Georgia says goodbye to winningest group in program history in emotional fashion

ATHENS, Ga. — Anytime a season comes to a close, a group of players have stepped foot on the field for the final time in red and black. For Georgia, that senior class includes several who have helped make the success of the program over the last few years possible. Guys like Smael Mondon, Tate Ratledge, Dan Jackson, Dominic Lovett, Warren Brinson, Xavier Truss and Nazir Stackhouse are either out of eligibility of heavily expected to enter the NFL Draft as opposed to pursuing playing time beyond their fourth or fifth year.

The senior class of 2024 leaves Athens as part of the winningest group in program history. Over the last four years, Georgia went 53-5. The Bulldogs made an appearance in the conference championship game in all four seasons, the College Football Playoffs in three (2021, 2022, 2024), claimed a couple of SEC titles (2022, 2024) and was the team hoisting the National Championship trophy when all was said and done twice as well (2021, 2022). It’s quite the accomplishment, and one that Kirby Smart knows isn’t affected by the result of Thursday night’s loss in the Sugar Bowl.

“That takes nothing away from these men on the stage and the seniors that are a part of this class. I mean, absolutely incredible. I just told them, what they went through this year and what they played and how they played, the resiliency, the injuries that we’ve had, and to win an SEC championship — which I have so much respect for our conference — and to win some of the comeback games they won and never quit, even in this game, never quit, that’s the attitude you’ve got to have to get better as a football program,” Smart said as part of his opening statement after the game. “We’ve got a lot of guys moving on. A lot of guys are hurt in that locker room because we didn’t get the outcome that we wanted, but that’s part of life. I give Notre Dame credit for how they played and give our seniors and our leaders credit for what they’ve done for this program.”

It’s not just Georgia’s head coach that recognizes what the veterans of the program have done. The individuals that have been there to make it possible, plus teammates too, are appreciative of the opportunity.

“The brotherhood, the connection, just all that we’ve been through to be the most winning senior class in Georgia history,” Lovett said about what will stick out from his time spent at Georgia. “A lot of mixed emotions, but nothing more than I love my brother.”

“I’m just going to remember my boys, man, and every moment. I can’t pick one,” Brinson, who played five seasons for the Bulldogs, added. “I’m going to remember the whole year. It’s just been one big moment in my life, went by in the blink of an eye. God is good. It’s been a long career.”

Of course the seniors aren’t the only ones that will be gone from Georgia after this season. So too will upperclassmen eligible to enter the NFL Draft with guys like Mykel Williams, Malaki Starks and Jalon Walker being widely projected as first round picks. Others including Daylen Everette, Oscar Delp, Jared Wilson, Tyrion Ingram-Dakwins, Trevor Etienne and Dylan Fairchild have decisions to make too. Even fifth-year Arian Smith could come return after having more receiving yards than any wide receiver in Kirby Smart’s time at Georgia.

“The legacy left behind, one of the winningest groups in history, SEC championships, people can’t take that away from you,” Starks said when reflecting on the time he’s spent at Georgia and the senior class that’s departing. “The relationships I’ve built with people here, it’s incredible and I’ll never forget it.”

“How connected we were. The relationships built along the way,” Etienne added on his 2024 season – possibly his only one – spent in Athens after transferring from Florida. “I feel like these are memories I’ll have forever.”

For Kirby Smart, two players stuck out to him the most in all of the emotions of the season ending. Sitting alongside him at the interview stage were Tate Ratledge and Jalon Walker. Both were voted captains of the team at “about a 95% rate,” more than anybody in the head coach’s tenure.

“What they did with this team in the toughest year of at least my tenure, easily the toughest year, they dominated the room. They controlled the room. They led the room through hard games and situations. There were some hard games and situations,” Smart said, making sure to close his press conference by thanking the leaders again. “I’ll never forget this guy (Walker) against Georgia Tech chasing everybody down telling them to stay in the game, hope’s still alive. This guy (Ratledge) doing the coin toss and saying we’re about to win this game in overtime. And I know today will be written about and that’s fine, but these two guys right here are as special as they come. Thank you, guys.”

Georgia players have until January 7th to enter the transfer portal and January 15th to declare for the NFL Draft. The Bulldogs begin their spring semester of classes on Monday, January 6th.