Kirby Smart has built some of the most ferocious defenses in Georgia football history, and the 2024 group needs to roar to keep the Bulldogs at the top.

Smart likes his D-Linemen, but the group fell to No. 18 in the nation against the run last season after five years in the No. 1 or No. 2 spot, so it’s an area DawgNation has its eyes on in this preview.

Jeff Sentell: You’re going to see Christen Miller kick up about two notches in his game and he’s going to be an impact, play-wrecking defensive linemen for Georgia in 2024.

Mike Griffith: Nazir Stackhouse is a guy that could have gone pro last year and probably would have been a late-second or third-round pick. Nazir is coming back hoping to do what Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt did when they came back for 2021, which was move themselves into the first round and help lead Georgia to a national title.

Connor Riley: (Mykel Williams) is going to play more outside linebacker this season, as Williams said he expects to line up there 66 percent of the time on the defensive line, and about a third of the time at outside linebacker.

Kaylee Mansell: (Mykel Williams) said last year he was not impressed by him performance all season long. I think he’s going to make up, he’s going to be one of the sack leaders on this Dawgs team and he’s a veteran with tons of experience and projected NFL first-round pick.