Georgia football: Projecting the Dawgs' 2021 starting lineup
On New Year’s Day 1981, Georgia defeated Notre Dame 17-10 to polish off an undefeated season and secure its spot as the consensus national champion.
Forty years later, that’s still the program’s last title. Following a pandemic-marred 2020 season, though, the buzz is about as strong as it has been surrounding the Dawgs.
And it’s not hard to see why.
Outside of offensive lineman Ben Cleveland and tight end Tre’ McKitty heading for the NFL Draft, all of Georgia’s primary offensive starters are back.
Leading the way: QB JT Daniels, RB Zamir White and WR George Pickens. This offense could threaten the record books after the Bulldogs ranked 5th in the SEC in scoring, 6th in total yards, and 7th and 5th in passing and rushing yardage, respectively.
And while the same can’t be said for the defense — Georgia loses both starting cornerbacks, a defensive end, a safety, and several linebackers — it’s a unit that’s traditionally been one of the best in the SEC under Kirby Smart and his staff.
Here’s how I project the Dawgs’ 2021 starting lineup to look:
Offense
- QB: JT Daniels
- RB: Zamir White
- WR1: George Pickens
- WR2: Kearis Jackson/Dominick Blaylock
- WR3: Jermaine Burton
- LT: Jamaree Salyer
- LG: Clay Webb
- C: Warren Ericson
- RG: Justin Shaffer
- RT: Warren McClendon
- TE: Darnell Washington
The skinny: The return of Shaffer and Salyer is obviously good news. The line still saw a couple of key departures in Trey Hill and Ben Cleveland. Webb might be a bit of a question mark; he doesn’t have the experience some other members of the front 5 have, so his progress is worth watching. Salyer and McClendon will lock down either tackle spot, but don’t be surprised to see 5-star true freshman Amarius Mims in the rotation. Mims is massive — 6-7, 315 with room to grow — and was ranked the No. 7 player nationally and No. 1 in Georgia in the 2021 recruiting class.
The most significant thing to note is the depth Georgia has at running back and wide receiver. Zamir While is the unquestioned starter and James Cook is likely RB2, but the big battle to watch is who gets the lion’s share of the snaps between Kenny McIntosh, a healthy Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards.
Burton impressed as a true freshman and, with Pickens looking to boost his draft stock and Blaylock returning after missing last season, he’ll be part of a dangerous WR corps that includes Kearis Jackson and a pair of soon-to-be sophomores in speedster Arian Smith and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint. Dominick Blaylock certainly deserves mention as well; I think he and Jackson will essentially be co-starters due to the injury history of Blaylock and the need to ease him back into action. Demetris Robertson, who hasn’t yet made a decision on 2021, hasn’t been the same receiver he was at Cal, but hopefully, the switch is finally flipped if he comes back.
Washington is the X-factor, and as he continues to build chemistry with Daniels in spring and fall camp and during game action, he’s just another pass-catching option that Daniels will have at his disposal.
Defense
- DT: Devonte Wyatt
- DE: Travon Walker
- NT: Jordan Davis
- Jack: Adam Anderson
- Mike: Nakobe Dean
- Money: Quay Walker
- Sam: Nolan Smith
- CB1: Kelee Ringo
- CB2: Jalen Kimber or Ameer Speed
- FS: Lewis Cine
- SS: Christopher Smith
- Star: Latavious Brini
The skinny: Things get very tricky here as this is set to be a new-look secondary with both cornerback slots and the Star position presenting the biggest holes heading into 2021. Georgia could pencil in Speed, given his overall experience, but I expect a stiff battle in camp for him to start. It’s possible that Georgia’s cornerback corps against Clemson could consist of a sophomore and 2nd-year freshman receiving their first starts.
Moving up front, the Dawgs faced the possibility of losing their entire defensive line to the NFL Draft, but Devonte Wyatt and Jordan Davis returned. The defensive front has been a strength under Smart and should continue to be in 2021.
At Jack linebacker, it’s simply next man up with Azeez Ojulari’s impressive career coming to a close. Adam Anderson has been a strong option behind Ojulari and will be fine. The same can be said for Quay Walker, who’s replacing Monty Rice.
Overall, there might be a few concerns in the secondary, but this group has the talent and depth to avoid a huge drop-off.
Final thoughts …
As you might expect, this projection is subject to change. Much of this is “next man up” as the Dawgs have enjoyed depth at some key positions, but the big question mark will be how the secondary shows next year — it will be tested out of the gate against perennial title favorite Clemson.
The offense will obviously be the main draw in 2021 and should be able to compensate for some of the soft spots on the other side of the ball. Unquestionably, this will be the most talent Smart has had here since coming to Athens.
Georgia hasn’t led the SEC in scoring since 2014, when the Dawgs scored 537 points and averaged 41.3.
Daniels is back along with a full complement of wide receivers and running backs, and if this group is clicking with the offensive line, there’s no reason at worst it can find itself in the top 4.
Not sure about the OL prediction, the defensive predictions and the offensive skill predictions seem accurate. I’m thinking SVP takes the center spot and Salyer moves inside which kind of jumbles everything.
