One of the program’s best seasons in recent memory was the 2017 Georgia Bulldog football season. The Georgia Bulldogs experienced many victories under the leadership of seniors Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Lorenzo Carter, and Davim Bellamy, as well as Butkus Award winner Roquan Smith, including capturing the SEC Championship and finally being able to enjoy Pasadena. Finale: Watching DeVonta Smith catch a 41-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa to beat Georgia in the National Championship marked the lowest point in a season filled with highs. There are many reasons for Dawg fans to be optimistic for the 2018 season, despite the horrendous way the 2017 campaign ended in Athens. The Georgia Bulldogs will recover and win their first national championship since 1980 for the following six reasons.
1. Recruiting Class
On the lookout for candidates for the class of 2018, Kirby Smart was a man on a mission. His class of seven five-star athletes was the largest in the nation and contributed to Georgia signing the best class in the nation. It included four players who were ranked first at their position, among the eleven players who were among the top three at their respective positions when they graduated from high school. Jamaree Salyer, the top guard in the nation, Adam Anderson, the top outside linebacker in the country, and Justin Fields, the top dual-threat quarterback who many believe should have been the best player overall, made up the 2018 class. Though he was also signed, the top running back in the country, Zamir White, tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during preseason workouts. White will not play in 2018. Brenton Cox and Tyson Campbell, the second-ranked defensive back and outside linebacker, respectively, ought to play frequently and early. The best graduating class in Georgia history is more than up to the task of not only filling the gaps left by the graduating class of 2018, but also a great deal more.
2. Offensive Line
It’s difficult to imagine Georgia’s offensive line improving given how important it was to the team’s success in 2017. It is better and will. the The Patriots acquired first-round pick Isaiah Wynn for the Dawgs, but sophomore Andrew Thomas is more than prepared to move to left tackle. He started all fifteen of the Dawgs’ games as a true freshman at right tackle, and he held his own. There appear to be some clear front runners for each position, but every other position is open for grabs. Unless something unexpected occurs, Ben Cleveland will start at right guard. He earned that position in last year’s regular-season Auburn game and never looked back. It’s challenging to grow bigger than Big Ben at 6’7″ and 340 pounds, isn’t it? False. Isaiah Wilson, who is 6’8 and 350 pounds, is an absolute mountain of a man and the front-runner to fill the right tackle position. Wilson was the top offensive tackle in the 2017 class when he entered, but he had trouble in the heat of Georgia the previous season. After making adjustments, he now wants to establish himself. Lamont Gaillard is currently seated in the center. Gaillard is a great blocker who always manages to get the ball to the quarterback. Lamont Gaillard is a good example of a center who is doing something right if his name isn’t called often. On the line, left guard might be the position with the most openings. Kendall Baker should lose, though. Senior Baker weighs 310 pounds and stands 6’5″. An offensive line that is young but talented and potent will benefit from his experience. There are many young players, including former five-star Cade Mays and Trey Hill, who are ready to play if one of these starting five doesn’t perform or gets injured. There is plenty of meat for that stable of backs in Athens to run behind considering that the average projected starter weighs 325 pounds.
3. “Easy Schedule”
The reason I say “easy” is because in the Nothing in the SEC is simple, but Georgia’s schedule is excellent. Prior to traveling to South Carolina for week two, they play Austin Peay in week one. The Gamecocks will be fired up to play a top three team at home, but Georgia’s abundance of talent will more than suffice to handle the Gamecocks. Before traveling to Missouri to take on the Tigers, Middle Tennessee’s third week is another cupcake. Drew Locke, the quarterback for Mizzou, is arguably the best in the nation, but without a team to support him on both sides of the ball, Georgia will easily win, especially in the trenches. However, it will be a great test for the young secondary and can be a great learning opportunity. Tennessee will visit in week five. Expect a big win for Georgia again because Tennessee’s issues go beyond just the coaching staff. For week six, Vandy is Vandy. Things start to become a little more challenging in week seven. To play the LSU Tigers, the Dawgs travel to Death Valley. Death Valley is always a challenging venue to play in, but Georgia demonstrated in 2017 that they can compete anywhere, and Dawgnation should put on a strong performance as that is the marquee matchup for 2018. That one will be won by the Dawgs. In light of this, Georgia will be sitting pretty at 7-0 heading into their week eight bye before traveling to Jacksonville. Although Florida’s situation is similar to Tennessee’s, they will once again lose to the Dawgs despite being better off than they were in 2017. In every area of the field, Kentucky simply cannot compete with Georgia. The only opponent Georgia has on the schedule that can match them talent-for-talent across the board is Auburn. The Dawgs will be favored because of their increased depth and home-field advantage in Athens. UMass and Georgia Tech are the opponents for the final two weeks of the regular season, making those two victories simple to secure. If the Dawgs can stay healthy, it will be difficult to imagine them dropping one game, and nearly impossible to imagine them dropping two.
