Georgia grabs top spot in 2023 preseason coaches poll
Georgia is beginning the 2023 season the same way it ended the ones in 2021 and 2022, at least as it relates to the coaches poll. The official preseason coaches’ poll is out and the Bulldogs are ranked No. 1. Michigan comes in at No. 2 followed by Alabama, Ohio State, and LSU, in that order, to round out the top five. USC sits at No. 6 with Penn State, Florida State, Clemson, and Tennessee, respectively, completing the top 10.
UGA holds the top spot despite losing 10 players to the 2023 NFL Draft and 25 in the past two drafts combined. A big reason for that is Kirby Smart’s consistency on the recruiting trail. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average from all four recruiting services, each of the Bulldogs’ past four recruiting classes have ranked inside the top three. They finished No. 1 in 2020 followed by a couple of No. 3-ranked classes. Georgia had the nation’s No. 2 class in 2023.
Replacing two-time National Championship game MVP and four-time College Football Playoff MVP Stetson Bennett won’t be easy. The 2022 Heisman Trophy finalist is now with the Los Angeles Rams after six full years of college ball and he’ll likely be replaced by fourth-year junior Carson Beck. In seven games of mop-up duty last season, including the National Championship game, Beck completed 26 of 35 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns. He’s the heavy favorite to win the job but he’s technically still in a battle with Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton for an official grip on the job.
Mackey Award-winning tight end Brock Bowers is back after leading Georgia in receiving the past two seasons. He gained over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in 2022 and has scored 24 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Ladd McConkey, Georgia’s leading receiver from the wideout position last season, is also back and he’ll have some help in transfer wide receiver Dominic Lovett. The St. Louis native led Missouri in receiving a season ago and was one of the best in the SEC in receiving yards per game.
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The defense will be spearheaded by second-year starter Jamon Dumas-Johnson at inside linebacker and immensely talented sophomores Mykell Williams and Malaki Starks. The Bulldogs also bring back Peach Bowl and National Championship game MVP Javon Bullard at safety and SEC Media Day representative Kamari Lassiter at cornerback. Overall the defense will have seven starters back.
Georgia is currently four practices into preseason camp. It will begin its 2023 season on September 2 against the University of Tennessee – Martin. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET and the game will be streamable on SEC Network+.