I’d say Broderick Jones breaks the rotation before Mims does.
Don’t get me wrong – I hope Mims is better than Truss, McClendon, Jones etc on day 1 but I don’t think that will be the case.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rateledge jump ahead of Ericson, Shaffer and Webb before the end of the season.
If Jones was healthy this past season you could’ve all but guaranteed it. I hope his progression didn’t take too much of a hit after getting injured. Truss has shown some flashes, I’m glad there will be a full offseason of competition to develop all of the guys.
Seems like after this offseason we’ll have 1-2+ OL transfer portal entrants as they more cement their place in the rotation.
I’m thinking we see a couple OL guys hit the portal after Spring Practice.
I can’t image Condon not transferring, maybe Webb if a younger guy moves ahead of him.
Both those guys start at a lot of schools.
Yep VP was the #1 center in the country. Clay Webb even played center some in high school and he is powerful!!! He would also make an excellent center. While I get mentioning one 5 star freshman Mims. But not a word was said about the 5 star O LINEMAN who was a freshman last season Mr Broderick Jones!!! And don’t forget 5 star Tate Rateledge????
Regardless, it’s just good to know UGA has such a wealth of talent!!! Many teams would beat their chest to have just 1 or 2 of these guys!!!! I also think it’s hilarious to call those defensive guys SOFT SPOTS!!!!!! LOL
PS. Don’t forget we have a couple more 5 star soft spots coming in at both DB & DT/DL this season to!!!!!!
Doctor Negan
As long as everyone stays healthy. The pass rush is going to be scary. LIKE SWIMMING WITH JAWS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Doctor Negan
I think the defense you have on the money, the only battle I see really is going to be between Walker and Carter at that DE spot but whoever “starts” I think both get equal playing time at every position on the 3 down.
On offense I’d personally put Burton at the 2 and Jackson/Blaylock at the 3. In situations with 2 receiver sets, those are going to be the 2 on the field most of the time. Jackson Blaylock is going to be an interesting battle. Jackson was a favorite of Bennett but not as much with Daniels. On the line, I’d be pressed to say Salyer at LG with either Truss, Mims, or Jones at LT. I think Ericson v SVPG v Webb at center will be interesting and if Ericson loses there, you’ll see him fight Shaffer for the spot at RG. But it’s really hard to predict who the 5 will be at this point. No one thought Condon would be starting RT at this point last year and he was the guy for a series or two at least.
I think you’re pretty spot on. Blaylock pre-injury would’ve been a guarantee to beat out Jackson imo, but who knows what he’s like now.
Jackson has reliable hands but Blaylock was elite. He caught onto the college game quickly (much quicker than Burton), but Burton’s ceiling is crazy high if he continues to progress in his knowledge of the game. The other thing I would say is that Blaylock if I remember correctly was a better blocker than Burton but I can’t quite remember.
I think reasoning would say yes Blaylock was the better blocker, he was the more physical player for sure, but Burton himself wasn’t great at blocking on the edge. And since you being that up, I think burton really took over the role that Blaylock played in his freshman year. Blaylock was the one getting the bubble screens and short passes for YAC. Once Daniels came in, Burton kind of took that role.
Can’t wait for Spring ball!
Hopefully Vandergrif nails down the QB backup spot ASAP.
In Monken’s offense Cook may actually be the best RB1 with Zeus being the ground’n’pound option.
I think Burton establishes himself as the #2 WR, he was there at the end of 2020.
Lord help everybody else if Washington has a break-out soph campaign, or if we get Gilbert.
“In Monken’s offense Cook may actually be the best RB1 with Zeus being the ground’n’pound option”
I think that’s a very good point and likely true
I personally think Milton is the best RB1 on the team. He can do what Zeus does and more, and he is capable in the passing game and he might actually be better at making people miss in the open field. I’ll say that Cook might have more of a route tree and be a real threat when split out wide but Milton is more of a three down back in Monken’s offense than Cook or Zeus.
I agree Milton is more of a three down back than Cook, but I think Cook is a greater receiving threat and is still a very capable RB in the traditional sense. Thus, that duality could hopefully make him dangerous as it won’t immediately signal to the defense his intended use on a given play. For Milton to be a better QB1, he needs to have a very strong offseason and continue to develop throughout 2021. As of now, I think by the start of the season Cook or Zeus will be RB1, but that could likely change by season’s end.
Lots of big talent across the board. With a good off season, this team should be ready to play for a Championship.
It’s Time!
1 – It’s time to put a very good offense and defense in play together.
2 – It’s time for the coaching staff to gel and make the right calls at
the right time.
3 – It’s time to return to the days when our offense scared other teams.
4 – It’s time for our defense to be that immovable object.
5 – It’s time to have a 1,000 yd rusher and 1,000 receiver in the same
year.
6 – It’s time to dominate the East again.
7 – It’s time to return to the SECCG with swagger and be on a mission.
8 – It’s time to put Clemson and the ACC back in their place
9 – It’s time to return to the CFP, not as an underdog but as the
favorite.
10 – It’s time to ascend Mt. Saban, win it all and put back the notion
that UGA can’t win it all again.
eyes are blood-shot red, foaming at the mouth and I’m about to rip my chain from its anchor, or choke myself – woooof woooof woooof – heell yeah – get some!!!!
