The running debate in Athens these days is how many times new Georgia coach Kirby Smart will get asked who will be his starting quarterback this fall.

The number is sure to be significant, as Dawgs fans everywhere are giddy with anticipation of the start of the Jacob Eason era. The former five-star recruit did nothing to temper the excitement or the unrealistic expectations with a memorable G-Day performance in which he completed 19 of 29 passes for 244 yards and touchdown.

But Smart has other roster concerns as well, most notably being the status of star running back Nick Chubb. A leading Heisman Trophy candidate before getting hurt last year, Chubb is making great progress from surgery to repair his severely injured left knee injury, but it remains to be seen how long it takes for him to return to previous form.

Sony Michel proved himself as more than a capable backup last fall, but Chubb is an elite back with few equals in college football. The Bulldogs are loaded with talent, so a healthy Chubb could be more than enough to put them over the top and in contention for their first SEC Championship since 2005.

There are a few true freshmen who could change things come August, but here’s how Georgia looks on the two-deep depth chart heading into summer workouts and fall camp.

OFFENSE

QB1: Greyson Lambert
QB2: Jacob Eason
Lambert is back after an erratic season that saw him rise, only to quickly fall out of favor with Bulldogs fans and coaches alike. He has the physical tools, but lacks the gun-slinger attitude necessary to consistently fit the ball downfield into tight spaces. He too often played it safe last fall and the Dawgs’ offense stagnated as a result of being one-dimensional.

The strong-armed Eason is the heir-apparent, and it’s just a matter of time before he permanently assumes the keys to the kingdom. The decision to enroll in school in January and participate in spring practices was huge, and could spell his ascension into the starting lineup very soon in the season.

RB1: Sony Michel
RB2: Nick Chubb

FB1: Christian Payne
FB2: Glenn Welch

Smart inherits what might be the best offensive backfield in the country with a pair of future pros in Michel and Chubb. The versatile Michel rushed for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns in relief of the injured Chubb last year while adding 26 catches for 270 yards and three more scores. Chubb is the more effective power runner of the two whose blend of speed and size gives opposing defenders fits. His rehab from the torn ligaments he suffered in his left knee against Tennessee last year appears to be going well, but Smart will only know more after seeing him in pads again. He probably won’t be completely recovered by the season’s start, but even Chubb at less than 100 percent is still better than most.

X WR1: Michael Chigbu
X WR2: Riley Ridley
F WR1: Terry Godwin
F WR2: Isaiah McKenzie
Z WR1: Isaiah McKenzie
Z WR2: Reggie Davis
TE1: Jeb Blazevich
TE2: Isaac Nauta
It probably wasn’t a lot of fun playing receiver for the Dawgs much of last year if your name weren’t Malcolm Mitchell. Lambert tended to look exclusively for the receiver now departed for the NFL, making the offense very predictable. It wasn’t until late in the season that true freshman Terry Godwin really got the chance to show what he could do. Godwin capped his ascent with an MVP performance in the TaxSlayer Bowl after catching one touchdown and throwing for another. A healthy Isaiah McKenzie, the return of senior Reggie Davis and the addition of true freshman Riley Ridley means that whoever is under center for Georgia won’t be lacking in playmakers on the outside.

Junior tight end Jeb Blazevich saw his numbers drop in 2015, but the arrival of a more tight-end friendly offense under new coordinator Jim Chaney should change that. True freshman and former five-star tight end recruit Isaac Nauta will add to the mix.

LT1: Isaiah Wynn
LT2: Tyler Catalina
LG1: Dyshon Sims
LG2: Isaiah Wynn
C1: Brandon Kublanow
C2: Lamont Gaillard
RG1: Lamont Gaillard
RG2: Dyshon Sims
RT1: Greg Pyke
RT2: Pat Allen
There’s been a lot of movement up front for the Dawgs as new offensive line coach Sam Pittman gets a better feel for the players he’s inherited. The battle at left tackle could be the most interesting one to watch in August. Sophomore Kendall Baker is No. 1 for now, but he’s going to be challenged for the spot by Tyler Catalina, the incoming graduate transfer from Rhode Island. True freshman tackle Ben Cleveland could also be in the mix after enrolling in school in January and taking part in spring practice.

The unit will have to come together quickly if it hopes to avoid another disappointing season like last year.

DEFENSE

DT1: Trent Thompson
DT2: Julian Rochester
NT1: John Atkins
NT2: DaQuan Hawkins
DE1: Jonathan Ledbetter
DE2: Chauncey Rivers
The Dawgs will start the season perilously thin and inexperienced up front following the losses of four senior – including all three starters of a year ago — and the suspensions of both Ledbetter and Chauncey Rivers for the season opener against North Carolina due to various infractions. Incoming freshmen David Marshall and Chauncey Manac could see early playing time.

SAM1: Lorenzo Carter
SAM2: D’Andre Walker
JACK1: Davin Bellamy
JACK2: Chuks Amaechi
MIKE1: Reggie Carter
MIKE2: Roquan Smith
WILL1: Natrez Patrick
WILL2: Tim Kimbrough
People everywhere took notice earlier this spring when departed Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd pontificated that Davin Bellamy might be a player than he is. Pretty heady praise, given that Floyd recently became the No. 9 overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. But it speaks to the high regard in which Bellamy is held despite playing behind Floyd and Jordan Jenkins in previous seasons. He made his presence felt in limited time and figures to be completely unleashed this fall to assume the mantle as the next great Bulldogs outside linebacker. Sophomore Natrez Patrick came on strong at the end of last year and Reggie Carter. Lorenzo Carter oozes of potential and could make this unit one of the nation’s best if he can come close to realizing it.

CB1: Aaron Davis
CB2: Juwuan Briscoe
FS1: Dominick Sanders
FS2: Jarvis Wilson
SS1: Quincy Mauger
SS2: Rashad Roundtree
CB1: Malkom Parrish
CB2: Rico McGraw
Star1: Rico McGraw
Star2: Reggie Wilkerson
The secondary figures to perhaps be the defensive strength with the return of Sanders, a first-team All-SEC pick a year ago after tallying a team-high six interceptions and finishing sixth in tackles with 48. Every starter from last year’s unit returns with the exception of safety Johnathan Abram, who left prior to the TaxSlayer Bowl. Incoming true freshman Mecole Hardman is an exceptional athlete who also figures to play a role at cornerback and perhaps even challenge Davis for a starting job. It’s a good problem to have.

SPECIAL TEAMS
K1: Rodrigo Blankenship
K2: William Ham
P1: Brice Ramsey
P2: Marshall Long
KR1: Isaiah McKenzie
KR2: Terry Godwin
PR1: Isaiah McKenzie
PR2: Reggie Davis
Better known as “The Human Joystick,” McKenzie might be one of the electrifying players in all of college football, capable of taking any kick back to the house with his dazzling speed and shifty moves. Keeping him healthy has been the challenge, but he’s a potential game-changer every time he touches the ball.

It’s the kicking game that worries Smart the most. Blankenship did enough in the spring to win the kicking job for now, but he hasn’t exactly won over the coaching staff. Ramsey, who also serves as the No. 3 quarterback, will go into August as the team’s top punter after assuming those chores midway through last season. He’ll be pushed in camp by incoming freshman Marshall Long, the high school All-American who had originally committed to Virginia Tech before having a change of heart and coming to Athens.