Kirby Smart is building a juggernaut in Athens.

After winning the SEC title and making it to the national championship game last year, Smart and his staff went out and landed the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class for the 2018 cycle. This fall, Georgia will be expected to compete for another conference title, and anything less than a trip to Atlanta will be a disappointment.

However, there are still a few questions that Smart and his staff will have to answer this summer if they want to continue the team’s forward momentum. Here are the 10 most-pressing questions that fans will want answers to prior to the 2018 season:

1. Who will fill the void at linebacker?

The Bulldogs were decimated at the linebacker position this offseason, with Roquan Smith skipping his senior year and becoming the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. In addition to Smith’s move, Lorenzo Carter, Reggie Carter and Davin Bellamy all graduated and are in the NFL, too.

Fortunately for Smart and defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, D’Andre Walker came back for his senior season, and he’ll lead the linebacking corps. He had 39 tackles (13.5 for a loss) and 5.5 sacks last year and should be even better in a featured role this fall.

However, the spots around him are up for grabs. Natrez Patrick’s status is still up in the air, so the Dawgs will have to find some starters from a group of returning players like Monty Rice, Juwan Taylor, Walter Grant and Robert Beal Jr., and a host of incoming freshmen.

There are plenty of options, but finding the right guys and putting them in the right spots will have a huge impact on Georgia’s defense this year.

2. Can Jake Fromm take another big step forward?

First, Fromm has to recover from a broken bone in his left hand, an injury he reportedly suffered Monday while at Lake Burton. Fortunately, that’s his non-throwing hand and he isn’t expected to miss any time.

Fromm burst onto the scene as a replacement for the injured Jacob Eason in Week 1 and never looked back.

However, he wasn’t counted on to do too much in the passing game, as the Dawgs relied heavily on their rushing attack that featured Sony Michel, Nick Chubb and true freshman D’Andre Swift. Georgia averaged just 20.3 passes per game, fewest in the SEC and 120th nationally.

This year, more pressure will be on Fromm to make plays. If he can take a big step forward, so can the Bulldogs. If he stays the same or regresses a bit, Georgia could be in trouble.

3. Can the secondary improve after so many losses?

In addition to taking heavy losses in the linebacking corps, the Bulldogs also lost a lot of talent in the secondary, where guys like Malkom Parrish, Dominick Sanders and Aaron Davis all graduated.

The Bulldogs have a pair of big-time contributors returning in Deandre Baker and J.R. Reed, but younger guys like Richard LeCounte III and Mark Webb (among others) have to fill voids.

Even with the guys mentioned above, the Georgia secondary was vulnerable at times in 2017. That unit will have to be even better this fall if the Bulldogs want to accomplish their goals.

4. Who will emerge alongside D’Andre Swift in the backfield?

Swift was the third man in the Georgia backfield as a true freshman last year, behind senior stars Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.

This year, Swift is the guy, but he’ll need some new guys to help carry the load. Fortunately, there are plenty of options, as Brian Herrien and Elijah Holyfield have experience and Zamir White and James Cook enter the mix as highly touted freshmen.

All five guys (assuming White returns from an ACL injury) will likely see some action, but who emerges as the No. 2 option is something that will need to be answered this summer.

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5. Can Jim Chaney get even more from the versatile Mecole Hardman?

Hardman is perhaps the most versatile player on Georgia’s roster. In 2017, he had four touchdowns as a receiver, two as a runner and was also a big factor as both a kickoff and punt returner.

However, it still felt like Hardman could have done more, and he should have a bigger role this fall. In the absence of WR Javon Wims, Hardman will need to help replace that production. Also, without Chubb and Michel, Hardman could have more carries coming his way.

6. What role will Justin Fields have?

QB Justin Fields was the No. 2 overall player in the 2018 recruiting class, but assuming Fromm recovers from a broken bone in his left hand, Fromm is the starter heading into this season, and he’s only a sophomore.

However, Fields’ talent is undeniable, and it’ll be interesting to see how Smart uses him. Fields’ skills as a dual-threat athlete are different than Fromm’s pocket-style tendencies, and both could be effective in the right system.

Fans will probably want to see the shiny new freshman in action at some point, and the way Smart chooses to handle the two talented quarterbacks will be a big decision.

7. Who will take Isaiah Wynn’s spot on the offensive line?

Right now, the vacant left tackle spot will be manned by sophomore Andrew Thomas, who started at right tackle as a true freshman last year.

Therefore, it’s actually the right tackle spot that needs to be addressed, and it looks like the first shot to land the job will go to sophomore Isaiah Wilson. It wouldn’t be too surprising to see a guy like 5-star 2018 signee Cade Mays get some work there this summer, as it’ll be important to build as much depth as possible to make sure the Georgia offense continues clicking.

8. Can Smart navigate a weaker schedule to get to the CFP?

The Bulldogs have a razor-thin margin for error this season, as their nonconference schedule of Austin Peay, Middle Tennessee, UMass and Georgia Tech isn’t exactly a murderer’s row of top teams.

In fact, the two biggest games on the schedule are probably Week 2 at South Carolina and Week 11 at home against Auburn. If one of those teams slips up, it won’t be as tough of a schedule by season’s end.

Would the Bulldogs be given the benefit of the doubt in the College Football Playoff if they go undefeated but lose the SEC Championship? That remains to be seen, but it happened to Wisconsin in the Big Ten last year, so Smart has his work cut out for him this season.

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9. Who will handle the punting?

The Bulldogs brought in Landon Stratton as a graduate transfer from Murray State, and he could be to Georgia what Cameron Nizialek was in 2017.

However, if Marshall Long is healthy (a big if, as he underwent another knee surgery this offseason), he could also compete for the job, as could freshman K Jake Camarda, who is versatile enough to punt as well.

Special teams can swing the momentum of close games, so it’ll be important that Smart and his staff have confidence in whoever lands the starting job.

10. Can they beat Alabama and win it all?

To be fair, the Bulldogs could win the SEC and national championships this year without having to play the Crimson Tide, but history tells us Nick Saban and his squad will be lurking somewhere — whether it’s the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta or in the College Football Playoff.

Exactly zero of Saban’s former assistants have beaten him, so Smart will be feeling the pressure if their paths do cross — especially after the way last year’s title game ended.

To be the best, you have to beat the best, and if Georgia wants to maintain its place among the elite programs in the nation, a win over Alabama is a must. The Crimson Tide will be loaded again this fall, but Smart is building a powerhouse in Athens and if the two teams do square off, it’ll be must-see television.