When Georgia’s 2025 season came to a close in a 39-34 heartbreaker, KJ Bolden wasn’t sulking. He was already looking ahead.
That mindset-equal parts maturity and hunger-is exactly what head coach Kirby Smart wants to see from his veteran safety. Bolden, who wrapped up his sophomore campaign with All-SEC honors, didn’t waste time dwelling on the loss. Instead, he leaned into the moment, acknowledging the pain while keeping his eyes locked on the bigger picture.
“The emotions are high for sure, but you just got to take it like a man,” Bolden said after the game. “I know we can do better. We just got to keep going, keep getting better.”
That’s not just talk. Bolden’s 2025 numbers tell the story of a player who was everywhere: 76 tackles (second on the team), 2 interceptions, 5 pass breakups, and 2.5 tackles for loss. And he did it while Georgia’s secondary was in flux down the stretch.
Injuries and ejections forced the Bulldogs to reshuffle the back end of their defense late in the season. Freshman Rasean Dinkins was thrust into the starting star role after Joenel Aguero went down with a wrist injury. Then, during the Ole Miss game, safety Jacorey Thomas was ejected just before halftime for targeting, forcing Zion Branch into unexpected action.
Through all of it, Bolden was the steadying force. He was the communicator, the enforcer, and the glue that held the secondary together. Even when the unit struggled-like it did against Ole Miss and quarterback Trinidad Chambliss-Bolden’s presence kept the group from unraveling.
“KJ is already a leader,” cornerback Daylen Everette said. “Last year, even though we had a lot of leaders, he was one of them. So it’s really nothing that’s going to be new to him… he already knows what it takes to be a leader at the University of Georgia in that position.”
That leadership showed up again in the immediate aftermath of the season-ending loss. After a 40-yard reception set up the game-winning field goal attempt, Bolden went straight to Demello Jones-his roommate and the defensive back in coverage on the play.
“You’re not going to always be perfect,” Bolden said. “When we get to the house, I’m going to always talk to him and make sure he’s straight and make sure his head is lifted. At the end of the day, we’re not done playing football… Just let that motivate you to next season and go out there and be a dog like he is.”
The Bulldogs’ secondary will look different in 2026. Everette is off to the NFL.
Aguero transferred to Ole Miss. Georgia brought in four transfers this offseason to help restock the defensive backfield.
But the anchor remains the same.
Bolden is the guy now-not just as a playmaker, but as the voice in the room. And with national expectations already swirling, On3 has him pegged as a First Team All-American heading into next season.
Still, Bolden’s locked in on team goals. The sting of falling short in 2025 is fueling the offseason grind, and Bolden made it clear he’s not satisfied with individual accolades.
“Anytime you lose, it’s going to motivate you, for sure,” he said. “Hopefully, in the offseason, we go out there and attack it like we did this year. And we just got to keep getting better and just keep finding little ways to improve and learn how to finish, and we’re going to be good.”
The Bulldogs have the talent. They’ve got the coaching.
And now, with Bolden stepping fully into the leadership role, they’ve got the voice to rally behind. If Georgia is going to make a deeper College Football Playoff run in 2026, it’ll be with No. 1 leading the charge-both on the field and in the locker room.