ATHENS - Georgia’s defense has drawn plenty of praise in fall camp, but the biggest question hanging over the Bulldogs may be up front: can they actually get after the quarterback?
That concern isn’t coming out of nowhere. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach pointed to Georgia’s pass rush as a major issue, noting, “The Bulldogs have tons of star power on defense,” but asking, “But can they generate a disruptive pass rush?
Georgia ranked last in the SEC in sacks with 20 in 2025. Linebackers Chris Cole, Chase Linton and Quintavius Johnson are three names to know.”
The numbers tell the story. Among the 12 College Football Playoff teams, Georgia finished last in sacks. Last fall against Ole Miss, the Bulldogs never brought down Trinidad Chambliss, and the Rebels piled up 74 points over the two meetings, including the game that ended Georgia’s season.
Even with that backdrop, Kirby Smart didn’t come away from the first scrimmage ready to declare the front solved.
“I’m not ready to say that the defensive line is ready to rush with four and get there every time,” Smart said. “I certainly hope they can, but I didn’t see any indication that that was the case from what I saw Saturday.”
The conditions didn’t exactly help. Smart said the on-field temperature climbed to 114 degrees, and Georgia still can’t hit its quarterbacks in practice, which limits what the staff can learn about finishing plays in live settings.
Chris Cole remains Georgia’s most proven returning pass rusher. He led the Bulldogs in sacks last season, and he’s made his own pass-rush development a priority. Smart, though, said what stands out most right now is Cole’s approach.
“He practices with such max effort that he conditions himself through practice to the next day he can go further and he’s just you know like a rubber band which keeps expanding and he’s got more elasticity as he goes and he can stretch himself longer,” Smart said. “And you know we’re trying to be smart with him too because he’s played winning football and you know we want to number one keep him healthy, number two we want to keep him fresh.”
Smart also said Cole is one of the hardest-working players on the roster, and that kind of edge could matter if Georgia is going to get more out of its front.
The Bulldogs are also counting on second-year defensive lineman Elijah Griffin to create more disruption inside. If Griffin can do that, it should help free up edge rushers like Cole and Chase Linton to win more one-on-one matchups outside.
Griffin has already recorded his first career sack, which came against Charlotte last season, but he still hasn’t done it against SEC competition.
For now, Georgia’s defense has had the upper hand in camp, with the secondary earning much of the attention. That kind of back-end play can buy a front some time. But at some point, the Bulldogs need the rush to match the coverage.
That’s the test facing Georgia’s defensive front this fall, and the first real chance to see it comes Sept. 5 against Tennessee State.
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Georgia Has A Quarterback Battle That Could Matter More Than Fans Think
Gunner Stockton is settling into his second season as Georgias starting quarterback, but the more interesting battle in Athens may be happening a rung lower on the depth chart. Redshirt sophomore Ryan Puglisi and redshirt freshman Ryan Montgomery are both fighting for the backup role, and head coach Kirby Smart has liked what he has seen from the group as a whole heading into the next stretch of work.
Smart also said Stockton has taken fewer reps this year so the younger quarterbacks can get more practice, a sign Georgia wants to build confidence behind its starter before the season gets rolling. Puglisi and Montgomery have limited game experience, so the upcoming scrimmages should carry real weight in sorting out who is ready if the Bulldogs need depth at the games most important position. [Read more 🡒]
Kaiden Prothro Is Forcing A Tough Georgia Decision This Season
Kaiden Prothro arrived in Athens with the kind of reputation that tends to follow a former 5-star recruit, but his first fall with Georgia has made the buzz feel a little more immediate. The freshman tight end has stood out in camp and scrimmages by showing he can line up in more than one spot, giving the Bulldogs a look at him as both a traditional tight end and a slot receiver. Coaches have been leaning into that versatility, using his receiving ability in the slot while still working to build out the rest of his game.
The early returns have only added to the sense that Georgia may have something more dynamic than a standard rookie tight end. Prothro has drawn positive attention in practices and even carried that momentum into the G-Day game, which has given offensive coordinator Mike Bobo another potential piece to think about as the season approaches. The question now is less about whether he can help and more about how the Bulldogs will choose to use him, since his skill set could open up some fresh options for the offense if they decide to get creative. [Read more 🡒]
Glenn Schumann Keeps Surfacing In Jobs Georgia Fans Dread Losing Him To
Two years ago, North Carolina reportedly had Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann on its radar for a head-coaching job before ultimately turning to Bill Belichick, and that was only the first sign of how often Schumanns name comes up whenever a Power Four opening starts to draw serious attention. Since then, the Georgia assistant has continued to build a reputation that makes him easy to picture as a future head coach, and hard for Bulldogs fans to ignore every time another vacancy opens.
Florida was the latest reminder of that reality this past offseason, when Schumann emerged as a lead candidate for the Gators job before the search moved in another direction. Kirby Smart has already responded by extending Schumanns contract, a clear signal that Georgia wants to keep one of its most important assistants in place for as long as possible, even if the expectation remains that a head coaching opportunity will eventually pull him away. [Read more 🡒]