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Talyn Taylor, Justin Williams primed to take over for Georgia 2026 NFL Draft departures
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Talyn Taylor, Justin Williams primed to take over for Georgia 2026 NFL Draft departures
ATHENS â The deadline to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft has passed for Georgia, with four Bulldogs electing to forgo their final season of eligibility to head to the NFL.
Comments
I’m especially interested and hoping we use the tight ends more this season. If we can target Elyiss Williams in full stride, there just aren’t many corner backs or safeties that are going to be able to stop this guy. Go Dawgs!
Colbie Young: Isiah Canion
Noah Thomas: CJ Wiley
These two guys have the height (6'4") that sets them apart as dominate WRs, as did Young and Thomas. The question is can UGA implement the game plan to take advantage of it? I think it's possible IF they can strengthen the OL. If you put a much more effective OL in front of Stockton it will eliminate a lot of the "head scratching" moments that we had in 2025. The head scratching moments like "why aren't they throwing to the TEs?', and "why can't our WRs get open the way everyone else's seem to do?", and "why does Gunner get flushed out of the pocket so quickly?". So, my point is that for UGA to take advantage of all of this high-caliber talent at the skill positions, the OL is going to have to improve dramatically.
This is not news to those of us who comment here on a regular basis, y'all understand this better than I do and have stated it in your comments much better than I have here in my comment. I'm just saying it again because it's still relevant to the article that I just read!
GO DAWGS!
As always the Way to early article is fun to read. If half of those replacements pan out it will be wonderful. We paly a rather limited TP game and today is the last day to add anyone via that process. We have a lot of young talent coming in that will need some SEC development and that means the folks mentioned are going to be charged with keeping our winning tradition next season. Should be interesting to say the least.
The player that CR said would take Micah's position started at RT vs Tennessee this year and was awful, never took a meaningful snap the remainder of the season. That doesn't mean he can't improve but he has a long way to go.
Uni and Gaston have a long way to go. Gaston would be better suited at a guard spot, and Uni played some but was not effective in 2025.
We have 6 potential studs at TE, if their targets don’t go up, I expect half to leave.
I didn't realize Elijah Griffin was playing both ways this past season.
"Griffin impressed as a freshman, especially with what he was asked to do on the offensive line."__ Connor Riley
Other than Canion, I'm seeing a lot of potentially very good, but not great WRs. As usual, Dawg receivers talent muddles in the middle.
As we all know, the other parts of this equation that must improve is Gunner's vertical passing game, and the play of the OL.
And we have no room for key injuries next season. Zero.
I don’t think the TP is a window for signing the kids, just for them putting their names in the pool.
The offensive line ended the year on a bad performance (and they weren't alone in that) but overall there was noticeable improvement once they were able to stick with a consistent starting lineup. Between the guys coming back and the guys who seem poised to step up in bigger roles, simply having more continuity should be the remedy vis-a-vis last season's issues.
I believe that's correct, so hopefully (fingers crossed) there's some yet-to-be finalized transfers in the coming week or two, esp. O-line 🤔
The ol did own some responsibility and especially early. Thats also when they were extremely hurt and had 5 different starting lineups in 5 games. Then it got considerably better. Not saying the ol doesnt havebto still improve and it should. Those issues with leaving the pocket more times than not were gunner bailing when he shoulnt. The wr and te were open as well, but gunner had several spurts of the seasonn(beginning and last couple games), where he would simply not risk throwing the ball despite guys being open and him looking directly at them. Sometimes the windows are not going to be massive, but the guys are still open. He has to be more consistent in hitting those. In fact every time. He showed the ability last season. Now he has to do it every time throwing guys open with anticipation and not turning down other open wr/te just bc guys are dropping in coverage and it may be a tight throw.
Most people are greatly underestimating the wr on this team. We paid good money and worked hard to recruit these guys out of hs that everyone wanted. You have to use them or there is no point in ever signing them. Taylor would have had a monster year if he had not gotten hurt. More than anything it comes down to gunner and his confidence to let the ball rip and not being so conservative or leaving pockets he should not. Countless guys have made similar or larger jumps. He can certainly do it, but will he is what will remain to be seen. I'm looking forward to it all. I'd much rather see us develop our own guys and they put up big numbers so that we can continue to land big time playmaker we haven't had talent like this since Pickens etc. If it all goes to waste again bc of Gunner then I will be livid and jump on the bandwagon of replacing him. No matter if we win and he finds a way to do just enough or not. I'm not doubting him, but we can't have half the number of guys running around schemed open turned down like last year
@E_Roc and @D1Athlete1987 I don't disagree, and I'm probably basing my evaluation on the Ole Miss playoff game where the OL had a rough night. The fact is, as you both have rightly pointed out, that there was a stretch during the regular season and the SECCG where they did perform at a championship level. I would still love to see that unit become a force to be reckoned with, and the confidence of the skill position players, especially Gunner (who could/should be a top 5 QB in 2026), go to another level because of it. The two losses were both 3-point losses (we gave up 2 points on the last play of the playoff game) where a stronger performance by the OL would have made a realistic difference.
Doubt it will happen but if just in an advisory capacity bring back Pittman. The man knows how to build up O Lines.
I Agree Gunner needs to get better. He Knows that, Kirby and staff Know that. We as Fans know that. STILL if you look at his whole body of work he did pretty dawg gone good for a first year starter even with mistakes. He has by One TD a higher Total TD count ( passing combined with rushing TDs) than Beck. Gunner with 14 games verses Beck with 15 games so far. Though Beck does have significantly more passing yardage. Gunner has significantly better rushing yardage. But Gunner’s 2894 yds. passing though certainly not great is pretty decent.
YES some of the mistakes and missed opportunities are all on Gunner. No ducking that. He wouldn’t try to duck that either.
But some of it assuredly goes to poor play calls from Bobo. And inconsistent quality of play from the O Line.
We as Dawgs fans have discussed these things concerning Gunner and the O Line getting better deep in depth and vigorously. My question is and I mean NO sarcasm. Can and do you think he Will Mike Bobo get better calling plays ?
My next question is very similar. Can and do you think he will. Coach Searls get the O Line up to quality play on a Consistent basis ?
Bobo said that Gunner was not yet close to his ceiling. For the time being I’m gonna take his word for that. Coupled with my belief that if there’s anyone on this team that will bust their butt to get better Gunner will.
Beck’s first year as starter was pretty good but not great. He got better. I believe Gunner can to. But Great people in Any endeavor are usually Great in large part due to the people in support of them That stands the test of time down to a great wife supporting her husband to the point he becomes great at his endeavor.
Leaders in the military at least great ones are quick to tell you they are only as good as their people !!
For the Dawgs to be Elite and have Realistic Championship expectations it’s gonna take Total Buy In. From Kirby down to the lowest rated scout team player and back up again !!
That’s when and where the buck stops at Kirby’s desk !! He’s Got to motivate his players to want to run through Steel walls for him, brick is to easy !! And he’s Got to get his Coaches and Assistants ALL of them to understand that they Should be there for More than just their paycheck. But for Personal and Collective Pride !!
I have to say I admire IN for that they seemed to have Totally bought in. Kirby can do that again as he Has in the past. But it’s gonna take buy in from the Entire Program !! As Fans let’s Hope and Believe !! Go Dawgs !!