Five Georgia star players made ESPN’s ranking of the top 100 players in the nation, as the 2026 Bulldogs set out to win the program’s 3rd straight SEC title.
The Worldwide Leader produced a fresh top 100 ranking that was released on Wednesday morning, only days before the 2026 season kicks off with Week 0 action.
Leading the 5 elite Georgia players on ESPN’s list is senior quarterback Gunner Stockton, who checked in at No. 31. Stockton threw for 2,894 yards with 24 touchdowns and a QBR of 84.9 last season, helping the Dawgs advance to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Here is what ESPN’s Mark Schlabach wrote about Stockton:
Stockton won’t receive the Heisman Trophy buzz like (Trinidad) Chambliss and (Arch) Manning heading into the 2026 season, but he has been arguably as valuable.
Just a few spots down from Stockton in the rankings was junior defensive back KJ Bolden at No. 33. Bolden had 32 solo tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and 5 pass breakups during the 2025 season.
Junior linebacker Chris Cole was ranked 42nd on ESPN’s list, and Cole will try to team up with Bolden to give the Bulldogs a power-packed combo on the defensive side of the ball. Cole had 35 solo tackles and 7 tackles-for-loss last season.
Coming in at No. 56 on the list was senior offensive lineman Drew Bobo, who only allowed 6 quarterback pressures in 2025.
And the last of the Georgia quintet on this elite list was sophomore defensive back Ellis Robinson IV at No. 67, yet another star defensive player on Kirby Smart‘s unit who had 20 total tackles and 4 interceptions last season.
Georgia’s star players will try to lead the way as the Bulldogs attempt to get back to the Playoff and a shot at a national title. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about Georgia’s win total probabilities for the 2026 season:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
