Georgia remains atop ESPN power rankings after spring
Georgia was on top of the College Football heap at the end of the 2022 football season. It held the same spot when ESPN released it’s way-too-early power rankings for the 2023 season. Now that spring has come and gone, the Bulldogs are still in the No. 1 spot.
Mark Schlabach recently released the top 25 and he understands that Kirby Smart has some big shoes to fill. He also understands that he has the athletes and coaching staff to make it happen.
“The two-time defending national champions will have plenty of new faces on offense after former coordinator Todd Monken left for the NFL and quarterback Stetson Bennett departed. Former Georgia quarterback Mike Bobo takes over the playcalling again, and Carson Beck seemed to have the edge over Brock Vandagriff during the spring. The Bulldogs might have their deepest receiver rotation in years to help All-America tight end Brock Bowers. Missouri transfer Dominic Lovett, Dillon Bell and Arian Smith had big performances in the spring. The offensive line should be very good. Even with another round of starters leaving for the NFL, Georgia’s defense, led by edge rusher Mykel Williams, linebackers Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Smael Mondon and safety Malaki Starks, is still overflowing with talent.”
Replacing Bennett is the No. 1 item on Georgia’s to-do list going into next season. Beck looked like the guy in the spring game as he completed 15 of 22 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown. He quarterbacked the No. 1 offense in the first half and led that group to three touchdowns.
He’ll have the support of a tremendously deep and talented defense, something that has become a staple under Smart. The Bulldogs bring back a pair of All-American-caliber linebackers in Dumas-Johnson and Mondon along with a handful of experienced defensive linemen and 60 percent of an uber-talented secondary.
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But, as Schlabach states, the receiving corps is probably the most improved from last season. Georgia was paper thin at that position at different points in the 2022 campaign. It leaned on Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey week in and week out, especially down the stretch, and both of those guys are back.
But the additions of Thomas and Lovett from the transfer portal combined with the health of Smith and the emergence of Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Dillon Bell gives Beck, or whoever wins the quarterback job, a plethora of weapons with which to work.
