Georgia football releases depth chart for Oregon

The time for talking is almost over. It’s the first full Saturday of College Football season and No. 3 Georgia will begin its National Championship defense against No. 11 Oregon in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff (3:30 p.m. ET.)

The Bulldogs will look quite different than they did a year ago after breaking an NFL record for most players taken in a single NFL Draft. Kirby Smart hasn’t given fans or media much of a look at how different by way of depth chart — until now.

Below, DawgsHQ offers up the depth chart provided by UGA ahead of it’s showdown with Oregon inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Be warned, however, that it contains “or” quite a few times.

Georgia quarterback

1. Stetson Bennett
2. Carson Beck
3. Brock Vandagriff
4. Gunner Stockton

This comes as no surprise. Bennett has a tight grip on the starting job and the pecking order goes by seniority from top to bottom.

UGA running backs

1. Kenny McIntosh OR Kendall Milton
2. Daijun Edwards
3. Branson Robinson

Again, no surprise. McIntosh and Milton are Georgia’s two most experienced running backs with McIntosh playing a pretty significant role in the Bulldogs’ championship run a year ago. Keep an eye on Edwards, who had a very strong preseason camp.

Georgia wide receivers (X)

1. Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint OR Adonai Mitchell
2. Jackson Meeks

Both Mitchell and Rosemy-Jacksaint are expected to play a ton but the former is likely to out snap the latter. Meeks should also get some run in the rotation.

UGA wide receivers (Slot)

1. Kearis Jackson OR Dominick Blaylock
2. Mekhi Mews

We fully expect Jackson to be the starter and Blaylock to spell him. Jackson has dealt with an ankle injury during camp but he should be over that for the most part. Blaylock missed the entire 2020 season and a large portion of 2021 after tearing his ACL twice in the same knee in 2019 and 2020.

UGA wide receivers (Z)

1. Ladd McConkey
2. Dillon Bell
3. De’Nylon Morrissette
4. Cole Speer

McConkey is coming off a productive redshirt freshman season and has a firm hold on the flanker position. Bell, however, used a strong preseason camp to earn his spot on the depth chart as a true freshman. Morrissette also had a good camp when healthy.

Georgia tight ends

1. Brock Bowers OR Darnell Washington
2. Arik Gilbert
3. Oscar Delp

Bowers had a phenomenal freshman season a year ago as UGA’s leading receiver. Most consider him UGA’s best offensive weapon and rightly so. Washington is another key piece to the puzzle. He was hurt to start last season but is healthy now. Gilbert sat out all of last season but looked great in the Bulldogs’ spring game. Delp has turned in on the past couple of weeks and is expected to make an impact. This group is loaded.

Georgia left tackles

1. Broderick Jones OR Amarius Mims
2. Chad Lindberg

Jones is expected to start while Mims is expected to rotate in at one or both tackle positions. Lindberg being listed at this position as a surprise seeing as how Austin Blaske has gotten a lot more work at tackle this spring. Lindberg has primarily worked a guard.

UGA left guards

1. Xavier Truss OR Devin Willock
2. Micah Morris

The Bulldogs have a couple of massive options atop the depth chart here. Truss and Willock are veterans at this point and they are huge humans. Truss is likely to start with Willock serving as the next man up at either guard spot. Morris had a strong spring but wasn’t quite ready to overtake the older guys.

Georgia centers

1. Sedrick Van Pran
2. Warren Ericson
3. Austin Blaske

Van Pran is entering his second season as the starter and he got better with every game a year ago. By season’s end the Louisiana native was playing at a really high level. Ericson provides experience as the backup.

UGA right guards

1. Tate Ratledge OR Jared Wilson
2. Dylan Fairchild

Ratledge is expected to start the opener for the second straight season. His first start ended quickly as he suffered a major foot injury that required surgery. The staff is sky high on Wilson and Fairchild has come a long way since last season.

Georgia right tackles

1. Warren McClendon OR Amarius Mims
2. Chad Lindberg

McClendon will start, just as he has the past two seasons, but, again, Mims is expected to play. McClendon is one of the most rock-solid offensive linemen in the league.

