ATHENS — Georgia has six of the nation’s top 100 players in the collegiate ranks this season, according to an ESPN panel of experts.

Carson Beck is the highest-rated of the Bulldogs’ players, coming in at No. 7 in the nation -- fourth among SEC players.

Beck’s rank is somewhat surprising when one considers some are projecting Beck to be the first player taken in the 2025 NFL Draft as he’s the nation’s leading returning passer and a Heisman Trophy frontrunner.

The SEC players ranked ahead of Beck are:

• 1. DE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

• 5. WR Luther Burden lll, Missouri

• 6. OT Will Campbell, LSU

Georgia safety Malaki Starks is next on the list, ranked No. 10 overall in the country.

Starks was one of five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy, which goest to the best defensive player in the nation, after his All-American 2023 season.

Georgia offensive guard Tate Ratledge received impressive reviews from ESPN, ranked as the No. 17 player in the country on the heels of being named a second-team All-American in 2023.

Another surprised was Mykel Williams, a hybrid defensive lineman who many consider Georgia’s most disruptive defender.

Williams is almost unanimously projected as a Top 10 NFL Draft pick, yet ESPN ranked him 30th among the nation’s best players.

Georgia hybrid linebacker Jalon Walker is another player ranked in the Top 100, coming in at No. 67.

ESPN notes that “He has been a reserve in his first two seasons with the Bulldogs but is expected to occupy a much more significant role this fall. Walker led Georgia with five sacks (in 2023) …. "

Florida transfer Trevor Etienne is another Bulldog who could exceed his ranking (83rd) with a healthy season.

Etienne, who averaged 5.7 yards per carry for Florida last season, is an explosive back with enough pass-catching skills to be considered an X-factor in UGA’s reloaded offense.

Here are 5 more Bulldogs who could emerge as Top 100 players that ESPN may have overlooked:

Earnest Greene lll: This impressive third-year sophomore has overcome early injuries to emerge as one of the most reliable left tackles in college football. Greene had some growing pains last season, but he’s expected to be rock solid in 2024.

CJ Allen: This 6-foot-1, 235-pound middle linebacker will be a second-year starter for Georgia and has shown considerable growth since earning his starting stripes as a freshman. Allen’s leadership will be counted on.

Daylen Everette: Kirby Smart has a pretty good track record of turning out elite defensive backs, and Everette has the length and speed to work his way toward the top of the draft his junior season. Everette is a capable open-field tackler who has shown great recovery speed in coverage.

Dominic Lovett: Georgia doesn’t miss often in the transfer portal, and this Missouri transfer has the look of a break-out player this season after learning the offense last season. Lovett is quick, fearless and tough, and those are assets found in elite receivers.

Rod Robinson: This 235-pound sophomore is best known for his power, but he has also shown an impressive ability to catch the football and continues to improve his pass blocking and knowledge in the offense.

Nate Frazier: It might seem like a stretch to suggest a freshman unlikely to break into a regular starting spot could be a Top 100 player, but wait until you see what Frazier does with the ball in his hands. The numbers might not show it this season, but Frazier might be one of the most talented backs in college football, albeit, still in need of some development.