Georgia is heading into fall camp with one problem that kept showing up last season: not enough heat on the quarterback.
The Bulldogs opened the year with hopes of pushing back into the national title game, but their pass rush never really became the kind of weapon it needed to be. Georgia finished with the fewest sacks in the SEC at 20, and the issue showed up again in the Sugar Bowl, where Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss wasn’t brought down in the upset loss.
That’s why redshirt freshman edge Chase Linton is drawing attention now. If Georgia is going to get more out of its defense in 2026, he looks like one of the players most capable of helping make that happen.
Linton came to Athens as a four-star 2025 recruit from Atlanta, and his build fits what Georgia wants off the edge. He’s listed at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, with the length and athletic traits that made him appealing coming out of high school. He was known for his effort, bend and explosiveness, and that profile lines up neatly with how the Bulldogs like to develop pass rushers.
“We recruited Chase because of some redeeming qualities," Kirby Smart said via dawgpost.com. “Character, effort, intelligence.
He's exemplified those things, and probably been tougher than I expected in terms of the guy likes contact. He likes hard work.
He's been a high motor player for us.”
Georgia didn’t get much pass-rush production from its two true starting edge rushers last season. Gabe Harris and Quintavius Johnson combined for just three sacks, even though both were useful against the run. Harris, in particular, was starting to trend upward late in the year before an injury kept him out of the Sugar Bowl.
That left Georgia leaning too heavily on blitzes to create pressure, which opened up more space behind it in coverage. The Bulldogs need a more reliable four-man rush, not just effort and disruption but actual finishes.
Linton could help there if he stays healthy and earns a role early, especially as a third-down rusher. He missed most of his freshman season after an early injury, then returned for Georgia’s final four games. He also reportedly stood out during spring work, putting himself in position to carry that momentum into camp.
“He runs to the ball really hard, he plays with twitch and he plays bigger than he is,” Smart said. “I've been very pleased with Chase's progress, and we need him to get better to give us some of the pass rush we need."
Along with fellow 2025 recruits Darren Ikinnagbon and Isaiah Gibson, Linton could become part of the answer for a defense that needs more than just pressure - it needs the kind that ends drives. If that happens, Georgia’s front could look a lot different this season.
In Other News...
Georgia Fall Camp Opens With One Lingering Injury Concern
Fall camp opened with Kirby Smart once again having to balance competition and caution, a familiar Georgia theme in August. The early injury update gave a clearer picture of who can be pushed and who needs time, with defensive back Kyron Jones still working back from a foot injury, while defensive end Gabe Harris and center Drew Bobo are both expected to be limited after recent surgeries.
There was also movement on running back Dante Dowdell, who is improving after the ATV accident that sidelined him. Even so, the next steps for Georgias offense and special teams depth will depend on how quickly the team can get its key pieces back into a fuller practice rhythm, and how much patience the staff is willing to show while camp intensity ramps up. [Read more 🡒]
Georgias SEC Grip Is Suddenly Facing Its Biggest Test Yet
Paul Finebaum raised the stakes around the SEC race this week by suggesting Georgias run of conference dominance could be headed for its toughest challenge yet. He pointed to Steve Sarkisian and Texas as the team best positioned to knock the Bulldogs off their perch, a reminder that the SEC conversation has shifted with new heavyweights pushing into the picture.
Finebaum also used the moment to widen the lens beyond Athens, noting that Kalen DeBoers early run at Alabama has been tested by recent losses and the way they have affected fan confidence. Even so, his larger point was clear: for Georgia and Texas alike, the SEC crown matters, but the real measure is whether either program can turn that momentum into a national championship. [Read more 🡒]