The 2025 college football season was packed with standout performances, and when the dust settled, Georgia had four players land on the Top 100 list - one more than a year ago. From a gritty quarterback to a lockdown corner and a record-breaking transfer, these Bulldogs left their mark in a big way.
Let’s break down how each of them earned their spot among the nation's best.
Daylen Everette (CB) - No. 72 Overall
Daylen Everette didn’t crack the preseason Top 100, but by the end of the year, he made sure his name was one voters couldn’t ignore. The senior cornerback capped off a productive Georgia career with a pair of statement plays in his final two games that showcased both his instincts and big-game poise.
In the SEC Championship Game against Alabama, Everette baited Ty Simpson into a throw and jumped the route intended for Germie Bernard, returning the pick 34 yards to set up Georgia’s second touchdown. Then in the Sugar Bowl against Ole Miss, he scooped up a fumble and took it 47 yards to the house, giving the Bulldogs a nine-point cushion in a high-scoring CFP quarterfinal.
At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Everette was a consistent presence in Georgia’s secondary over four seasons. He finished his career with five interceptions, 24 pass deflections, and 150 tackles in 42 games.
Coaches across the SEC took notice, naming him third-team All-SEC in back-to-back seasons. He also earned Defensive MVP honors in the 2024 SEC Championship Game against Texas - a fitting accolade for a player who always showed up when it mattered most.
Gunner Stockton (QB) - No. 64 Overall, No. 12 Among QBs
Gunner Stockton took some hits this season - literally and figuratively - but never flinched. In his first full year as Georgia’s starting quarterback, Stockton embodied the physical, resilient identity that’s become a Kirby Smart trademark. And he did it while putting up numbers that placed him firmly among the top quarterbacks in the country.
Stockton threw for 2,894 yards and 24 touchdowns, completing nearly 70 percent of his passes (269-of-386), and added 462 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. He was the engine behind three fourth-quarter comeback wins - against Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Florida - and helped Georgia capture its second straight SEC title, a feat the program hadn’t pulled off since the early '80s.
He finished seventh in Heisman voting, but Stockton’s value went beyond the stat sheet. He played tough, smart football and gave Georgia a steady hand under center when the pressure was highest. For a first-year starter, that’s no small feat.
Zachariah Branch (WR) - No. 59 Overall, No. 9 Among WRs
Zachariah Branch came to Athens with sky-high expectations after transferring from USC, and he didn’t just meet them - he shattered records along the way.
Georgia made Branch its top portal priority after the 2024 season, and it paid off in a big way. He led the SEC with 81 receptions, breaking the school’s single-season record that had stood since 1993. He turned those catches into 811 yards and six touchdowns, giving Georgia a dynamic playmaker who could stretch the field, move the chains, and make defenders miss in space.
Branch also contributed on special teams, averaging 20.5 yards per kickoff return and 12.07 yards per punt return. His versatility earned him Second-Team All-SEC honors and a Third-Team nod as both a wide receiver and all-purpose player. In just one season with the Bulldogs, Branch became a difference-maker - the kind of player who tilts the field every time he touches the ball.
CJ Allen (LB) - No. 25 Overall, No. 3 Among LBs
CJ Allen was the heart of Georgia’s defense in 2025 - a sideline-to-sideline linebacker who brought consistency, leadership, and a whole lot of production to the middle of the field.
Allen led the Bulldogs with 85 tackles and eight tackles for loss, adding 4.5 sacks, an interception, 11 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. He hit double-digit tackles in four of Georgia’s biggest regular-season matchups - Tennessee, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Florida - and was a driving force behind a defense that finished second in the SEC in both run defense (81.5 yards per game) and scoring defense (17.6 points per game).
Awards followed: Allen was a First-Team All-American selection by the FWAA and earned Second-Team honors from both the AFCA and Walter Camp. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy, and a semifinalist for the Bednarik and Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Awards.
Bottom line: Allen didn’t just rack up stats - he anchored a defense that got better as the season wore on and helped keep Georgia in the national title hunt all year long.
Final Thoughts
Georgia’s presence in the Top 100 speaks to the program’s continued dominance and player development. Whether it was a veteran corner making clutch plays, a first-year quarterback showing grit, a transfer receiver rewriting the record books, or a linebacker leading one of the nation’s top defenses - the Bulldogs had stars at every level.
Four players made the final cut. All four earned it the hard way.