robinson IV and Demello Jones, who closed out the year as key contributors.
With Everette off to chase his NFL dreams and Harris now in Berkeley, the Bulldogs are looking for a new name to round out the rotation with Robinson IV and Jones. That’s where Conley enters the picture - but his path to playing time won’t be a walk in the park.
Conley is heading into his third season of college football. He redshirted in 2024 after appearing in just one game for USC.
Last year, he saw a bigger role, playing in most of the Trojans’ games and even earning a few starts. His stat line in 2025 - 14 tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup - doesn’t jump off the page, but it shows he’s capable of contributing in real game action.
Physically, Conley fits the mold. At six feet tall and nearly 200 pounds, he brings the size and frame Georgia likes in its corners.
He also has a built-in connection to the Bulldogs’ staff: defensive backs coach Donte Williams held the same position at USC when Conley committed there back in 2023. That familiarity could help ease his transition into the Bulldogs’ system - but it won’t guarantee him a spot in the rotation.
If there’s one thing Georgia’s recent history makes clear, it’s that transfer status doesn’t guarantee playing time. Just ask Adrian Maddox and Jaden Harris - both came in through the portal last year and saw very limited snaps.
Instead, Georgia leaned on in-house talent like JaCorey Thomas and Joenel Aguero. And with the late-season emergence of freshman Rasean Dinkins at nickel, the staff may once again favor development and continuity over outside additions.
That’s the challenge in front of Conley. He’ll be battling not just other transfers, but rising underclassmen who’ve been in the system and know the expectations.
And while Conley arrived at USC as a three-star recruit, Georgia has a well-documented history of turning overlooked prospects into stars. Javon Bullard and Ladd McConkey were both three-stars.
Now they’re national champions and rising NFL talents. Even Zachariah Branch - who didn’t see much action at USC - carved out a major role with Georgia last season.
So, the door is open for Conley. The question is whether he can walk through it.
If he proves himself in spring and fall camp, there’s a real opportunity to become that third corner Georgia needs. If not, he adds valuable depth to a group that will almost certainly need it over the course of a long, physical SEC schedule.
And with three years of eligibility remaining, his story in Athens is just beginning.
For now, the Bulldogs’ secondary is a mix of promise and uncertainty. But as always under Kirby Smart, competition will sort it out.