Three Storylines for Georgia at SEC Media Days

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — DawgsHQ has boots on the ground in the Music City for SEC Media Days 2023. Kirby Smart and Georgia take center stage on Tuesday. The two-time defending kings of College Football, all eyes and ears will be on the Bulldogs and what Smart and company have to say during their time with reporters.

While there’s sure to be plenty of coach speak, some big stories CAN come out of media days. Here are what we expect to be the three biggest for Georgia before the Bulldogs arrive…

Quarterback, quarterback, quarterback

This is without a doubt the biggest storyline of Georgia’s entire offseason, and while the opening of media days means we’re closer, we’re not quite there yet.

Stetson Bennett departs after a sixth-year super-senior season that saw him make the trip to New York as one of four finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Not many, if any, ever would have expected that out of him. With Bennett off to the NFL having guided Georgia to both of its national championships, replacing him becomes a big deal.

Carson Beck is considered to be the favorite. That was the case going into spring, and it certainly was coming out of it. Beck served as Bennett’s backup last season. He saw action in seven games, completing 26 of 35 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns. He also had an impressive outing in the spring game, throwing for 211 yards and a touchdown on 13-of-18 passing.

Does Kirby Smart come out and name him the starter? We’re not expecting that. He’s probably going to want to carry the competition into fall camp and potentially even the season considering the schedule Georgia’s got. However, it’s not out of the realm of possibility and something that will be discussed either way.

Injury Report

Considering Smart typically hasn’t spoken to reporters about his football team since after the spring game, SEC Media Days always turns into a time for an injury report. Who’s healthy going into fall camp? Who’s hurt? Have their been any new injuries that folks will want to know about?

For Georgia, the injury report feels even more important this year. Last year’s leading tackler Smael Mondon missed the spring game and was seen in a cast and on a scooter afterwards. What’s his status? Same goes for Branson Robinson in a running back room that doesn’t have much depth. How about the team leader in sacks last season, Mykel Williams? While he’s been seen having ditched his boot, how has he responded? Guys like Dan Jackson, Jalon Walker, Marvin Jones Jr. and a few freshmen missed spring practice too. How are they coming along?

There may be more. There may not be much of an update at all. However, I can guarantee you one thing – this will be a question that gets asked to Smart during his time in Nashville.

Summer Surprises, Development

Georgia is trying to do something that hasn’t been done since the 1930s. That itself is a storyline, but one that we’d expect to see Kirby Smart deflect from as much as possible, focusing in on what it takes to get there instead.

If that three-peat is going to be possible, yes, it’ll be important that the stars – three of whom will join their coach in Nashville – live up to expectations, but there is almost certain to be a name or two that you weren’t expecting to contribute in a big way this season that does. In the past it’s been a guy like Ladd McConkey. Could we get a hint of who that might be this season this week?

Furthermore, there are several players that fans will know and might have high hopes for but need to develop in order to see the field more frequently. Let’s just say someone like Darris Smith – a player who has all the potential in the world but wasn’t quite ready to make a major impact upon arrival on campus last season.

Smart isn’t the type to single out players often, so if he does, you know it’s legit. Listen to the players themselves too. They’ve spent the most time with their teammates this summer and can see the hard work starting to pay off on a consistent basis.