No. 3 Georgia heads into the 2026 season with no shortage of players who could take over games, and DawgNation’s staff was asked to pick the Bulldog most likely to dominate.
With the opener against Tennessee State almost here, the question centered on one thing: which Georgia player is ready to be a steady, game-changing force all season long? In other words, who looks capable of swinging a game, or even a season, the way elite players do. Georgia, of course, would love for that answer to apply to a whole group of Bulldogs, as long as they stay healthy.
Connor Riley went with Gabe Harris, pointing to how much Georgia missed him in the season-ending loss to Ole Miss. Riley said Harris grew into a disruptive presence on the defensive front late last season, and if that carries over into 2026, it could push Georgia back into the very top tier of the sport instead of ending its year after one playoff game.
Mike Griffith said Georgia’s ceiling is tied to Gunner Stockton, who will be running a powerful offense that depends on adjustments and checks at the line. Griffith highlighted Stockton’s ability as both a runner and a passer, especially with regular-season matchups against Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida and Ole Miss, plus the even tougher postseason tests that could follow.
Jeff Sentell chose Ellis Robinson and made the case in emphatic terms. Sentell noted Robinson came in as the nation’s No. 2 overall recruit, behind only Ohio State All-American Jeremiah Smith.
He said Robinson is the kind of player who can build a legacy, earn All-American recognition, become a future first-round pick and potentially be the best cornerback in Athens since Champ Bailey. Sentell also said Robinson can be the difference in the playoffs by locking down the opponent’s top receiver and forcing key turnovers.
Brandon Adams also landed on Robinson, calling him possibly the best cornerback in the country. Adams added that if opposing quarterbacks challenge him, Robinson could help Georgia hit one of its goals: creating more turnovers.
Cody Chaffins chose Chris Cole, citing the role he played last season as a “Jalon Walker Chess Piece” and noting that he led the team in sacks. Chaffins said Cole has made a point of sharpening his pass rush this offseason.
Kaylee Mansell made the same pick, defining dominance as pure disruption. She said Georgia’s returning sack leader has the ability to overwhelm offenses in the pass rush and the athleticism to force turnovers, adding that sometimes the obvious choice is the right one.
Sarah Spencer went with KJ Bolden, saying she agreed with the Robinson buzz but sees Bolden right there with him in a loaded Georgia secondary. Bolden finished second on the team with 76 tackles and two interceptions last season, and Spencer pointed to the way he fits into Georgia’s line of excellent safeties in the Kirby Smart era.
Smart has praised Bolden’s instincts, Lawson Luckie has spoken highly of his preparation, and Cole has noted Bolden’s growing leadership this offseason. Spencer said the stage is set for a stellar, dominant season.
In Other News...
Georgia Defense Gets A Boost Just In Time For Week 1
Georgias season opener comes with a cleaner injury picture than many teams get this time of year, and that matters for a defense trying to settle in quickly. The biggest concern on the report is the loss of transfer linebacker Amaris Williams to a torn ACL, along with transfer running back Dante Dowdell still working back from an ATV accident, but the overall list is short and the group around them appears to be in good shape.
The most encouraging update for Georgia is in the secondary, where starting safety Kyron Jones is back to full health and expected to start against Tennessee State. With starting center Drew Bobo also healthy and few other issues surfacing, the Bulldogs head into Week 1 with a chance to open the year closer to full strength than most programs can manage this early in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smart Is Back In A Conversation Georgia Fans Know Well
Kirby Smart is already back in a familiar kind of conversation as the season approaches, this time with ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit putting him among four early names to watch for the 2026 Coach of the Year race. Herbstreits group also includes Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame, Clark Lea at Vanderbilt and Curt Cignetti at Indiana, a mix that reflects how much attention can shift quickly when programs start stacking results and raising expectations.
For Georgia, the interest is as much about the standard as the competition. Smart has spent years operating in the highest-pressure tier of the sport, where anything less than another strong run draws scrutiny, and the Bulldogs again enter a season opener that will help set the tone for how that coaching conversation develops. With Herbstreit already identifying the field, Smart is once more where Georgia fans are used to seeing him: right in the middle of a national debate about who is setting the pace. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Williams Finally Has A Real Chance To Break Through At Georgia
Justin Williams has spent enough time around Georgias defense to know how crowded the room can be, but this is the kind of opening he has been waiting for. With C.J. Allen gone, the Bulldogs are preparing for Williams to take on a much larger role in 2026, and the buzz around him has only grown after coaches and teammates kept pointing to his growth, athleticism and leadership.
Kirby Smart has already said Williams will get more opportunities this season, and that alone changes the conversation for a player who has been praised for his work against the run. The next step is proving that his practice reputation can carry over when the games start to matter, which is where Georgia will find out whether Williams is simply a trusted piece or something more important for the defenses future. [Read more 🡒]