4. Overall More Talented
Georgia lost excellent talent and crucial leaders to graduation and the draft, but thanks to successful recruiting over the past few years, Georgia is prepared to reload. In place of Roquan Smith, it has a plethora of inside linebackers. The holes left by Lorenzo Carter and Davim Bellamy are ready to be filled by sophomores Brenton Cox, freshman Jonathon Ledbetter, and Deandre Walker. Dominick Sanders, Malkom Parrish, and Aaron Davis will be replaced in the secondary by younger but more talented players like Richard Lecounte, Tyson Campbell, Tyree Mcgee, and Deangelo Gibbs. Deandre Baker, who will be selected in the first round, will occupy a corner position. Demetrius Robinson joins an already talented receiving group that includes Terry Godwin and Mecole Hardman, giving true sophomore Jake Fromm an extra year of experience and more weapons. There won’t be a decline in the running game even though the NFL currently boasts the greatest running back tandem in history. Elijah Holyfield has been waiting for his chance to prove his mettle, and Deandre Swift has already demonstrated his abilities. These running backs will have enormous openings to break through thanks to the aforementioned offensive line. According to the stats, this group might be the most talented one Georgia has ever fielded.
5. X-Factors
Every team has a secret weapon, and Georgia is no exception. Three players on the Dawgs can give them an advantage in games where the teams are evenly matched. James Cook is a running back with quickness and power. The running back, who is 5’11 and weighs 190 pounds and was a four-star recruit in the 2018 class, will significantly improve Georgia’s offense with his sweeps and ball catching from the backfield. He’ll be a big play threat who can aid the offense in those hard-fought, close games. Rodrigo Blankenship, the kicker, is another key component of Georgia’s 2017 success. Last year, Hot-Rod was essentially unfailing on field goals, making 20 of the 23 he attempted, including a 55-yarder in the Rose Bowl that appeared to ignite Georgia’s comeback. Field goals by Blankenship and his long kickoffs will be advantageous to the Dawgs. Justin Fields, a quarterback who can play on both sides, was also added by Georgia. Justin Fields is not your typical dual-threat quarterback. He runs a sub-4.5 forty yard dash at 6’3″ and 230 lbs. Fields is a dual threat, but his arm makes him unique. In the event that he was unable to scramble, he was named Elite 11 MVP for his performance in the game without throwing a single interception and scoring a touchdown on 70% of his team’s drives. When the Georgia offense needs a spark, his unique arm and legs will provide it.
6. Motivation
The 2017 season got the nickname “Revenge Tour” as the Every opponent that the Dawgs defeated the year before was easily defeated this time. Georgia has now gotten its “payback” on every team. The Alabama Crimson Tide are the only team they haven’t exacted revenge on. It’s very likely that the SEC Championship game and a spot in the College Football Playoffs will take place in Atlanta, and Kirby Smart’s team will be fired up along with Dawgnation, who should pack Mercedes Benz Stadium once more. The Dawgs will be particularly difficult to defeat because they will feel like they are playing at home. Who Georgia’s playoff opponents would be is difficult to predict, but they won’t be as challenging as Alabama, and the Dawgs ought to be favorites in both contests. They will be extremely challenging to defeat when you combine that with the drive they will have to never again fall short of glory.
However, the Dawgs are ready to make 2018 the year of the Dawg and make this season even better. The 2017 Georgia football season was one of the best in years.