Trying to determine players with a lot to prove isn’t always an easy process. At some schools, getting the most out of a certain group of players is what’s required to have a winning record and get to a bowl game, or at least pull off an upset or two against big rivals.

But this year at Georgia, that take has to be a little different. The Bulldogs won the SEC a year ago and came up just short in the National Championship Game against Alabama. So the goals for 2018, obviously, are very high. Anything less than a Playoff berth and a shot at a national title will be a disappointment.

In scouring the roster, I wasn’t looking for guys who should step up to be good players this year. I looked at key guys who were already good and need to be great this year for those title aspirations to become a reality. I also looked at guys who simply can’t afford to take a step back, because their value is so high.

It’s a mixture of these that matter, but in a season like this, it all matters.

Title or bust? Of course. Can it be done? Yep, but these guys need to prove it.

Here are the five who matter, or five-plus since there are two guys who seem to be attached at the hip:

Inside linebacker Natrez Patrick

There is no doubt that Natrez Patrick is one of the most talented players on the roster. But he can’t help one bit if he isn’t on the field. The 6-3, 242-pounder from Atlanta missed six games last year because of two arrests, and he can no longer be a problem child.

He’s a senior now, and it’s time to step up in a big way — on the field and off.

“Natrez has always been a good leader,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said after Saturday’s scrimmage. “His stamina to perform at the SEC level has to improve so that he can go 30 plays in a row. He’s not afraid to speak up and challenge guys. His ability to sustain is the biggest thing he needs to improve.”

Offensive lineman Kendall Baker

Kendall Baker might be the perfect example of  guy who stepped up big time a year ago and could be great with even more improvement this season. There’s plenty of competition along the offensive line, but seeing Baker become dominant will be something pleasant to watch happen. He’s a key component now.

“I worked real hard this offseason because I knew what was coming,” Baker said of all the competition among the Bulldogs. “I knew I had a lot of stuff to do to make the team better and make myself better. If I wanted to stay out there and do what I had to do for this last season, I had to go ahead and make the most of what I did. ”

Cornerback Deandre Baker

There’s no question that Deandre Baker has plenty of talent, but there also have been plenty of moments where Baker has been a disappointment. Some negative things have come out of fall camp, and without naming names, Smart has had some concerns about some veterans who haven’t stepped up yet like they should. Baker, it’s presumed, is one of the those guys who needs to get it back together.

“The focus for him right now is to get better each and every day and work on the details, technique and fundamentals,” Mel Tucker, Georgia’s defensive coordinator and secondary coach, said last week. “He needs to do the things that got him to this point and then take it up a notch. That’s what we are going to do with him.”

He’ll have a lot to prove in Georgia’s biggest games, so we’ll have to wait and see for a while.

Running back D’Andre Swift

There seem to be no obvious negatives with Swift, so if you’re surprised to see him on this list, don’t be. He’s one of those good-to-great guys who’s ready to explode.

He proved a lot last year as the third back behind Georgia legends Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. He rushed for 618 yards and had plenty of highlight-reel carries. So what’s 2018 all about? I can see him dominating early and working his way into the Heisman Trophy race if he throws up a couple of 200-yard games early. Even though there’s plenty of talent at running back, Swift just might be too good to let them get on the field.

Quarterbacks Jake Fromm and Justin Fields

Yep, these two guys really are attached at the hip this fall. You simply can’t talk about one without talking about the other. There’s good reason for that, of course. The same thing happened last year with Jacob Eason and Fromm, and Georgia’s magical season couldn’t have happened without Fromm stepping in so nicely after Eason was hurt.

Now comes Fields, a 5-star recruit who was ranked No. 2 behind Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence in last year’s 247sports composite rankings. He’s been pushing Fromm since he arrived in January, and if the Bulldogs are to have another great season, outstanding quarterback play will be critical — regardless of who is calling the shots. It seems to be Fromm’s job for now, but for how long? Prove it? Darn right.

“Both quarterbacks played well. They did some things in the passing game that can help us win,” Smart said of their efforts in Saturday’s scrimmage. “Talking creates toughness. They showed command of the huddle, command of the offense, securing the ball, all of the things involved that go into being a quarterback. Both guys had great presence and command of the offense.”