As Ohio State celebrates its national championship, I think back to Georgia in 2021-22. And I’m glad UGA’s championships didn’t leave space for bragging rights from its rivals.
The Buckeyes aren’t as fortunate.
Their championship comes with an asterisk in the eyes of its arch nemesis, Michigan, because the Wolverines beat Ohio State in November.
This doesn’t lessen the Buckeyes’ remarkable playoff run, but it will give Michigan fans an easy retort if OSU fans start boasting about it too loudly.
The Bulldogs have no such concerns. Georgia avenged its only loss over that two-year stretch when it beat Alabama at the end of the 2021 season.
Considering the fun Wolverines fans are having at Ohio State’s expense, UGA fans should consider themselves lucky to have avoided that banter.
Check out more coverage below.
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Trivia time
Some Atlanta Falcons fans have expressed frustrations recently with the organization as many former Georgia players have blossomed into dominant NFL players in recent seasons. Despite being about 70 miles from UGA’s campus, the Falcons have drafted just 12 Bulldogs in their 59-year existence.
Question: Who was the first former Bulldog drafted by Atlanta?
(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)
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Georgia cooking with Baker?
Georgia has reportedly increased its recruiting efforts with an in-state running back after an impressive showing in a recent GHSA state championship game.
Langston Hughes High School running back Carsyn Baker, who ran for 136 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries in a state championship loss to Milton in December, made a goal to receive an offer from Georgia. Baker is originally from Middle Georgia, and grew up a fan of the Bulldogs.
Now, the running back is considering Athens as his next home. Check out DawgNation’s article below to read more about Baker’s process as schools continue to flood him with attention.
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Defensive depth chart projections
Time flies in the world of college football, and while rosters are still being assembled for the 2025 season, DawgNation already has an early projection of what Georgia’s defense will look like next season.
The Bulldogs have several talented defenders to replace, namely on its first and final levels. Georgia lost most of its defensive production along the defensive line and both of its starting safeties, Malaki Starks and Dan Jackson.
Check out DawgNation’s Connor Riley’s projection of the 2025 depth chart for the Georgia defense.
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Three first-rounders?
Georgia football could see three defenders drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft, according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s most recent prediction.
Mykel Williams, Jalon Walker and Malaki Starks are all projected to be drafted in the first round. The trio of prospects were five-star talents coming out of high school and lived up to their hype in three-season careers at Georgia.
Kiper’s exact predictions:
Mykel Williams: New York Jets, No. 7 overall pick
Jalon Walker: Carolina Panthers, No. 8 overall pick
Malaki Starks: Miami Dolphins, No. 13 overall pick
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Photo of the day
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Viral Dawg of the day
Former Georgia basketball superstar Anthony Edwards is putting together another All-Star season for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Edwards added 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds in a 115-114 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.
But perhaps the coolest moment of Edwards’ night came after the one-point win, when Heisman winner Travis Hunter connected with the former Bulldog. Hunter and Edwards were filmed meeting in the bowels of Dallas’ American Airlines Center, where Edwards gave Hunter a pair of his AE 1 shoes and his game-worn jersey.
“I don’t even wear a size 14,” Hunter said, smiling after receiving the shoes. “I’m with it though.”
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Quote of the day
“No college defense has ever had three players go this early in the same year, per ESPN Research, but Starks could join the early run on Bulldogs,” Mel Kiper Jr. wrote in his most recent mock draft. “He closes well and makes plays on the ball. With 67 tackles this season, he works well in space. And he’s versatile, lining up as a traditional safety and over the slot.”
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Trivia answer
Answer: Ray Jeffords, TE (1968)