Burn every last building, salt their lands, enslave their kids and violate their women. Take no prisoners and leave no survivors!!!
It’s time for the Beast from the East to awaken and fulfill its manifest destiny – rule all the gridirons from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Hike the leg and mark every field we set paw on, it’s all our turf!!!!
1. SVP is far, far more likely to start at center than Ericson, and Ericson has about as good a chance at getting that OG spot as Webb does. I expect Salyer to be at LT against Clemson’s intimidating DL, but after that he’ll probably shift to his natural spot at guard and someone like Jones will step in at tackle.
2. Nakobe doesn’t play “Mack”. It’s called the “Mike” linebacker spot.
This site is garbage at getting simple facts right.
With a year at RT under his belt why couldn’t McClendon slide over to LT, much like what Thomas did? McClendon and Salyer would make for a stout left-side.
Truss looks like a career RT, like Wilson was, a mauler. However, Truss doesn’t look like a better RT than McClendon.
I thought Schaffer was the weak link in 2020. Not that Schaffer was bad but he was the least effective among McClendon, Cleveland, Hill, himself and Salyer.
If Jones steps up at LT then UGA does have a lot of options and talent for the other 4 OL positions.
Just don’t go with the Peach Bowl set-up, the OL got embarrassed.
The OL play in the Peach Bowl was shockingly bad. I sincerely hope it was just an aberration due to opts outs and limited preparation time.
I think that was definitely part of it. Losing Cleveland was a big deal. He cleans up a lot of mistakes that other players make in the run game. If playside gap is shut down because Shaffer fell on his face and left Hill to solo what should be a combo block, you know as a RB that Cleveland is driving his guy through the endzone and you have a cutback option. But the pass protection was especially bad and that gets better with skill a little bit, but you’d do better with 5 unskilled guys working together as a unit than 5 5-stars who don’t play well together. Communication and trust is key in pass protection cause sometimes you have to pass a guy off and you have to know the man next to you is there to catch him.
Great analysis, Matty
Mack and Mike are the same thing, but yes, UGA calls it the Mike LB.
First time in a long time I’ve seen a UGA football article completely free of any negative rival fan comments.
Strange. Seems even many of our rival fans are buying in on the 2021 Dawgs.
Secondary and O-line. If they come together, it could, be special.
I’d love to see what your offense could look like with a full offseason to learn Monken’s new scheme.
Oh, just wait LilCojones probably hasn’t awakened from his weekend Blue Ribbon drunkfest; but it is still only Tuesday.
As a Georgia fan, I have enough negative thoughts on my own to even pay attention anymore to rival fan comments…after all, we’re now at 40 years and counting. This defense could be very vulnerable in the secondary, which seems to be the problem position group of the season (2020 was QB, 2019 was receivers). I just get tired of the media hype that starts way too early with little historic justification. When reading lines like “there’s no reason at worst it can find itself in the top 4″….well, we’ve been snakebit too many times and disappointed too often at the end of many seasons to buy into what’s written about the program in the off season. Can’t the media just temper expectations a bit and see how the 2021 season plays out? I am honestly and cautiously optimistic, but grounded in the reality of the last forty years….
“Strange. Seems even many of our rival fans are buying in on the 2021 Dawgs.”
I doubt it… It’s just the same ole song and dance every year with UGA… It gets boring watching UGA get hyped up during the offseason just to fall on their face every season..
Jackson is better than George “$5 million salary” Pickens.
Can’t wait till Georgia gets exposed like Tennessee was. It’s only a matter of time until Pickens comes crying to his momma because he took money..
How often have you heard “do you have a point?” More than you can count I bet.
It’s not often that you encounter a person that completely obivilious to the concept of wit.
Takes one to know one..
Ah, still bitter about Pickens I see. If it makes you feel any better, it wouldn’t have changed Auburn’s fortunes one bit had he gone to Auburn.
Well, we’d have a decent receiver going into 2021. But then again, he’d have probably already transferred because he wouldn’t have gotten paid at Auburn.
Yeah, Derrick Brown had already cleaned that account out….
Jealous?
Auburn fan talking about Georgia paying players. Hilarious!
Pickens simply saw the state of the Auburn program and decided he would rather play for a contender.
Georgia doesn’t need to pay players. That’s always been an Auburn thing. If Kirby was doing it, Nick would’ve already made the call.
But you can dream out-loud if it makes it easier…
Ole Tin foil hat Timmy running off at the mouth again…
UGA fans dream out loud every offseason…
Boy, the only one running off at the mouth is you. It’s all you’ve got.
I’m making points. You simply can’t handle it. Good luck with that…
To Georgia, every year is gonna be THE year. But Kirby always screws up the season. And the mighty dawgs become the whining puppies every single year.
“I’m making points. You simply can’t handle it. Good luck with that…”
No your time foil hat got loose again and you start making talking out your a$$ making accusations like you always do…
You have no actual idea about anything you posted but you continue to run off at the mouth as though you do…
You’re a dumba$$ homer at best…
Tin foil*