Georgia football: Top 5 newcomers to watch in Bulldogs opener vs. Tennessee-Martin
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We are just a touch over 2 full days away from kickoff in the season opener of Georgia’s 2nd straight title defense.
The Bulldogs have been national champions for 598 days now, and there’s plenty of talk about them extending that streak into the foreseeable future.
The top of the roster looks dominant but, perhaps more impressively, the depth has become unmatched. The Dawgs have added new talent across the roster that will, in 1 way or another, play a role in determining whether this team can win its 3rd consecutive national title or not.
As Georgia gets ready to start that chase at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday against Tennessee-Martin, here are 5 newcomers I’m most interested to see in action:
1. Dominic Lovett, wide receiver
Much has already been written on these pages about the role Lovett will play for the Bulldogs this season. One of the nation’s top transfers, he is expected to be 1 of the team’s top targets on offense, a notch below tight end Brock Bowers and probably on par with fellow wide receiver Ladd McConkey. He had 846 yards and 7 touchdowns receiving, averaging 15.1 yards per catch, as a sophomore last season at Missouri.
None of this is news.
What I’m looking to see from Lovett on Saturday is how he has meshed with new Georgia starting quarterback Carson Beck. Are they on the same page? Is he fitting well with the offense? Is he comfortable with the offense?
Indications from camp are that he has settled in nicely. But I remember in the not-too-distant past a former 5-star receiver, Demetris Robertson, transfer in from California. Prognosticators suggested this was a gamechanger for the Georgia offense.
In 3 years with the Bulldogs, he had just 42 catches for 443 yards.
Let’s wait until we see these guys in game action before we make all of our assumptions.
2. Roderick Robinson, running back
Whew. This guy has skyrocketed up the list in the past couple of weeks.
On paper, Georgia’s running back depth looked great over the summer. There was Kendall Milton — former 5-star, game-breaking potential, ready to take the next leap if he’s healthy; Daijun Edwards — reliable if a little unheralded, consistent; Branson Robinson — Nick Chubb 2.0, if you asked plenty of Georgia fans, and a guy who was ready to become the team’s feature back in 2023.
Guys like freshman Roderick Robinson, Andrew Paul and Cash Jones were fun toys to think about. You were excited to see them in 4th quarters of blowouts throughout the year to give you a taste of what Georgia’s title contenders would look like in a year or 2.
Now, suddenly, Roderick Robinson is a much more important piece to the puzzle. Branson Robinson is out for the year. Neither Milton nor Edwards are 100% and remain questionable to play in Georgia’s opener. Word was that Georgia was even testing players like Bowers and wide receiver Dillon Bell at running back.
Assuming Roderick Robinson is healthy enough to go on Saturday, we’ll see a lot more of him than just in mop-up time.
Running backs before him have taken the reins of an opportunity like this and run with them. Can he?
3. Rara Thomas, wide receiver
Can we just copy and paste from the 1st item? Another talented wide receiver, another transfer, same questions.
Thomas had 626 yards and 7 touchdowns at Mississippi State last year and is the less hyped of the 2 newcomers. Still, his presence adds depth to a wide receiver room that lost arguably its best (AD Mitchell) to transfer in the offseason.
Don’t expect him to be a gamebreaker. Bowers, Lovett, McConkey, Arian Smith — those are the names you’ll need to remember throughout this season when you’re thinking big-play potential. Thomas could be that reliable guy out there when you need a 1st down, though, and that’s invaluable to Georgia’s offense.
4. Damon Wilson, linebacker
Georgia’s defense has become a rotating door of NFL talent the past few years, and Wilson is just 1 of the latest to join the procession.
There is a slew of defensive freshmen who could be added to this list. Cornerback AJ Harris might get the most playing time, rotating with the rest of the defensive backs. Or the last name on this list of 5 might.
But for the No. 4 slot, I’m going with Wilson, a certified freak of an edge defender and maybe the guy to help take the Bulldogs’ pass rush up another level. At 6-4, 235 pounds, he measures up with Nolan Smith, who was just drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Wilson isn’t quite as highly touted coming out of high school as Smith was, but there aren’t many pure pass rushers who can match his abilities. He is a member of 247Sports’ 2023 Freaks list, and I expect to find out why in some early opportunities throughout Georgia’s soft schedule to open the year.
5. Joenel Aguero, defensive back
Georgia’s safety position is pretty full going into the season. Javon Bullard and Malaki Starks are the unquestioned frontline there, and Tykee Smith is still manning the star position for the Bulldogs.
But there’s a reason why missing out on top recruit KJ Bolden (thus far) doesn’t sting quite as badly as it could. His name is Joenel Aguero.
Aguero is as talented a safety prospect as they come. He was the 2nd-ranked recruit at the position in Georgia’s latest signing class, and he should have opportunities to play and develop early in the year.
Don’t expect Aguero to make the sort of immediate impact we saw from Starks a year ago but do keep an eye out to see just where he stacks up with the other defenders and whether the depth he gives the Bulldogs could play a pivotal role throughout a long and arduous season.
