Which Georgia Bulldogs Can Be Depended on to Lead in 2023?
Real Georgia Fans Don’t Miss the Dawg Post Newsletter - Sign up now!
ATHENS - After another championship run, the Georgia Bulldogs head into spring practice in a familiar place. After seeing a record 15 players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Bulldogs look to lose another large number of key contributors in this year’s version.
While losing production is tough, losing key leaders to the draft or graduation presents a problem that isn’t easily solved through sheer talent alone.
Georgia is already several practices into the spring session. Key leaders such as Nolan Smith, Kearis Jackson, and Chris Smith are no longer with the program as they prepare for their upcoming professional career. While finding individual players to replace their production is critical, finding those players who will emerge as team leaders rises to the top of the “to do” list for Kirby Smart and his staff. Kirby has made a point in recent seasons of finding those players who will serve as peer leaders. He talks about it rather routinely. Finding those players who epitomize Georgia’s culture of toughness, physicality and connection can mean the difference between winning a close game, such as the 2022 tilt with Missouri, and seeing your season goals go up in flames.
Nolan Smith was obviously the emotional leader of the 2022 team, as evidenced by not only his play but his actions post-injury. He was intimately involved in game preparation and game day leadership. Seeing him on the sideline exhorting teammates and riling up the crowd will be missed by both the team and its fans. The quiet, consistent leadership of Kearis Jackson and Chris Smith leaves a hole. There are others, I’m sure, who provided leadership throughout last season that we either overlooked or don’t know about. While the 15 spring sessions are vitally important for players competing for snaps, the staff is also looking for who will fill those leadership shoes.
Very Limited Supply! Stetson Bennett-Signed Double Dawgs
Buy Your Stetson-Signed Copy of DOUBLE DAWGS NOW!
A couple of names come to mind immediately. First is Sedrick Van Pran-Granger. The returning center and heartbeat of the offensive line has already emerged as a voice for the team in spring interviews. His eschewing the draft to return to Georgia for the 2023 season is a boon to Kirby’s peer leadership program. We know he carries the emotion of losing a close friend and teammate in Devin Willock. He is one of the few seniors on this squad and, while he’ll definitely provide a comfort blanket for whoever the starting quarterback is, he will also be a vocal leader in his last season in Athens.
Second is Javon Bullard. Coming off a stellar 2022 season and the defensive MVP of the national championship game, Bullard is the type of hard-nosed, grind-it-out player Kirby loves. His ascension as a key starter on defense last season coupled with the departure of Chris Smith opens the possibility of increased leadership requirements. We’ve already seen Bullard thrust into the player interview process, marking him as a voice and leader for this team.
UGA 2021 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 3X5 RED/BLACK FLAG COMBO DEAL
Check out this deal out today!
I also believe there are a handful of others who may emerge during the spring period as well as during the offseason workout requirements. Ladd McConkey, Jadon Dumas-Johnson, and Zion Logue all play critical positions and each have been called out by Kirby before for how they work and practice. Each of these players has been in the program for several seasons and understand the requirements levied by Kirby and staff. They are selfless teammates who have been through two championship seasons, and each of these players can, in their own way provide leadership on their side of the ball with new faces in key places.
Others may emerge as spring practice and the offseason program continue. We know that Kirby uses his player leadership council to send messages to the rest of the team, and the representatives on that council must have the street cred with the rest of the team in order for those messages to be delivered and inculcated. Having an emotional and spirited leader or two is a good thing, but having players whose voices are sought after in times of stress are of the utmost importance. As they pursue an unprecedented third consecutive championship in the modern era, these peer leaders will spell the difference between immortalization and disappointment.