Georgia defensive ends

1. Tramel Walthour OR Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins OR Mykell Williams

Walthour has the most experience but we expect Ingram-Dawkins to get the start. Williams is also going to play a ton with Walthour also projected to get some action.

UGA nose tackles

1. Zion Logue
2. Nazir Stackhouse
3. Bear Alexander
4. Jonathan Jefferson

The Bulldogs have big shoes to fill here with Jordan Davis moving on to the NFL. Logue has a lot of experience, as does Stackhouse. They’ll tag-team the duties until Alexander, who missed spring with a shoulder injury, gets completely up to speed.

Georgia defensive tackles

1. Jalen Carter
2. Warren Brinson
3. Bill Norton
4. Christen Miller

As talented as Georgia’s defense was a year ago, some think that Carter was the most talented player on it. He’s a difference maker on the inside and he’ll be backed up by Brinson, who has played a lot during his first two seasons.

UGA SAM linebackers

1. Nolan Smith
2. MJ Sherman
3. Marvin Jones Jr. or Darris Smith

Smith is back for his fourth season at UGA and he had a strong junior year. He’s the look-to leader for the defense and expected to spearhead the pass rush. Sherman is in his third season and in line to play while Jones is expected to be in the mix.

UGA JACK linebackers

1. Robert Beal Jr.
2. Chaz Chambliss or C.J. Madden

Beal, without much fanfare, was Georgia’s sack leader a year ago. He came on late in the season and finished with a flurry. He’s a sixth-year senior who is expected to do more of the same. Chambliss is a high-motor guy who’ll get some action here and on special teams.

Georgia MONEY linebackers

1. Jamon Dumas-Johnson
2. Rian Davis
3. Jalon Walker
4. E.J. Lightsey

Dumas-Johnson was expected to be the starter at this position once Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, and Channing Tindall left for the 2022 NFL Draft. He’ll call the defense as well. Davis being No. 2 is a bit of a surprise and Walker should be in the rotation.

UGA MAC linebackers

1. Smael Mondon
2. Trezmen Marshall
3. Xavian Sorey

All three of these guys are expected to have roles. Mondon and Marshall will play a ton in the rotation while Sorey is expected to help on third down.

Georgia left cornerbacks

1. Kelee Ringo
2. Nyland Green
3. Jaheim Singletary

The last time we saw Ringo he was putting the National Championship game away with a pick-six. He’s back as a preseason All-American. Green had a strong spring and preseason camp to get into the mix.

UGA’s strong safeties

1. Christopher Smith
2. David Daniel-Sisavanh

Smith is the unquestioned starter at this position. He was banged up some last season but when healthy he was a key member of an elite Georgia defense. Daniel-Sisavanh is entering year two.

Georgia free safeties

1. Dan Jackson
2. Malaki Starks
3. JaCorey Thomas

Both Jackson and Starks are expected to play quite a bit. In fact, we’ll likely see both on the field in Georgia’s DIME package. Starks, a true freshman, used a strong preseason to earn a role.

UGA right cornerbacks

1. Kamari Lassiter or William Poole
2. Daylen Everette
3. Julian Humphrey

Lassiter won the starting job this preseason and we’re surprised to see Poole listed here. He started UGA’s post-season games at STAR a season ago. Everette and Humphrey are both highly-touted true freshmen with bright futures.

STAR

1. William Poole or Javon Bullard or Tykee Smith

Everything we’ve heard points to Bullard as the starter here. Poole has a ton of experience as well. We have Smith listed as questionable for this game as he tries to return from a torn ACL last season.

Place-kicker/Kickoffs

1. Jack Podlesny
2. Jared Zirkel

Holder

1. Stetson Bennett IV
2. Brett Thorson

Punter/Kickoffs

1. Brett Thorson
2. Noah Jones

Long Snapper

1. Payne Walker (Field goals and PATs)
2. William Mote (Punts)

Punt Return

1. Kearis Jackson OR Dominick Blaylock OR Ladd McConkey OR Mekhi Mews

Kickoff Return

1. Kenny McIntosh OR Daijun Edwards OR Kearis Jackson OR Malaki Starks OR Cole Speer