National media pours praise on Georgia QB1, five-star freshman

It’s that time of year where everybody is voicing their thoughts on how the upcoming College Football season is going to go. Whether it’s All-American teams, award watch lists or preseason predictions for conference champions and the College Football Playoffs, opinions are flying everywhere these days. Georgia being the two-time defending national champions has them in the thick of those conversations, and DawgsHQ does our best to keep you up to date with the latest of them.

Heisman hype for Carson Beck

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach put out his conference by conference picks for 2023, and he’s not going out on a limb by prediction Georgia to win the SEC. Schlabach’s offensive player of the year is Brock Bowers, and the “coordinator who will be a head coach” just so happens to be Glenn Schumann, the man in charge of calling one of the country’s top defenses.

Not too bold, huh? Well, the ESPN expert did decide to drop at least one hot take on us. He’s predicting Georgia quarterback Carson Beck to be making a trip to New York at season’s end as a Heisman Trophy finalist – following in the footsteps of Stetson Bennett who did so last year.

“Beck attempted only 35 passes as a backup last season, and he has the unenviable task of replacing Stetson Bennett, who led the Bulldogs to consecutive national championships. While Beck lacks Bennett’s mobility, he does have a stronger arm. He’s also going to benefit from something Bennett didn’t have: a deep and talented receiver corps. Mississippi State Bulldogs transfer Rara Thomas and Missouri Tigers transfer Dominic Lovett give Beck two more options to go with Ladd McConkey, Bowers and others.”

Beck was recently named Georgia’s starting quarterback after an offseason position battle for the spot. Head coach Kirby Smart cited his experience and comfort in the offense as the biggest separators between him and the competition. With strong showings last season and in the G-Day spring game, expectations certainly are high for Beck. Now it’s time to live up to them.

Damon Wilson named On3 Freshman All-American

Five-star freshman Damon Wilson was the lone Bulldog included on On3’s Freshman All-American team. That’s not a knock on the talent Georgia signed in the Class of 2023. Ranked No. 2 in the country only behind Alabama, there are plenty of players that would make the preseason list if they were suiting up elsewhere. Their problem in Athens? The amount of talent that’s ahead of them.

Wilson however has an opportunity that doesn’t quite exist at other positions. He enters a room that lost two players to the NFL Draft and is in need of somebody to step up. There’s not much experience with the outside linebackers. Chaz Chambliss, a junior, was behind both Nolan Smith and Robert Beal. He’s also not known as a pass rusher per se. Meanwhile, Wilson’s fellow South Florida five-star Marvin Jones Jr. is coming off of an offseason surgery that kept him out of spring practice.

Wilson impressed on G-Day with a pair of sacks. Kirby Smart and Glenn Schumann have both pointed to him as somebody that needs to help the team this fall, and On3 certainly has similar expectations for him.

“Damon Wilson is one of the best pass rushers in the 2023 cycle. Guy who has a unique combination of flexibility and strength. One of the most athletic pass rushers. Exceptional bend, plays the run well, and one who I think will help Georgia as the attempt to replace a guy like Nolan Smith.

I think he brings some juice off the end for the Bulldogs. … Given his development, both physically and technically, I think he has the potential to make an impact as a freshman. On a team and a roster where it’s not a given you’re going to see a bunch of blue-chip freshman and underclassmen play, given how deep Georgia is.”

Charles Power – On3 Director of Scouting

Sporting News All-Americans

On the heels of Georgia having the most AP All-Americans on Monday, the Bulldogs saw four players included on Sporting News’ team released Tuesday. Tight end Brock Bowers and linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson were both first-team selections while defensive back Javon Bullard and offensive lineman Sedrick Van Pran made the second-team.

Bowers returns to Athens having led the team in receiving the last two seasons. Totaling nearly 2,000 (1,824 receiving yards, 165 rushing) and 24 total touchdowns in his career, Bowers took home the Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end last season. Should he win it again, he’d be the first in award history.

Van Pran, like Bowers, has been a crucial part of Georgia’s back to back championship runs. He has started all 30 games for the Bulldogs since the start of the 2021 season. Helping lead the way for two offensive line units that finished runner up for the Joe Moore Award, Van Pran decided to return for a fourth season in Athens.

Switching over to the defensive side of the ball, Dumas-Johnson finished second on the team in tackles last season – his first as a starter. Taking over for a trio of linebackers that headed to the NFL, the sophomore led Georgia in tackles for loss with nine. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award last season and will look to be the Bulldogs’ third winner in seven seasons this year.

Meanwhile, Bullard had two interceptions (and a fumble recovery!) in the final game of the season – earning Defensive MVP honors of both the National Championship and Peach Bowl. He finished fifth on the team in tackles with 46 including 7.0 for loss with 3.5 sacks. Bullard makes the move from STAR to safety this year in an effort to replace All-American Christopher Smith.