ATHENS — Georgia will conclude its final practice of the spring on Saturday, as the Bulldogs hold G-Day at 1 p.m. ET.
But many of the major position battles that have taken place across the previous 14 spring practices will continue into the offseason.
With Georgia having to replace so many key faces from the 2024 team, there’s a lot of playing time up for grabs.
G-Day should give us a better idea of where things stand in that regard, but it won’t be the only major data point from this spring.
We’ve learned a lot about this Georgia team so far this spring, with the Bulldogs having two scrimmages. Below is an update on where things stand in regard to the various position battles on the team.
Quarterback:
The update: Gunner Stockton and Ryan Puglisi have both been taking first-team reps this spring. Behind them, Colter Ginn and Hezekiah Millender having back working while Ryan Montgomery recovers from a knee injury.
Stockton has a considerable edge in terms of experience, as this is his fourth spring at Georgia. Add in the playing time he got at the end of the 2024 season and he’s got a considerable leg up at this position.
He’s done nothing so far this spring to give any of that lead back. Teammates have noticed a more involved Stockton than in previous seasons. Puglisi will get a chance to showcase his talents on Saturday. It will be a chance for him to really make up some ground on Stockton, who we still expect to be Georgia’s starting quarterback.
Running back:
The update: Nate Frazier is the obvious RB1. There’s little doubt he’ll be Georgia’s top running back this fall.
" I mean, he’s going to be a dawg. He already is a dawg, you know? He’s a freak athlete," running back Cash Jones said of Frazier. “I think he’s worked on his ball security, his alignments, assignments, you know, working on his details. I’ve been trying to help him with, like, little stuff here and there, but he’s going to have a heck of a year this year.”
Behind Frazier, there are plenty of questions. Jones has a defined role as a pass catcher and third-down back.
Roderick Robinson and Branson Robinson have both been limited by injuries this spring.
Those absences create an opening for freshman Bo Walker, who has consistently generated positive buzz during practice. He is not the biggest nor the most explosive back, but he does a lot of things well and that should help him as he prepares to play in his first G-Day.
Sophomores Chauncey Bowens and Dwight Phillips Jr. also have the chance to impress on Saturday, but the buzz around Walker has been much stronger this spring. We’ll see if G-Day can validate that.
Offensive line:
The update: Injuries were a major issue for Georgia last fall and that has unfortunately continued into the spring.
Monroe Freeling has been out as he recovers from a labrum injury. Daniel Calhoun will miss Saturday’s scrimmage due to a foot injury. Starting center Drew Bobo has missed time due to a hyper-extended knee and Earnest Greene is playing through a hand injury.
There’s a chance all four of those guys start against Marshall. But expect Georgia to look to some of its younger players on G-Day.
Bo Hughley and Jah Jackson should get long looks at tackle, as will freshman Juan Gaston. The offensive tackle needs to continue to reshape his body but the early returns have been good.
Michael Uini could be someone who takes advantage of the Calhoun injury at guard, while Micah Morris will be Georgia’s starting left guard.
The Bulldogs don’t have great depth at center behind Bobo. Malachi Tolliver and true freshman Cortez Smith are likely to get plenty of reps. Smith in particular may be worth watching, as he’s likely the center of the future for Georgia.
Cornerback:
The update: Georgia is likely to rotate heavily on the defensive line and at linebacker. That hasn’t traditionally been the case at cornerback.
That makes the competition all the more important between Daniel Harris, Demello Jones and Ellis Robinson.
Add in that returning starter Daylen Everette is recovering from a hernia injury and it creates plenty of reps for the trio.
Harris has starting experience from the end of the 2024 season, while Robinson and Jones both have incredibly high ceilings as prospects. Robinson has created a lot of buzz in the two most recent scrimmages.
Given Georgia will air it out on Saturday, expect all three cornerbacks to be tested. How they hold up will go a long way in shaping how the three cornerbacks continue to compete heading into the summer.
Safety/Star:
The update: Georgia has a lot of different options to pick from at these two spots.
We know KJ Bolden will be one of the starters. He played a major role in Georgia’s secondary last season and will look to elevate his game.
As for the other two spots in the secondary, expect senior Jacorey Thomas and junior Joenel Aguero to get the first cracks at safety and star on Saturday. They both started games for Georgia last season and have put themselves in a good position to be contributors this fall.
Much of the intrigue with this position will be in regard to the newcomers. Georgia brought in Zion Branch, Adrian Maddox and Jaden Harris. How these three are deployed on Saturday may provide some insight into how they are acclimating at Georgia.
Safety Todd Robinson also figures to be one of the more interesting players. He’s got a lot of tools to impress but he’s playing solely defensive back for the first time in his career after arriving from Valdosta High School.
