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How the transfer portal hurt, and helped, various Georgia football position groups
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How the transfer portal hurt, and helped, various Georgia football position groups
The transfer portal took quite a toll on the Georgia roster this offseason. It’s nothing new for the Bulldogs as they saw 15 players depart the program in search of other opportunities.
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We will be just fine! Go Dawgs!
Where the TP really hurt UGA is DL. Alexander was the next man to develop into a 1st rd pick. UGA has good players on the DL. UGA has depth on the DL if the freshman can play relatively quickly. They haven't shown that they have a 1st rd draft choice level impact DL. Especially iDL. Mykel Williams will have to have a healthy, break out yr if the '23 D is to be championship caliber.
Every position group is a worry if hit by a rash of injuries. But iLB seems especially deep. JWalker and now XSorey look like they could push Mondon for PT if he slacks or drops off even a small amount. 2 of the 3 freshman already showing they can play.
"The transfer portal took quite a toll on the Georgia roster this offseason."
I didn't think we were hurt so badly. As @UGADad20 wrote, Bear Alexander's departure is in the only really obvious pain point.
AD Mitchell was the best player to leave. He would have been our best receiver. But we have potential stars and plenty of depth in each WR position.
Once again...with UGA's schedule...they have the whole first half of the season to build experience and depth. They still have 85 scholarship players...just like everybody else.
IMO...you want to spread your talent and experience out, so that you don't lose it all in one cycle. I see what Kirby is doing. He is keeping the best-of-the-best in each cycle and everybody else is fighting over the crumbs that spill from his table.
Lol...they just happen to be "Gourmet Crumbs". He can only eat so much, dont'cha know. I love what he's got goin' on in Athens while Ole St. Nick is eating QB scraps off Notre Dames plate.
BAMA's done....LSU and A&M...are on the horizon in the West. BAMA, AUB, Florida, Tennessee, ARK and possibly Mizzou are 2nd tier teams in '23. All of which are capable with a little luck and a few breaks.
Actually, by all rights...I should put A&M in the 2nd tier group...but, the Petrino hire has me intrigued. I know what "Jimmy and Bobby" (we call em Jim-Bob, Lol) can do together...if, they have the talent. And, I think they do.
That being said...I believe UGA walks away with the East and LSU goes undefeated in the West. Should make for a helluva rematch in the SECCG.
AD Mitchell was the best player to leave. He would have been our best receiver. _CP
I agree...and disagree. Lol...if that makes any sense.
Mitchell WAS the best reciever...LAST year. But, with the acquisition of Lovett...not so much.
I kept an eye on Lovett ever since Mizzou's Spring Game, last year. Very impressive. He was the best player on a field that included Luther Burden....and, that was pretty much all year.
I think Dawg Fans are gonna love Lovett. It was a great "get" for Kirby and the Dawgs. I hate that Mitchell had to go, but, the Rara Thomas hire, fixes that. Lol...and, so it goes in today's NCAA world.
Alexander was the next man to develop into a 1st rd pick.____GD
Yeah, I thought so, too. But, apparently not. Remember there were 2 Scrimmages prior to the one we saw. They must not have gone very well for him, as he transferred right before the G-Day game. He could've done that before putting himself through 4 weeks of grueling Spring drills.
Actually...I guess he could still wind up in the 1st round. Jermaine Johnson managed it. But, he dropped about 20 picks for whatever reason.
No...my guess is, that Kirby and Monkin had him lining up with the 2's on the G-Day roster...and, he took offense. It probably didn't go well, from there. That's just a guess...but, an educated guess. Lol
Or...he just up and decided he was gonna leave a National Championship Team...with all the fanfare and perks that go with it, including a trip to the WH. At the END of Spring training, no less. To get more playing time? I ain't buyin' it.
But, it don't much matter. The Dawgs are set for this year. Next year, we'll be talking about this same thing. Somebody...off this year's roster...that we thought was "the next in line", will transfer for no apparent reason. The real reason, is they were passed by somebody behind them.
Man...it's gotta be tough as hell, to play 4 years in Kirby's program. Intense. I remember guys thinking the same thing about playing for "The Bear". Lol...you know how word gets around in recruiting. Until, around '76 or '77, when "Word" starting filtering about how Bear Bryant wasn't as tough as he used to be. That all he does is sit up in a tower and drink. Hollering instructions down through a bullhorn. Etc. It was probably only half true...but, it definitely effected Alabama recruiting.
I personally know of one very good player (5 star by today's standards) that didn't want any part of Bama, for that reason. It appeared The Bear was just biding time. Semi-retired, if you will. Now...I know THAT'S not true...but, that was the perception we had. It's the same perception that's hurting them today. IMO
Thank goodness....Kirby is a long way from that. Can you imagine what he's gonna be able to do with 20 years of a 12-team playoff format?
Mitchell was definitely great in the clutch. I think from tapes I've watched Ra-Ra is that guy that wins the 50-50 throws in the endzone, that A.D. did do well, we'll see.
I don't know ... those were some pretty significant losses via the TP. Be thankful for the soft scheduling. On paper, the Dawgs win the SEC East, but Missouri, South Carolina and Tennessee could all throw a wrinkle into those plans to be in Atlanta's MB Stadium for the SEC championship game. I have my tickets for NOV 18 in Neyland as that "should be" the game that determines the East.
Alexander transferred for 2 reasons. 1) money 2) playing time. He said he would have been a passrush/3rd down specialist. Alexander wasn't on board with playing the same role Travon Walker and Jalen Carter played as 2nd yr players. There were upper classmen ahead of all those players that earned their roles that CKS had loyalty to for coming back. Same as this year.
Under the UGA development plan the upper classmen get showcased and 2nd yr players play their role and carve out a bigger role if their play demands it. Alexander took the money. He just used his role "dissatisfaction" to deflect attention from his money grab. But he was ahead of Jordan Hall with the best chance to develop into a 1st rd DT after this season.
I have no idea about his practice habits. Only what I saw and read. He served notice in the playoffs that his potential was higher than any other iDL player on the roster. Guys that play for 3 or 4 HS's should be a red flag.
@CandlerPark I forgot about AD Mitchell. He has been gone so long. When he is healthy he is and would have been the best WR at UGA . Lovett does not have the size to make the contested catches that AD made. Is Lovett as clutch as AD? Not sure anyone is as clutch as AD was. The difference, as you mentioned, is that the WR room at UGA is deep. AD's targets will be distributed to other WRs.
The fact that UGA is still over the 85 limit mandates that people had to leave the program to make room for the 26 '23 recruits. The people that left, sans AD and Alexander, were logical and expendable.
I'm excited about Lovett, too. All signs certainly are good.
But I don't think RaRa is a one-to-one replacement for AD at WR-X. I'm not even sure he'll be ahead of Rosemy-Jacksaint and Dillon Bell on the depth chart. None of those guys is as long as Mitchell. Plus Mitchell is as fast or faster than each of them. And AD has proven himself a great clutch player (e.g. his perfect end zone cut to go ahead of Ohio State).
I do agree that overall we're ahead of where we were at WR. But I also thing Mitchell was a DGD and, if he stays healthy, will have a huge year for Sarkisian.