5. Georgia Bulldogs
Best returning defensive player: Malaki Starks, S
Biggest offseason departure: Kamari Lassiter, CB
Top roster addition: KJ Bolden, S
Bolden was one of four five-star freshmen who enrolled early with the Bulldogs this spring, joining cornerback Ellis Robinson IV and linebackers Justin Williams and Chris Cole. Kirby Smart doesn’t need to take portal additions on defense when his two-deep is elite. Hybrid pass rusher Jalon Walker is the player this spring who kept coming up in conversations with those close to the program. If he stays healthy, Walker could possibly be handed significant snaps within a talented front seven.
After Saturday’s spring game, Smart said the secondary was an area of interest.
“We’ve got a long way to go. We lost three really good football players there. We’re thin,” Smart said. “David Daniel wasn’t able to go today, Malaki was out, Justyn Rhett was out, Demello was dealing with a little bit of a hamstring. We got better in the secondary, but we’re not where we need to be in terms of being able to make plays on the ball down the field and be able to affect the quarterback.”
